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July 28, 2022
Confidence will take you a long way in an interview. Hiring managers are more likely to remember your performance if you were able to deliver answers confidently. Likewise, if you show a lack of confidence in an interview, this will also stick in the hiring manager’s memory.
You don’t have to feel confident all the time to be able to give the impression of confidence in a job interview. You simply need to know a few vital cues that will help you to come across as a more confident person.
Knowledge and experience will always be more important, but hiring managers will be drawn to confident candidates. This is because confident employees are more likely to be successful. They’re also less likely to crumble under pressure or become overwhelmed in difficult situations.
That’s why it’s important that you learn how to answer interview questions confidently. Here are five key tips:
The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel. So take some time to research the company and the role you’re interviewing for. This way, you’ll be able to anticipate some of the questions that may arise. You can also practice answering the most common interview questions so that you feel more confident when the time comes to answer them for real.
Practice saying your answers aloud either on your own or with a friend or family member. This will help you to spot any obvious gaps in your answer and will also help to increase your confidence in the delivery.
When you’re feeling nervous, it can be tempting to speak quickly in an attempt to get the interview over with. However, this will only make you sound more nervous and could cause you to trip over your words.
Instead, take a deep breath and try to speak slowly and clearly. This will help to calm your nerves and will also make it easier for the interviewer to understand you. If you find yourself stumbling over words or speeding up your speech, stop and take a sip of water before continuing.
You can also ask for feedback to determine if you have answered the question sufficiently. For example, you could finish your answer and then say “would you like me to elaborate?”. This will give the interview panel an opportunity to ask for more detail if they need it.
Making eye contact is a sign of confidence. It shows that you’re comfortable in the situation and that you’re not trying to hide anything. However, it’s important not to overdo it. If you stare at the interviewer for too long, it will come across as creepy or intense. Instead, try to strike a balance by making eye contact throughout the conversation while also looking around the room or at your notes occasionally. If there are a few people on the interview panel, you can split your attention between them all.
Your body language can say a lot about how you’re feeling, so it’s important to use positive body language in an interview. This means sitting up straight, smiling, and maintaining an open posture. Avoid crossing your arms or legs, as this can make you seem closed off and uninterested.
If you’re unsure of how to answer a question, it’s better to take a moment to think about your response than to blurt out something that isn’t well thought out. If you need to ask for clarification on the question, this is also fine. It’s far better to confirm the question and take a moment to think before you answer than to blurt out something that doesn’t make any sense.
If you need to buy yourself some time, try taking a sip of water. This will give you a little extra time to formulate your answer in a calm and confident manner.
Following these five key tips, you’ll be able to answer interview questions with confidence. Remember that preparation is key, so take some time to research the company and the role before your interview. And don’t forget to use positive body language and make eye contact throughout the conversation. Good luck!
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