Who says job search says unavoidable job interview and, it’s no mystery, it puts off more than one! Many candidates in the selection process would gladly skip this step. The received idea according to which it is necessary to be a good salesman to perform in interview does not contribute to foreseeing this obligatory passage in a good light. What is it really ?
This painful moment provoked the same reaction in many: “I’m not good at selling myself: I won’t perform well in my interview. The popular belief is wrongly maintained that the job interview is all about convincing the employer of your value and wrapping your skills and qualities in a beautiful wrapping paper in order to get the job.
For some, the interview is assimilated to an interrogation and to the recruiter who seeks to find fault with the candidate. It is therefore difficult to get excited about the idea of being in the hot seat and having the burden of proof of one’s skills.
Deconstruct certain perceptions
Fortunately, job interviews are changing. Nowadays, recruiters approach them more in the guise of exchanges. This step will be an opportunity to validate information on both sides. The candidate is also entitled to ensure that the job and the environment correspond to his expectations.
Nowadays, many employers, without trying to trap anyone, rather want to be reassured regarding the professional profile of the candidate according to the needs of the position. This change of posture during the interview therefore allows the candidate to also determine whether the job suits him.
Having capabilities and demonstrating them are two separate things. In general, the more a skill is mastered, the less we are aware of it. Achieving an eloquent display of skill will require greater effort. For example, if a candidate is used to providing impeccable customer service, he will have normalized his competence and lost sight of all the steps taken to get there. It is therefore difficult to be proud of it or to present it as an important asset.
Difficulty talking about yourself or lack of confidence in your skills
Even without selling yourself, the fact remains that the interview exercise requires demonstrating your skills and your enthusiasm for getting the job. The discomfort experienced stems from two main reasons.
On the one hand, it can denote a difficulty in talking about oneself quite simply out of modesty, modesty or humility, a tendency then to minimize one’s abilities. For fear of inflating their abilities, some underestimate their accomplishments and skills.
On the other hand, a lack of confidence in one’s own skills can also make the exercise more difficult. The interview places the candidate in a position of vulnerability, which can bring out weaknesses or even increase a feeling of imposture.. Different reasons can explain this. Lack of trust may have its origins in low self-esteem or may have been created during professional experiences perceived as negative or harmful..
Your preparation
It is important to have the necessary level of confidence before you apply or show up for a job interview. Reviewing positive annual reviews, asking for feedback from trusted colleagues, or seeking help from a career development professional to target key elements of your professional profile are examples of actions you could take to regain your confidence. .
Regardless of your speaking skills, preparation will help your communication to be clear and allow you to overcome the effect of interview jitters. The more you are prepared, the more the presentation of your achievements and your skills will be commensurate with your real abilities. In particular, you may have in mind more concrete examples of skills related to the position you are applying for.
Also, practice before the interview or, for the more introverted, detail your ideas in writing to add vocabulary and ensure modesty won’t undermine your potential. This way, you will be more confident and above all aware of why the job matches your profile. Also, the words used will be less important: your message will be clearer.
Keep in mind that many factors are beyond your control during the job search period. Concentrate on the aspects on which you are able to act. Be indulgent, interviews are a bit like pancakes: the first one may not be as good as the following ones. By warming up, we take ease!