As an introvert, getting interviewed for a new job can be challenging. I am aware that most people find interviews stressful and nerve-wracking. However, interviews are so much worse for introverts. Trust me, I would know. I find it difficult to be outspoken and outgoing, and I struggle whenever I’m put on the spot.
I find that as an introvert, you have to act extroverted so that people may think that you are personable. If you are introverted like I am, you probably have difficulty with talking about yourself or engaging in small talk with new people. In essence, Interviews are panicky for me, and both physically and emotionally draining because interviewers want to conversate about me. This is not something I am often very good at doing.
I have a vivid memory of when I had an interview with Narcity for a content creator job position. I was ecstatic and thankful for the opportunity. I loved that I was going to get paid to do what I love the most, writing. For me, the job would have been a dream come true. I remember arriving at the venue for the interview and feeling super shocked to find out that it was a group interview. Immediately I started shaking, and my voice started cracking. My palms got sweaty and I was in a state of absolute anxiety. I quickly ran out of the office.
This was the worst experience for me till date, I regret not having participated in the interview. Afterwards, it felt like I lost the zeal to send my application for any job. I felt disappointed in myself and crushed to have lost that golden opportunity just because I was afraid to answer a few questions.
Fortunately, now I have a job and I want to give out some tips on how to handle the dreaded interviews without ruining prospective career opportunities. Hopefully these tips help!
Do your research
This is extremely important. Make sure you know about the company, and check their reviews on social platforms. Having an in-depth knowledge of the company will help you become more confident and reflect positive energy during and after the interview. Surf their website to find out more information on the company. This is important because it motivates you.
Use a relaxation technique to calm your nerves
I can get nervous around new people to an extent that I may sprint out of the room during conversations. Therefore, I learnt two ways to calm myself before going into such an environment.
- Pep talk
I give myself a pep talk in front of the mirror. I say things that make me happy such as words of affirmation. I say things like ‘you can do it’ or ‘believe in yourself’. This makes me feel more confident and pushes me towards my purpose for that day.
- Stress ball: I learned about the importance of a stress ball by chance. In retrospection, during a class presentation, my friend handed out stress balls to the class before beginning her presentation. I grabbed one because I was already freaking out in preparation for my turn to present to the class. The stress ball did not completely calm my nerves but it made it easier to focus on something other than the presentation. Therefore, I recommend a stress ball for times you need to cool down a bit.
Prepare your answers
This is very vital because it is one of the real reasons I have a job today; I mentally prepared for anything the interviewers planned to throw at me. I googled about writing jobs and interview questions and saw some useful links. I practiced and prepared myself for the interview.
- Stalling: Sometimes, interviewers could ask random questions that may throw you off, so I’ve learnt how to stall them while I quickly thought about my next words. You could use phrases like “can you expand on that?” or “..could you please repeat that?” This could give you a few seconds to gather your thoughts and figure out an appropriate answer.
Being an introvert has its Pros, but it also has it’s Cons because in our world, extroversion wins and people are more receptive to those who can be verbally expressive in any setting. Contrarily, it may be quite challenging to ace an interview if you are not as expressive. However, I believe you have got this because if I can get a job with these simple techniques, so can you.