Would you enter a competitive athletic event without the proper preparation and training? If not, why would you go into interviews without similar mental and psychological preparation to ensure your peak performance? This training is the most underappreciated aspect of improving interview skills and can be the difference between success and failure. Make no mistake about it, when you are interviewing you are engaged in a performance.
One of the main objectives of your mental game is to develop confidence, an attractive trait both professionally and socially. You have already won half the battle because everything you say has more gravitas and is more convincing. The reality is that the manner of delivery can be just as important as the message itself. This goes well beyond the power of positive thinking, which is only the first step in the process. Detailed preparation and practice are needed to instill the right attitude which results in developing confidence.
Confidence comes from a combination of factors:
- preparation
- repetition
- belief in yourself
- previous successes
Candidates are more nervous when they are concerned that they will be asked questions which they are not prepared to answer. Being prepared with answers to a wide variety of potential questions mitigates a lot of this anxiety, as does preparing insightful questions for the interviewer. Speak slowly and deliberately because this also has the additional benefit of demonstrating thoughtfulness as well as buying some time to answer the question. If you are unsure of the answer to a question and guess, still answer confidently as you don’t want to discount your answer in case you are actually correct.
Use all opportunities at mock and informational interviews to practice your interviewing skills. Include both verb and non-verbal rapport building exercises. Tape your mock interviews to review your performance; most people are pretty surprised when they see themselves on video. Attend as many corporate presentations as possible and treat the sessions as interviews, which they are as every interaction you have with the company is an opportunity to leave a positive impression.
You have to believe in yourself before others can believe in you. Get into the habit of acknowledging to yourself both your big and small successes. Be proud and do not discount your accomplishments.
But be careful of appearing too cocky or self-centered. Managers and potential co-workers are obviously looking for qualified candidates but are equally concerned about compatibility and fit within the team: they could be put-off by candidates who appear smug or conceited. Self-deprecating humor is a good strategy to alleviate this concern.
In today’s competitive job market, you should look for every possible advantage to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Additional psychological strategies include creating consistent routines to “get into the zone” for interviews, setting measurable goals and breathing techniques to reduce stress and anxiety. Find out what strategies work for you and increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Jerome Wong
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