How to Be Confident in a Job Interview

Congratulations, you got an interview! But wait, now what do you do? Getting an interview can be both rewarding, and stressful and how you prepare for that interview can make all the difference in your level of confidence and whether or not you actually get the job. Below are 5 ways in which you can boost your confidence prior to the job interview and land that job or at least portray an image of confidence throughout the interview.

1. Know Your Resume
   • Take the time to read your resume. You should be able to easily walk through your career progression, to be able to explain why you left a job and how you landed the next job.  What you liked about your previous jobs and what you did not like.  Some of your challenges in those jobs and how you were able to overcome those challenges.  The more familiar you are with the content on your resume the more confident you will be when you are discussing it.
2. Research the Company
   • Take the time to research the company you are interviewing with as well as the interviewer(s). The more I know about something the more confident I am, so research the company and the interviewer(s) on google as well as on LinkedIn. Another tactic is to look up people on LinkedIn that currently or previously worked for the company so that you can get a snapshot of some of the employee’s professional backgrounds. This will also help when working on step number 5.
3. Pick out your Outfit
   • I cannot stress this enough. Dress for success! Pick out what you are going to wear a few days prior to the interview, so that you have time to try it on, make sure if fits well and if needed, you can iron it.  Pick something professional preferably a suit and tie in a dark color or a dress/skirt with a suit jacket.  Shine your shoes and make sure you can walk comfortably in them, you may go on a tour at the company.  For the interview, I would choose a conservative outfit over something flashy.  I know when I am wearing something professional, I am well groomed and I have appropriate shoes on I feel more confident.
4. Practice in front of a mirror
   • Practice asking yourself interview questions in the mirror so that you can review your facial expressions and tone them down if needed or exaggerate if you tend to not show emotions well. You want to smile during your interview, maintain eye contact, laugh when appropriate and look relaxed.  You do not want to chew gum, drink or eat, frown, look uninterested or raise your eyebrows during an interview. When you practice in front of a mirror you will be comfortable with how you look and you will feel more relaxed which will exhibit an air of confidence.
5. Ask Questions
   • Prepare a list of questions to ask during the interview and write them down so that you do not forget to ask them. Having something in front of you tends to make you feel a little more confident. Some good questions include:
     • What are the expectations of this position?
     • Why is this position open?
     • What types of qualifications or background do you feel the ideal candidate should possess for this position?
     • What is something that you like about this company or find challenging in your position?
     • Also use your research from step number 2 to help you prepare questions and or make comments. I noticed your company recently opened a new office in Dallas or that you just celebrated your 36^th anniversary, etc.

Again, congratulations on the interview and to summarize, know your material (your resume, the company and the interviewers), dress for success, study your facial expressions and ask questions. The more you prepare the more relaxed you are going to feel and this will in turn help you feel more confident. Try to remember that you are interviewing the interviewer just as much as they are interviewing you.  You want to make sure that this is the place you want to work, and that this is going to be a mutually beneficial relationship. You want to be able to add value to the organization as well as add value to your resume.