How to Sell Yourself During a Job Interview

Carry Yourself with Confidence

If you feel uncertain about yourself during the interview, it will show. Do your best to outwardly show confidence when meeting the interviewers. What you say in your responses to the questions is essential (we’ll discuss that later), but how you say it, your overall appearance, and how you carry yourself are also important. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Pay Attention to Your Body Language

Are you slouching in your chair? Are you fidgeting? Are you avoiding eye contact? These things can make you seem unfocused, disinterested in the job, or lacking in self-confidence. Maintain good posture, make eye contact when shaking hands, and sit in a position that shows you are engaged in the conversation. Here are some body language tips to follow during the interview.

Be Careful with Your Word Choice

Nerves may heighten your verbal tension. Try to avoid saying “um” or “like” too often, and minimize any tendency you have to speak with a rising intonation at the end of every sentence. Speaking with a rising intonation is a speech pattern that can make you seem immature. Recording yourself while practicing interview questions – or practicing with a friend – can help identify these habits.

Choose Appropriate Business Attire for the Interview

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to what to wear during an interview. Wear something you feel comfortable in (if you have a suit that itches or pulls at the seams, the interviewers may notice) but also choose clothing appropriate for the specific interview. What is suitable for an interview at a fashion magazine versus a tech startup versus a retail position differs.

Practice Your Answers, but Make Sure to Develop Specific and Distinct Responses

It’s good to practice what you will say in response to common interview questions. Interviewers will expect you to be prepared. But just because the questions are common doesn’t mean your answers should be generic! Remember: you want to sell yourself during the interview, and no one wants to buy a boring product. Here are some tips to keep in mind while practicing your answers:

Be Specific When Giving an Example. Don’t just say “My work on this project saved the company money.” Tell the interviewers how much money and what you did to save it. Avoid vague answers.

Tell a Story When Discussing Something You Did or Experienced. It’s easy to say that you are a team player, organized, and a doer. These buzzwords appear on job descriptions, but it’s your responsibility to translate them into stories about yourself. This proves you possess that quality.

Keep Your Answers Concise but Answer the Direct Question. Don’t volunteer extra information in your answers. It’s better to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts than to rush and talk for several minutes. Respect the interviewers’ time and pay attention to their cues. (If the interviewers look bored, they probably are – wrap it up!).

Know What Interviewers Are Looking For

In some ways, what interviewers are looking for is obvious: a candidate who can perform the job well and fit into the company. But this will vary from job to job, from industry to industry, and from company to company. To get a sense of what hiring managers want and need, research the company and industry. If it’s been a while (as with writing the cover letter), analyze the job description.

Showcase Your Strengths

Interviews are not the time to be humble! They are the perfect moment to say “I did XYZ” or “My work helped achieve ABC.” Avoid saying “we” and make sure to mention your accomplishments. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, think about presenting the achievements based on others’ feedback: I was selected as the top performer for two consecutive years. In my annual review, my manager praised my organizational skills.

Best

How to Ask for the Job

One of the best ways to seal the deal is to ask for the job at the end of the interview. There are strategic ways you can follow that won’t make you seem pushy or intrusive. Here are the optimal and non-optimal ways to ask for the job during the interview.

Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-sell-yourself-during-a-job-interview-4153288