Job seekers often believe they need to dazzle their interviewers with knowledge and problem-solving skills, and while you definitely want to impress, an interview is a give-and-take experience, note career advice experts at specialist recruitment firm, Glassdoor.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a time for both the applicant and the hiring team to learn about each other and determine whether they can work well together. If you put on a show, you limit everyone\u2019s ability to know if you\u2019re a good fit. If you want to want to start your new job confident that you made the right decision, you’ve got to be yourself during the interview.<\/p>\n
Passing the personality test<\/strong><\/p>\n Part of an interview is determining whether a candidate will mesh with the culture at a company. According to a 2019 study, 70% of employers rank a candidate\u2019s personality among the top three factors when making a job offer, while nearly 200 US employers said authenticity is the most important quality in a candidate.<\/p>\n Typically, an interviewer is trying to figure out:<\/p>\n The first point, \u201cWill they enjoy working with you?\u201d is very subjective. Avoid trying to intuit what you can say to sway the interviewer to your favour. Instead, be honest about your work style, the types of environments where you thrive, and how you interact with other people.<\/p>\n For example: \u201cI work best in a collaborative office environment with weekly deliverables.\u201d<\/p>\n This is also an opportunity for you to determine how your prospective team interacts and what kind of camaraderie and collaboration you can expect.<\/p>\n When it comes to your enthusiasm for the opportunity, specifics matter. Whether you\u2019re drawn to the type of work you would be doing or the core values of the company, speak your truth. For example: \u201cI\u2019m excited to work for this company because you\u2019ve been a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion and have a lot of women in leadership roles.\u201d<\/p>\n Your answer should show that you\u2019ve done your research and you\u2019re genuinely interested.<\/p>\n The third point \u2014 qualifications \u2014 is where you really get to shine, showing how your personality and skills are a match for the job. Although the interviewer will likely lead the conversation about your skills and experience, remember that you\u2019re the expert on yourself.<\/p>\n Get ready by reviewing the job description and the company\u2019s goals and note how your specific background makes you uniquely qualified.<\/p>\n To thine ownself be true<\/strong><\/p>\n Are you an ultra-marathoner on the side? Maybe you\u2019ve taught yourself to knit or play an instrument. Talk about it. Those details can reveal important character traits about you, like discipline, commitment to long-term goals, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to try new things.<\/p>\n At the same time, consider context and relevance. Some hobbies or associations could be interpreted differently depending on the type of job you\u2019re seeking.<\/p>\n For example, it\u2019s tough to translate winning a prize for trying 100 different beers in a month at your local bar to on-the-job skills. Similarly, your involvement with a political party could work to your advantage when interviewing for a government affairs gig but suggest bias if you\u2019re interviewing for a job as a political reporter for a newspaper.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to be a completely open book in an interview. Just pick and choose the chapters that highlight your best qualities.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to discuss the F-word<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone experiences failure, but what you learn from it can tell a manager a lot about how you solve problems and recover from setbacks. While an interview may include a softball question about your strengths and weaknesses, a more popular tactic is to ask about failure \u2014 and it\u2019s an incredible opportunity for honest discussion.<\/p>\n For example, it\u2019s not a dealbreaker to be a lawyer who lost a case because most great lawyers have lost a case. Instead of explaining why you lost, discuss how you analyzed the loss, any action plans or strategies that you developed based on your analysis, and subsequent successes borne out of your analysis.<\/p>\n A valuable prospective employer knows they’ll be with you in both good times and bad. Learning how you respond in the bad times can help them decide if you\u2019re a good fit for the team.<\/p>\n Practice, but don\u2019t make it perfect<\/strong><\/p>\n Unless you\u2019re an actor, you\u2019re not winning any interview points by memorizing a script. It\u2019s okay to bring and reference notes during an interview as long as you don\u2019t spend the entire meeting reading them. Instead, opt for a little candour in your interview by taking your time and giving responses that reflect your authenticity.<\/p>\n As you\u2019re working out your answers to practice questions, avoid writing full paragraphs in favour of bullet-point highlights. When answering questions, take a breath before you start talking to give yourself more time to think. That pause can also signal to the interviewer that you’re really thinking about the question.<\/p>\n Being yourself in an interview doesn’t mean everything you say has to be unscripted. It’s important to come prepared with your own thoughtful questions for the interviewers to help you learn if the company is a good fit for you. Ask questions about company culture, long-term professional development opportunities, and how individual success is measured within the company.<\/p>\n Remember to listen to the answers and take notes. The responses you get could either be the green light \u2014 should you accept an offer with that company \u2014 or a red flag that it\u2019s not the right fit for you.<\/p>\n It’s time to let yourself shine bright<\/strong><\/p>\n A job interview is not a pageant. It\u2019s not about impressing a panel of judges with congeniality, a command of facts, and the ability to twirl a baton while roller-skating. It\u2019s a chance for both sides \u2014 the employer and the prospective employee \u2014 to determine if they\u2019re compatible.<\/p>\n Just as misrepresenting interests or expectations on a dating app inevitably backfires in a relationship, pandering or exaggerating who you are in a job interview is a recipe for professional disaster. When you\u2019re searching for the right long-term work environment, bringing your authentic self can help you shine out amongst the competition, nail the interview, and start earning what you’re worth.<\/p>\n\n
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