Interviewing isn’t easy and neither is interviewing as an introvert. As someone who values time alone, I prefer to do my job and let my work speak for itself. So crafting the perfect response and conveying my value to the interviewer feels like a mountain to climb. I know I’m not the only person who feels like this. As a result, I decided to write down a few tips I use for myself when I interview.
Here are 3 easy things you can do to interview as an introvert to confidently sell yourself as a candidate!
Interviewing as an Introvert Tip 1: Use Post Its
Seriously?
Seriously.
Hear me out.
Being an introvert means that some times we can overthink things. So to avoid getting stuck in our head (as one does), use a few post-its and stick them around your monitor. This is a neat and rather crafty way to remember the highlights of your previous jobs, efforts or experiences. Those little yellow paper squares are going to be your best friend.
Ask yourself some questions like “What metrics can you mention?”, “Any experiences that highlight leadership projects?” and ”Are there any related job experiences I can mention?”
Write down the answers on the stickies and place them around your screen so you can sneak a glance without being obvious.
Interviewing as an Introvert Tip 2: Use the S.T.A.R Method
Did you know that there are several interview techniques you can use to tip the odds in your favor?
Our favorite method here at Route Networking Group is the S.T.A.R. method. The S.T.A.R method is a fool proof way to answer interview questions like the professional you are!
But what does S.T.A.R mean?
S.T.A.R stands for “Situation, Task, Action, Results” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. You first explain the general situation that you or your company faced. Then you talk about the specific task you had. 3rd, you talk about the actions you took to solve the problem and finally you discuss the results.
For example, the situation could be that your company wanted to increase the number of email subscribers and your task was to use social media/digital advertising to do that. The actions you took involved setting up a website campaign on Facebook, designing the images, writing the copy and descriptions etc. The results are just that, the metrics that were created as a result of your actions.
A long time ago, we wrote a blog that details exactly how to use the S.T.A.R method that you can check out here!
This is your opportunity to show your expertise, your unique views on the assignment and to stand out as a candidate.
Remember that interviewers are looking to see how you can add to the company and the S.T.A.R Interview Method is a great way to do that!
Interviewing as an Introvert Tip 3: Practice Makes Perfect
Interviews can be repetitive but that’s something you can use to your advantage! As an introvert, I like some degree of predictability and in my experience there’s always a set of core questions asked in interviews. As a result, it’s easy to prepare and rehearse my answers to questions I know I’m going to get.
Questions like “Tell me about yourself” ”Do you have any experience with x,y,z?” and “Why do you want to work here?” are usually asked.
I write out my answers. Then I practice my responses so that when I’m getting nervous, running on 3 cups of coffee, vibes, and a few doughnuts, I know exactly what marks to hit.
If you’re worried that you might forget your answers, just write a few key phrases on a post-it!
Final Thoughts
There’s a lot of preparation that goes into interviewing well.
As coach always says “Practice makes perfect.”
Entering the job market is hard enough so interviewing as an introvert is another obstacle for us folks who enjoy focusing on our work and being left to our own devices. We hope these tips help you overcome the interviewing jitters!
Take a look at our open positions and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and LinkedIN!
If you didn’t see a position you liked, you can also submit your resume for open consideration too.
