Member Article

Over confidence with job interviews

Have you ever heard someone say, “My problem is the application. I’m confident that if I can get to interview I’ll get the job”?

Oh you have? Yes, in fact I think we all have, many times. I cry inside a little whenever I hear it. For me this is the mistaken idea that job interviews are just about likeability. Let me confirm something, they are not.

It’s human nature that we are attracted to confidence. People like a charmer, a nice smile, an air of confidence. But when a recruiter has a job vacancy to fill they also like someone who walks out leaving them in no doubt that they must hire you and the alternative does not bear thinking about. Confidence will play a part in that but you want more than confidence.

Not every job requires a confident outgoing personality and recruiters/hiring managers know this, especially the good ones. Some roles require diligence, some require hard physical graft. In order to ensure that you are the person offered the job you must always take your ‘A’ game to interview. Polished appearance, perfect body language, STAR examples and inquisitive closing questions. Good recruiters want qualifications, experience, knowledge and capability. After that point is when factors such as likeability come into play, so always prepare like it’s your last interview.

Interviews are a competitive process. When someone says to me “I’m confident I can get the job if I can get to interview,” I always remind them that 90% of people say the same thing.

Daniel Knowles, owner Lancaster ICV, is a Careers Caoch and Small Business Adviser.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lancaster ICV .