How to Beat Interview Day Jitters
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles on interviewing successfully. Please see the first article on how to prepare for an interview.
“Be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
According to research by Princeton University, it only takes one tenth of a second to make a “first impression.” Although this may not be a consoling thought as you prepare for an upcoming interview, there are concrete steps you can take to ensure you make a good first impression.
The night before your interview, take the time to pick out what you will wear and ask another professional for their opinion. Dress for success with clothes that fit, are formal, and make you feel comfortable.
If you have an in-person interview, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to mitigate any issues with traffic, parking, or locating the interview location. (If it is an online interview, log on early in case you experience any unforeseeable technical issues.)
Before you enter the interview room, consider doing Amy Cuddy’s infamous Superman Power Pose to build your confidence. Take a deep breath and remember all the preparation you have done to get here. You can do this. Say a prayer internally, asking God to give you confidence, peace, and the grace to answer questions well.
When You First Meet with Your Interviewer:
Smile.
Maintain good eye contact.
Be upbeat and positive.
Maintain good posture.
Come prepared with a notepad, pen, copy of your resume, and business card (if you have one).
Two Common Interview Questions to Prepare For
When your interview begins, be prepared to answer two very common interview questions:
Tell me about yourself.
In this situation, the interviewer wants to know about your professional background/experience (relevant to this position), why you are interested in the job, and why they should consider you for the position.
As you answer the question, do not mention your marital status, hobbies, or pets. Instead, do mention your professional experience, why you are interested in the job, and why you are the best candidate.
Use the “Present, Past, Future Framework” for responding to this question:
Briefly give an overview of your present role and a significant recent accomplishment.
Provide a recap of past relevant professional experiences (company name, title, responsibilities, achievements).
Look toward the future by sharing what you understand about the role, why you are interested, and why you would be a good fit.
Why do you want to leave your current position?
With this question, the interviewer wants to know if there are any red flags they should be aware of in your work history. They also want to know how you will speak about them when you one day leave the company if they hire you.
As you answer the question, do not mention any prior conflicts at your current or previous position, your dislike of the job, or if you feel underpaid or undervalued.
Instead, do mention your gratitude for the position, what you learned from working there, your excitement about a new opportunity and utilizing other skills, your strengths, and what you will bring to the employer.
Examples of some responses are:
“In my current role, I’ve learned many new skills (such as xyz…). I’m looking for a position where I can continue to grow that skillset in new ways.”
“I am very thankful for my time in my current position and everything I have learned. I am looking for a new opportunity that does not exist in my current company where I can develop and expand my account management skills.”
“I love my role and coworkers, but I have come to a point where there are no longer growth opportunities on my team.”
Be Prepared for Behavioral-Based Questions
Be prepared also to answer any behavioral-based interview questions.
Behavioral-based interviewing is based on the belief that past behavior is a good indicator of future performance. With these questions, managers frame questions based on specific competencies such as:
Problem solving
Verbal and written communication
Time management
Decision making
These questions are open ended where the interviewer will ask you for an overview of the situation, the role you played in the situation, and the outcome of the situation.
For example, “Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a coworker or manager and how you handled it.”
or
“Describe a situation that required you to juggle several projects at the same time. What did you do and what was the result?”
To know what type of behavioral questions to practice:
Review the job description.
Think of challenges someone in this role might face.
Make a list of times you have handled similar situations.
How to Best Answer a Behavioral Question
Use the S.T.A.R Method to best answer a behavioral question:
Situation– Briefly set the scene for your interviewer and explain what happened.
Task- Share what your role was in that situation.
Action- Explain what you did to address it.
Result- Share what outcomes your actions received.
Prepare short stories and always end each response on a positive note. If you are asked a question that you do not know how to answer, here are some tips on what to do:
Pause and take your time until something comes to mind. You could say, “That’s a great question. Let me think about it.”
Think aloud as ideas come to mind. For example, “Well, first I would do this . . . second I would do this . . . and third I would do . . .”
Propose what you would do if you were in that situation. For example, “I’ve never been in that situation before, but if I were, I would do this . . .”
Be honest and ask a clarifying question. For example, “I admit, I’m struggling to answer that question,” or “I’m having a difficult time thinking of a specific answer to that. Could you please rephrase it in a different way?”
Taking the time to prepare and practice your responses to common behavioral-based questions will increase your confidence and set you apart from the competition.
Be sure to read part three of this series on how to close the interview with a lasting positive impression.
Valentina Imhoff, MBA, is a career coach helping women encounter God through their work. She has lived and worked in six countries and has over 10 years of experience in a variety of industries. She facilitates Called & Gifted workshops to help others discern their charisms. Her greatest loves are her husband, son, and trying new recipes in the kitchen. Connect with Valentina at fiatcareercoaching.com, or tune into her podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.