Job interviews can be nerve-racking, and if you let your nerves get the better of you, you probably won’t get the job.
No matter how much experience you have or how great a list of questions you’ve prepared, you need to demonstrate that you’re confident in who you are and confident in your ability to do the job.
Ready to learn how to mentally prepare and psych yourself up before meeting with a new employer?
Here are five ways to boost your confidence right before your interview.
1. Take Some Deep Breaths
Anxiety is a confidence killer. If you’re experiencing anxious or nervous feelings, taking a few deep breaths can ease the mind and make you feel more confident in a matter of seconds.
While you’re waiting for your interview to begin, inhale and exhale deeply. Deep breathing sends more oxygen to the brain, makes you feel calmer, and eases worry, three things that can instantly build your confidence and self-esteem.
2. Practice Positive Self Talk
The second you start thinking I’m not qualified for this job or the interviewer might hate me, you’ve shot yourself in the foot.
Negative self-talk will only suppress your confidence, and as soon as those thoughts start to creep into your head you have to combat them with positive self-talk.
Think I got this! Think I can do this! Think these people are going to want to hire me on the spot!
When you can convince yourself that you have the ability to ace the interview and land the job, you’re more likely to do so.
3. Do Your Homework
There are a variety of ways that you can boost your confidence in the moments leading up to your interview, but taking some preliminary steps long before the interview begins is even better.
Here’s how to do it:
- Research the employer online
- Visit their website and learn all you can about their business
- Read their social media posts to get a sense of their company values
- If they’re brick and mortar, visit their physical location
- Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer
You can also research employee reviews of the company on sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed. Knowing what current and former employees have to say about the employer can help you craft intelligent questions and help you get a better sense of the company culture.
4. Arrive at Your Interview Knowing That You Look the Part
Dress for success. The clothes make the man. When you look good, you feel good …
There are endless clichés and quotes about how your outward appearance can affect your inner state of mind, and they’re all true.
Doing research prior to your interview can help you get a sense of the company culture and style. If you arrive at your interview knowing that you look like the perfect candidate for the job, it’s easier to feel like the perfect candidate for the role.
5. Remind Yourself That the Interviewer Wants to Hire You
Employers generally don’t waste their time interviewing candidates that they don’t think will be a good fit for the position. The very fact that you landed an interview means that the employer thinks you could be a great choice for the role.
Reminding yourself of this fact moments before your interview begins is a great way to build your confidence.
Why Is Confidence So Important?
Exuding confidence shows that you believe that you are capable of doing the job. No matter how much experience you may have, a lack of confidence can overshadow all of your previous successes and achievements.
If you’re not confident in yourself during an interview, the interviewer might doubt your ability to do the job. Just keep in mind that there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance.
Exuding confidence will always help you land the job, while acting arrogant can have the exact opposite effect.
The whole point of a job interview is to get an offer, and sometimes that offer may be contingent on signing a contract.
No matter how great the interview goes and how excited you are to accept the job, you have to be careful about what you sign. Check out this in-depth guide that explains what employment contracts are all about (and why you need to hire a lawyer before you sign one).
Great tips! Confidence can make or break your interview x