How to be confident and assertive during job interviews

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When it comes to interviews, we’ve all had our moments when we wished we had performed better than we did. What if it didn’t have to be that way - what if we could go into every interview knowing that we performed well and really caught the attention of the employer as a potential candidate to fill the vacancy? For successful interviews, it takes tact and communication to really get the attention of the employer. Interviews are your chance to “sell” your abilities to the employer as to why you are the top candidate of choice.

So how does being confident and assertive really work during the interview process and during the job search in general?

The job search is a process, and the interview is a part of that process. To be successful during the process you must prepare through organization, research, and getting to know the employer on a more personal level before you even go to the job interview. The employment relationship begins with the first point of contact, and that is your application. In some instances, the relationship can begin when an employer seeks you out through finding your resume online, on LinkedIn, or through a referral. Once the first point of contact is made, you must begin your research and determine if this opportunity is a fit for your job aspirations. However, before you begin your job search, you should have a list of what you want from a new job – salary, location, environment, management, and the type of position you want.

Once you get past this process, you will now know what you want from your next job, and you can begin the research aspect of your search. When you see a job posting you like, get to know the employer through understanding the company and what it stands for. Research statistics and see what other people are saying about the company, a this will help you be prepared for when they do contact you. In this way, you will be knowledgeable about the company from the beginning. The early research process helps to build confidence and knowledge, which is an advantage in the job search and interview process.

Being Assertive and Confident during the process

The beginning – After you go through the phone interview and get the opportunity to meet the employer in person, you then need to prepare yourself to come across as confident, capable, and knowledgeable.

Interview Rehearsal – Research potential questions that the interviewer could ask you and make note of them using the STAR process. STAR = Situation, Task, Action, Result. The star process will help you have predetermined interview answers that you can use to answer questions as they arise. When utilizing the STAR process, you want to begin by coming up with a scenario of a situation you experienced at work. Typically, you would want to try and format your answer in a flexible way so you can tailor it to several types of job interviews. For example, you worked on a project at work to help improve patient waiting times when they came to the office to see a doctor. The STAR format is particularly good for combating behavioral based questions. Let’s look at how you would format this.

S – Situation – Waiting times were long in the office and sick patients were getting upset.

T – Task – Need to devise a plan to make waiting times shorter, could involve talking with the doctor, or a change in processes with booking appointments.

A – Action – Discussed with the doctor about how a typical appointment runs, learned of ways to improve the process in the doctor’s office, and put in a new policy that patients could only ask about one condition at a time when they are seeing the doctor. Also, shortened the appointment time from 20 minutes to 15 minutes.

R – Result – Shorter waiting times for patients, reduced from an average of 60 minutes to 30 minutes. With one condition policy per appointment allows for better service.

The STAR process will give you time to really think about what you want to say as you write it down. This will help with memory and flexibility of the question during the interview process. Once you have completed the STAR, come up with a narrative answer using your STAR to answer the question. In this process, it is also important to anticipate the types of questions you might be asked and prepare your STAR’s based on the type of interview you will be attending. Having predetermined answers that are in alignment with the interview at hand will help you feel more prepared and will help you come across as confident and knowledgeable about the company and the position.

First point of contact – When you meet the interviewer, stand-up and shake his or her hand (firm handshake) with a warm greeting such as “Nice to meet you.” On the way to the interview room, make small talk with the interviewer; this can be a great icebreaker and can help you relax.

The interview – Did you make notes? Did you come prepared with your updated resume, along with the supporting documentation and references that they requested? When you first enter the room, ask the employer if you could utilize your notes during the interview and provide them with your most recent resume.  Another strong point that shows confidence is having questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview. If you are having trouble coming up with questions, use ones like “Where do you see the company progressing in the next 5 years?” or “What does this position look like in the first 3 to 6 months?” Other questions can be about the company’s culture and its management style.

Answering the interview questions with tact – Answering the interview question is the most important part of the beginning of the relationship. Job seekers often struggle with behavioral based interview questions. When answering these questions, explain to the employer your story while relating it to the company and its needs. If you did something, take credit for it and explain the outcome of the activity. Use the Internet and search behavioral based questions related to the position for which you are interviewing and come up with an answer using the STAR format. If you need a minute to think about how you would like to answer the question, don’t be afraid to ask for a second to think about how you would like to phrase your answer. In addition, don’t be afraid to go into detail with your answer, but remember to keep the answer to two minutes or less, as you want to keep the listener’s attention.

Being assertive and confident during the interview process comes with preparation and knowledge. Think about it this way – you would not go into an exam without studying first, and the interview is the same way. The more you know, the better you will perform. Remember the interviewer on the other side of the table is a person who has called you in to get to know you better and see if you are a fit for his or her organization. This is your chance to make a connection with that person.  Always be yourself and show how knowledgeable you are about the position during the interview process. During the job search, knowledge is power and the key to being assertive and confident.