Introverts have long suspected, and research now confirms, that no matter how you look on paper, if you can't give a good interview, you're less likely to get hired.
According to a study published in The Journal of Psychological Science , people who listened to or watched (via audio or video) job candidates pitch themselves in mock interviews were more impressed than people who read presentations from the same candidates.
So few no matter your accomplishments or your brilliance, you can't let your resume, or even the most finely crafted email, do the talking for you. To land the job, you must also put on a good show in the interview. And while it's certainly not impossible for most introverts, who are perfectly capable of being extroverted when needed, it often doesn't feel natural or easy.
But there are ways for seekers to job introverts to give themselves an edge in face-to-face interviews.
Before the interview
1. Do your homework.
“We were born seekers. We love that quiet time,” says Nancy Ancowitz, business communication coach, author of Self-Promotion for Introverts:The Silent Guide to Getting Ahead . “You always have to read your audience, so find out as much as you can beforehand. Research the interviewer, the company. Anything you can learn will give you a competitive edge. »
2. Get ready for a quick sale.
Write down a clear, succinct elevator pitch and practice it. “Know your key accomplishments and how you're going to talk about them,” says Ancowitz. “Otherwise you might start raving. »
3. Brag a little.
Talking about yourself makes many introverts uncomfortable, so start practicing in non-threatening situations, suggests leadership consultant Jennifer Kahnweiler, author of The Genius of Opposites:how introverts and extroverts achieve extraordinary results together. Weave chunks of what you're working on and what you're passionate about into conversations with friends and family to familiarize yourself with self-promotion.
4. Make a movie.
Research the questions you are likely to be asked in interviews and rehearse the answers. Formulate your answers and practice them out loud or, better yet, record yourself. "Watch your posture, your speaking speed, how long it takes you to answer a question, your volume, your eye contact," says Ancowitz.
5. Engage your support system.
Lindsey Plewa-Schottland, associate director of the Graduate Career Management Center at Baruch College in New York City, recommends finding someone to do mock interviews with you. Think about what the questions are really asking. “What people tend to grope about sometimes is not understanding, at first, the point of the questions. For example, an interviewer asking about a situation involving a conflict with a client or colleague doesn't want to hear about when you really got angry, says Plewa-Schottland. “Conflicts can just be a different way of doing things, a different style of working. They want an example where you took the initiative to resolve the conflict. »
6. Don't spare the details.
Ancowitz suggests practicing the interjection skill, in case you end up with a talkative interviewer. "You can't let them talk or they won't know anything about you," she says. Look for small moments where you can sneak in — for example, places to say, “Big point, and…” or, “I'd love to add to that…”, as well as using nonverbal cues, such as leaning forward or raising a finger.
Day of the interview
7. Relax.
Arrive well rested and try to avoid energy-intensive activities beforehand. Plewa-Schottland recommends arriving early. “Have a cup of coffee and try not to think about the interview. Relax for 15 minutes. »
8. Strike a power pose.
Body language theory suggests striking a “power pose” — hands on hips like Wonder Woman, for example — can have a confidence-boosting effect. Find a private place to pose for two minutes just before the interview.
Related: 10 best practices for making a good impression
During the interview
9. Imagine your best future.
If you still feel uncomfortable promoting yourself, think about how advancing your career will help an organization. “Talk about putting your skills and experience to work for the organization, enriching and inspiring the team,” says Ancowitz. "It takes it away from me, me, me." »
10. Look up.
Remember to pay attention to your non-verbals. “Eye contact is high on the priority list during a job interview,” says Ancowitz. If eye contact is uncomfortable for you, look at the other person's eyebrows, nose or ears.
11. Offer clarity.
Introverts' tendency to be succinct can backfire in interviews. If you're not sure if your few words answered a question, offer to add more information. If the interviewer does not encourage you to continue, you have permission to stop.
12. Buy time.
If you need a minute to think about a question, buy yourself some time by paraphrasing the question, says Kahnweiler. Don't be shy to return to an earlier topic that you could have covered better. "Just say something like, 'I had another thought on this,'" she said.
13. Summarize.
At the end of the interview, take a moment to recap. "Try to finish with a bang:'I want to reiterate why I'm interested in the position and why I'm qualified,'" Plewa-Schottland said.
14. Say yes.
If the interviewer invites you out for drinks or another event with co-workers, “the answer is Yes “Explains Ancowitz. "You go, if you want the job. »
Related: 13 simple steps to land the job you want
Tips for interviewers
15. Ignore shiny objects.
If you're the person on the other side of the desk, the one hiring, try not to be so blinded by the glare of extroverts that you miss the constant glow of introverts. Research published in 2012 in the Journal of the Academy of Management suggests that while extroverts are often better at landing jobs, introverts turn out to be better team players in the long run. So everyone benefits if you create an atmosphere where introverted candidates can show off their strengths.
16. Know yourself.
Check for biases you might bring to the interview. "The slower pace [of introverts] can be seen as a lack of enthusiasm," says Kahnweiler. “Pauses – especially for a more outgoing interviewer – could be mistaken for a lack of passion for the job. And if they don't brag about themselves or their accomplishments, it's because a lot of introverts are very self-effacing. »
17. Get the room ready.
Take a look at the interview frame itself. "You wouldn't want to have the interview in blazing lights and near a noisy area," Kahnweiler said. Putting your office between you and the candidate interferes with relationships, she adds. Sitting too close can be off-putting to introverts, who value personal space. In a conference room, sitting in a chat corner creates the right amount of privacy. If it is a group interview, place the candidate in the middle of the table rather than at the head.
18. Give it time.
Allow plenty of time. "If you program yourself too close, you'll be impatient if the person doesn't speak fast enough," says Kahnweiler. Be aware that introverted candidates are likely to pause and think before answering questions, and they won't fight for conversational space. "Let them talk and don't interrupt them," Kahnweiler said. "Especially if you're an extrovert, by asking more questions in rapid fire, you may be trying to make more noise. If you start waking up trying to change the energy in the room, pause for a few deep breaths.
19. Speak.
Of course, not all interviewers are extroverts – if you're an introvert who's hiring, you might need strategies to help maintain control when interviewing extrovert candidates. "You have to be comfortable with gently interrupting them," Kahnweiler says. "You can say things like, 'That's great, I have a few more questions to ask...'"
20. Drop a line.
Develop a few key phrases to signal that you need to get things done, such as “Can you tell me briefly…” or “In a few sentences…”.
21. Keep it fresh.
Kahnweiler says, “Not all questions should be open.” Try sprinkling different questions throughout the interview, such as “on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate yourself on…” or forced-choice questions that require yes or no answers.
Related: Introverted? Use these tips to build networks
This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
