Top 7 Interview Tips for Introverts

As an introvert, getting ready for a job interview can feel really stressful and overwhelming. You have to meet complete strangers, answer a bunch of questions, and somehow convince the interviewers that you are the right fit for the role.

Any of these on their own can make you feel nervous or under pressure. However, with the right strategies, you can build your confidence and have a successful interview even as an introvert.

In this article, I will be sharing some practical job interview tips and strategies specifically tailored for an introvert like you.

7 Job Interview Tips for Introverts

1. Carry Out Your Research

This is a very important step. Once you get to the interview stage, you must take time to properly research the company and the role you are applying for. When you understand what the company does, their values, and what the role requires, you will feel more prepared and less anxious going in.

Here are some questions to guide your research:

• What does the company do, and who do they serve?
• What are their mission and core values?
• What is the company culture like?
• What tone and language do they use in their brand? Is it formal or casual?
• What does the role you are interviewing for involve, and what skills are they looking for?
• Are there any recent updates or news about the company?
• What makes this company different from its competitors?

Doing this will show that you are genuinely interested in being part of their team and it will reflect in the interview.

To learn more about the company, check out their website, and social media handles, especially LinkedIn.

Also, you can do your research on the person or people interviewing you. If you have a name, you can look them up on LinkedIn to get a sense of their role, background, and interests. This will give you some common ground to connect with them during the interview.

2. Be Familiar with Your Resume and Speak to it

Your resume is the foundation of your interview, so make sure you are very familiar with everything on it. Go through each section and be ready to talk about your experiences, your achievements, and the skills you have listed.

Also, check that your resume matches with the job description and be ready to explain any gaps or changes.

3. Practice Common Interview Questions

Before the day of your interview, start practicing popular interview questions. Most interviews tend to follow a similar pattern.

So, practicing ahead of time will help you feel more confident and you won’t be caught off guard. You can search and find top interview questions on Google and YouTube.

Examples of common interview questions include the following:

• How do you deal with difficult colleagues?
• What would you say is your biggest weakness?
• Why do you want to work with us?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• Why should we hire you?

Once you have your list of questions, start practicing them. You can do this in front of a mirror or record yourself on your phone.

Then, watch the recordings later so you can notice any habits and filler words you might want to reduce.

Another way is to write your answers on flash cards. This way, you can focus on the main points and practice anytime and anywhere.

There are also applications that can help you practice interview questions and take mock interviews. These tools will simulate real-time interviews so you can practice answering questions, get feedback, and build your confidence. Examples of them include interviewing.io, Pramp, big interview, etc.

You can also practice in front of your friends and family.

Doing all of this will help you get a better sense of how your response sounds. You will also notice areas you can improve and questions you can answer better.

While practice might not make perfect in this case but it will definitely make you better and less nervous when the real interview comes.

Note: While practicing, you don’t need to memorize your answers word for word. Just get comfortable enough to confidently answer the question in your own way. This will keep your responses natural and genuine during the interview. And you won’t forget anything.

ALSO READ: Top 10 Job Interview Questions and Practical Answers

4. Pay Attention to Your Appearance and Body Language

Your appearance and posture matter, especially for in-person interviews. Even if the interview is offline, remember to smile and show genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity.

It will help you create a great first impression and show that you are engaged and confident. For example, sitting up straight and making eye contact will make you appear confident and calm.

5. Ask Thoughtful Questions

Interviewers often expect you to ask questions from them too. It shows that you are genuinely interested in the role and that you have done your research about the organisation.

Examples of thoughtful questions you can ask your interviewers include:

• Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
• What does success look like in this position?
• How would you describe the company culture?

When you start feeling nervous during the interview, try asking 2 or 3 of these questions.

6. Take Time to Think through Your Answers before You Respond

Yes, you are nervous but instead of rushing, slow down and calm yourself. Taking your time will help the interviewers hear and understand your answers better.

It is much better to pause and think than to speak too quickly and get nervous or confused.

7. Believe in Yourself

You need to remember that you are not the only one who feels nervous before an interview. Even your interviewer can be nervous because they have to assess so many candidates and choose the right one. So, trust in your skills and abilities.

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Conclusion

The fact that you are an introvert doesn’t mean you are weak and there is no reason it should affect your interviews. Interviewing and communication is a skill and like all skills, it needs practice.

So, make the adequate preparation, research and keep putting to yourself out there. With time, you will get better at it.