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Tips and Tricks for Job Interviews if You’re an Introvert

By Aimee Laurence

It can be really difficult to go to a job interview when you’re an introvert and maybe you stress for hours if not days before the date of your interview. Introverts are known to enjoy solitude and often struggle with small talk or feel self-conscious, whereas extroverts come across as confident, charismatic, and are able to sell their skills in an interview without trouble.

The good news is that it’s possible to make a great first impression and rock an interview even as an introvert. All it takes is some practice and preparation and you’ll feel much more confident in an interview setting. In this article you’ll find the most useful tips and tricks for even the shiest introverts to successfully pass an interview.

Excelling at Small Talk

It’s normal that interviews have some small talk between the introductions and the questions, or at the end of the interview. Instead of stressing about this portion, tell yourself that small talk is important to build an important connection between you and your interviewer. They’re looking for someone that will fit in with the team and be amiable to others.

Prepare for the small talk the same as you would for any interview question by preparing a handful of casual subjects before hand, like a comment on the weather, or your journey to the interview location. Kat Simmons, a recruiter at Academized Reviews and Best College Paper Writing Service , adds that “you can also compliment the office or the company if you feel comfortable doing that. It’s important that you stay positive and upbeat because it will keep the conversation loose and friendly and make a good impression with the interviewer.”

Research the Company

This is an important step regardless of whether you’re introverted or extroverted, but more so for the former. When you research the company it shows that you are actually interested in the company and it will help show your knowledge of the industry. Look at their website as well as any news or third party articles about the company, and this will count in your favour.

“If your interview was set up by a recruiter, you can ask that person for suggestions about what to expect for the interview and who you’ll be meeting from the hiring panel. Look online for the bio of these individuals, whether on LinkedIn or the company page. It will help you feel less nervous to know what to expect and have a better understanding of who you’ll be meeting,” suggests Anna Adams, a career expert at British CV Writers and Top Assignment Writers .

Practice Answers

Introverts are known for processing thoughts in a more complex way so it can be harder to answer a question on the spot without preparation, and the longer the silence drags the harder it can be. Instead, research some common interview questions and think about your answers. You can write them down then practice answering them out loud in a casual but professional way.

Naomi Johnston, a career writer at Case Study Writer and Big Assignments , recommends that you “recruit a friend or family member to help you by pretending to be an interviewer, and ask them to include a few surprise questions so you can practice answering on the spot in a more comfortable environment.”

Relax Before the Interview

Make sure you arrive to the interview in plenty of time to relax before it starts and avoid feeling rushed or flustered. Go to a private area like a courtyard or a bathroom and spend five minutes focusing on your breathing. Practice a few meditation exercises or listen to some soothing music. This helps you focus your mind and remember what your practiced. The extra few minutes will show in your calmness and confidence during the interview.

Present Your Introversion as a Quality

If you have the opportunity, you can work your introversion into the conversation as a quality or selling point. Introverts have essential qualities for office work, as they are usually quite creative, calm and thoughtful, and work really well independently. Share some situations where being an introvert has helped your career, whether you worked hard on a project to meet deadlines, gathered key information through observation, or spent time reflecting on a problem before coming up with the solution. This will come across great in an interview and is sure to impress the hiring panel.

About the Author

Aimee Laurence, a professional writer at UK Custom Essays and Do My Assignments , is involved in writing projects on numerous topics. She enjoys focusing on career development, psychology, and HR processes, so most of her articles touch on one of these subjects. In her free time, Aimee is a frequent traveler and explorer. Also, she writes for Essay Roo blog.

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