courtesy of Flickr user, Son of Groucho
I am a big believer of the phrase, “fake it until you make it,” especially when it comes to interview for a job or meeting a potential new client. Chances are, the interviewer will notice if you are full of self-doubt and begin to doubt you as well. When you’re trying to sell yourself to a potential employer, even when you have no idea what you’re doing, you gotta have confidence!
At the end of the day, you are your biggest cheerleader and no one is a better advocate for you than yourself. I have to gone into new client meetings completely intimidated because I either didn’t feel adequate enough for the job, prepared in some way, or a slew of other reasons that left me shaking in my boots- we all have. But you learn to reach deep within to find your inner Beyonce and come off seeming like a rock star-even if you aren’t feeling it.
Below are the best ways to find your Sasha Fierce:
Wear something you are comfortable in
If you have a big interview and nothing in your closet is particularly appealing, that’s definitely an excuse to shop! Feeling fabulous in the clothes you wear to an interview is the first step to feeling confident. That isn’t to say, however, that you should feel uncomfortable. Don’t wear anything too tight, too short or shoes that hurt your feet. You’ll just end up fidgeting the whole time which will make you look nervous- counter to what you’re going for. For example, I used to wear heels to interviews but nixed them because they hurt my feet and I’m tall. It made me feel uncomfortable being taller than the person who was interviewing me. In the end, you just need to wear something that you feel like a million bucks in.
Do you research
The more information you know about the company, the more confident you will feel. Browse the company’s website, do a Google search and look at their social media channels. In the past, when I’ve interviewed people I’m always most impressed when they’re able to answer questions specifically about my company. Through doing your background research you’ll be able to do that and be less likely to be caught off guard.
Don’t be afraid to brag
This is your one chance to really brag and not seem full of yourself. Even if you don’t feel that confident about the interview, pointing out what you’re good at or what you’ve achieved will help you fake that confidence. Interviews are there for you to sell yourself, so use the opportunity. Sometimes this means bringing a portfolio or extra collateral to show off how awesome your work is. Of course there is a fine line between interview bragging and being cocky so definitely be careful!
Ask questions
I think asking questions is the ultimate sign of confidence. None of us know everything and it takes a certain amount of self-esteem to admit that. It’s a great quality because it shows you don’t let your ego get in the way. Often, you’ll be given the opportunity to ask questions during or at the end of an interview; take this time to interview the employer as well. Ask them any questions that may have come up while you were researching the company, make sure you understand the parameters of the job and what is expected of you and make sure to ask questions that will help you decide if the company is a good fit for you. The questions you ask can be just important as the answers you give.
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