Interview Tips For Your Personality: Introvert vs. Extrovert by Laura Slingo
Most people would agree that an interview is one of the most stressful situations we encounter in our working lives; but what happens when your personality means that interview situations feel like the end of the world? As we learn more about introverts and extroverts, we thought we’d come up with a handy list of interview tips to suit each personality type.
IF YOU’RE AN INTROVERT…
Try and banish the nerves
While most people feel the nerves before going into an interview, there are ways to overcome them. Try telling yourself that it’s not an interrogation, but simply a conversation. Remind yourself that the interview is also an opportunity for you to determine whether the company is the right fit for you, and that it’s a two-way process.
Gear up for small talk
If you’re an introvert, there are probably no two things you hate more than small talk, and being the center of attention. Unfortunately, in an interview situation, this is unavoidable. Spend a few days before your interview really gearing yourself up to make small talk, as well as talking about yourself; the more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.
Scope out the situation in advance
If you can, do some research and find out who’ll be interviewing you. If you’re able to get hold of this information, have a look and see if they appear on the company website, or alternatively, have a look on networks such as LinkedIn and try to put a face to the name. You could also do a practice run of the journey, so you’ll know exactly where to go and how much time you should allow – a simple way to reassure yourself and keep some of the nerves at bay.
IF YOU’RE AN EXTROVERT…
Let the interviewer lead
It’s vital that you let your interviewer take the lead, especially in the beginning; even though it may come naturally to you to jump in with comments and answers to their questions, it’s important that you take a step back and show that you can listen.
Pauses are OK
It might be in your nature to fill gaps in conversation with small talk, but actually, pauses in conversation in an interview can be your best friend. They’ll give you time to really consider your answer to the question, ensuring that you don’t babble and come across as over-excited. Pauses also allow your interviewer to digest your answer, before moving on.
Answer the questions concisely
If you’ve got a tendency to veer off-topic, you should be making a real effort to answer any questions from the interviewer clearly and concisely. If you do find yourself going off on a tangent, try to bring the conversation back to where it needs to be. By keeping things brief, and by avoiding any rambling habits, you should be on the right track.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Regardless of your personality type, an interview is a real chance for you to shine, and show why you’d be a good fit for the company. These interview tips should help you stay on track, but if you find yourself completely masking your personality, it could be that the job just isn’t the one for you; you don’t want to be pretend to be someone that you’re not, and then end up in a job that isn’t suited to your personality!
About the Author: Laura Slingo is Digital Copywriter for the US’s fastest-growing job board, Resume-Library. For more expert advice on job searches, careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice pages.