How to appear confident during an interview
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It’s only natural to feel nervous during an interview, but part of performing well is not letting your anxiety show. Your goal is to make a good impression from the start, which means appearing confident to those evaluating you. If you show a lack of confidence, you probably won’t be considered as a serious candidate for the job. One of the best ways to appear confident is to demonstrate how well you perform under pressure.
Step 1Be the first to extend your hand for a handshake. Smile and make eye contact with the interviewer as you shake his hand firmly. A limp handshake can make you seem disinterested. Smiling not only makes you look friendly, it helps you feel more relaxed.
Step 2Make a strong impression on everyone you meet. That includes the receptionist and anyone else you meet along the way to the interviewer’s office. In many cases, a job interview starts from the moment you step through the company’s door. Often, an interviewer will ask other personnel to offer their opinions about you.
Step 3Pay attention to how you look. Your grooming and choice of attire are part of the image you project to others. Men should wear a suit. The same goes for women. Pantsuits or skirt suits that are black, brown or navy blue in color are practical choices.
Step 4Be aware of your body language. Avoid fidgeting. Sit upright and lean slightly forward, nodding when appropriate. Show the interviewer that you are trustworthy by making eye contact when you speak. Look relaxed and at ease throughout the interview. Shake the interviewer’s hand again before leaving.
Step 5Speak with conviction, but use your normal speaking voice. Try to sound relaxed and not hesitant when you talk. The interview will go more smoothly if you know what you are talking about. Prepare any questions you want to ask in advance.
Step 6Practice what you want to say before the interview. Rehearse your answers to standard interview questions. This can help you feel calmer when the time actually comes. Go over with a friend what you want to give as reasons why the company should hire you for the job.
Step 7Come to the interview prepared with information about the company and the opportunities it offers. Share your enthusiasm about wanting to work there. Tell the interviewer why you want the job.
Step 8Focus on building strong rapport. Convince the interviewer that you enjoy the type of work that you do. Stand out from the other job candidates by using personal examples when describing your achievements.
-work.chron.com
ABOUT: Nana Kwesi Coomson
[email protected] An Entrepreneur, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Communications Executive and Philanthropist. Editor-in-Chief of www.233times.com. A Senior Journalist with Ghanaian Chronicle Newspaper. An alumnus of Adisadel College where he read General Arts. His first degree is in Bachelor of Arts - Political Science (major) and History (minor) from the University of Ghana. He holds MSc in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Energy with Public Relations (PR) from the Robert Gordon University in the United Kingdom. He is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow who studied at Clark Atlanta University in USA on the Business and Entrepreneurship track.
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