If you don’t believe in yourself and what you can do, it’s hard to make others believe that about you. When you go into an interview, you need to be able to speak confidently about your experience and accomplishments so the employer can have confidence in you as a potential employee.
This delicate balance can quickly move from confidence to cockiness, causing the interviewer to develop a negative opinion of you. Most people aren’t looking to hire someone who’s overly arrogant, despite their qualifications. Try these four ways to show off your confidence without taking it too far.
1. Start with your appearance
How you’re dressed is the interviewer’s first impression of you. You know the basic rules, but sometimes looking sharp can carry into the excessive. When you cover yourself in noticeably expensive brands, you aren’t letting your demeanor speak for itself. You’re immediately shouting, ‘look at me I buy nice things!’ Let your skills speak louder than your expensive watch.
2. Speak carefully about yourself
There will be several moments where you can either be too self-deprecating or too self-promoting. If complimented, don’t immediately go into a thousand reasons why it isn’t warranted. You also don’t want to explain to them why it is necessary based on how awesome you are. Again, it’s about finding humility in your accomplishments and recognizing how you received help without giving away all the credit.
3. Watch your tone
Speaking loudly doesn’t make you seem more authoritative; it simply makes you seem a little annoying. If you come in speaking louder to exude confidence, the interviewer will likely see right through it. Similarly, being too quiet can hurt you as well. The key is to speak clearly and confidently, not loudly.
4. Answer with real weaknesses
The old trick when asked about weaknesses is to turn them into strengths, but sometimes this can hurt you. It can make you seem arrogant because you aren’t being vulnerable or honest. Everyone has weaknesses that don’t translate into strengths. A confident person can discuss these and their impact on the job without trying to overcompensate.
A staffing agency changing expectations
At Workbox Staffing, we’re doing things differently. We may not be the standard corporate types, but we always get the job done. Our recruiters are real humans who take the time to get to know you and your skills and help guide you through the placement process. Jumpstart your job search today and request a call from us!
