5 Interview Tips for Introverts

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Having an important interview is nerve-wracking for just about everyone. But when you’re an introvert, interviews can feel almost unbearable.

If you are an introvert and you have an important interview coming up, follow these tips to feel calm and in control.

1. See it as an Opportunity

An introvert’s first reaction to the prospect of an interview is usually dread. This obviously sets a very bad tone for the actual event. See the interview as an opportunity to advance your career or positively change your life in some way. Feeling anything right off the bat besides positivity is just setting you up for experiencing anxiety.

2. Be Prepared

The more you know what to expect, the calmer you will feel walking into that meeting. It’s fine for you to ask some details about what you can expect. Will you be meeting with one person or more? What will be discussed? Don’t obsess over the information but try to get a sense of what you will experience. This will help you visualize the event ahead of time and get comfortable with the idea.

3. Do Some Research

Once you find out who will be interviewing you, spend a little time looking up their background. Knowing a little bit about the person or people will also illustrate your interest in the position and help you be comfortable in conversation.

4. Recognize Nerves are Natural

On the day, don’t scold yourself for being nervous. It is completely natural for everyone to be nervous. You care about the outcome, and you’re feeling on the spot. Everyone feels like this. Accept that nerves simply mean you want to do a good job and then stop thinking about them.

5. Breathe

You know why there is so much discussion about the benefits of slow, deep breathing? Because it actually works. By breathing slowly and deeply you are sending a signal to your brain that there is no danger in your environment. Your brain then tells the rest of your body to “cool it.” Fight-or-flight hormones cease being excreted, heart rate slows, and you feel calm. This is powerful and it WORKS! So that morning getting ready, and on your drive, and while you are waiting, think of little else than keeping your breathe slow, deep and steady.

Being an introvert doesn’t have to be a curse. If you follow these five tips you will set yourself up for interview success.