When you apply for a job, you offer your skillset and your individuality that promises to contribute to the further growth of the organization. The organisation then chooses to invest trust in you and your abilities. For obvious reasons, that trust is not given away easily. For the employer to gain trust in you, you have to have trust in yourself, projected through your confidence. Thus confidence is key when it comes to attending any interview.
Some of us, despite our talent, are under confident. But this lack of confidence might cost you that one job you dream to win!
Given below are some points to project confidence in an interview:
Body language :
Your body language speaks before you do. The manner in which you walk into the room, sit down and keep your hands, every single detail of your body language reveals a lot about your personality in an interview. Thus it’s important to leave a good impression. Ensure that you maintain a good posture while sitting in front of the interviewer and do not slouch. Keep your hands unfolded and open on your lap to give the idea that you’re an individual open to changes. Avoid fidgeting with your hands when nervous, if you have the habit, practice prior to the interview to avoid the same. A steady eye contact with the interviewer is crucial.
Dress for the occasion :
Dressing in the appropriate manner for an interview does play a significant role in appearing confident. Find out the dress code followed in the organisation and dress accordingly. It’s always advisable to wear formal attire which is neatly ironed and clean. While men can opt for suits, women can wear pants suits, formal skirts or indian formal wear like kurtis or salwars. Ideally, it’s better to wear outfits in neutral colors such as black, navy blue or brown.
Avoid the tendency to rush :
We understand that interviews can be tough and nerve-racking for some. But it’s vital to not rush through the entire process. When questions are thrown at you, take your time and think about your answers before serving it to your interviewer. In fact taking a good pause before answering a question will only make you seem more confident. Talk slowly while delivering your answers too, so that the interviewer gets enough time to comprehend your response. If you rush while answering questions, the interviewer won’t be able to follow you and it’ll make you appear desperate and nervous. In such a situation, even if you deliver the required responses, the attention will be entirely drawn into the inadequate delivery.
Prepare well for the interview:
On the previous day of the interview, conduct a thorough research about the company and the job role you’ve applied for. You must possess enough information to frame your answers. You’d come across tons of articles on preparing for an interview, browse through them and read them to obtain an idea. This step will give you immense confidence, because it’ll help you tackle that uncertain feeling tied to giving the interview. Even though you don’t know what exactly to expect in the interview, knowing you’re not clueless about the process helps you build confidence.
Practice a firm handshake:
When you meet the interviewer for the first time, you must introduce yourself with a handshake. You should make sure that the handshake is short and crisp. If your hands are damp, wipe the dampness off before going forward with a handshake. A firm handshake with a pleasant smile definitely reflects confidence.
Fake confidence:
The last trick of the book is to fake confidence. Haven’t you heard the phrase, ‘fake it till you make it?’ Confidence doesn’t come instantly to a lot of people, but most of the time, you can trick your mind to believing that you’re confident by faking it. Gradually your mind falls for the lie and confidence begins to come to you naturally without a conscious effort. Also, remember, only you know you’re faking it, nobody other than you are aware of it. So you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the act either.
Feeling under confident might often make you feel inferior to the people around you. While acquiring confidence is a journey of achieving growth, you can keep constantly working on appearing confident despite not actually having confidence. An interviewee is similar to a sales guy who shows up on our doorstep every once in a while. The customer or the interviewer will decide whether to buy your product or not, depending on how confident you’re about the product and how convincing you were with the way you showcased the product. Obviously, the product in the scenario of an interview is your personality and skill sets enveloped in confidence.
