Thread by @greaterbayo

The Ten Major Components of A Successful Interview- 2

I will share the second major component. It’s your level of confidence.

2. Your Confidence

Showing confidence can be as important as displaying your skills or experience. As a matter of fact, you may not be able to adequately display your experience or skills if you’re not confident. Confidence is the foundation on which other factors rest.

If the foundation is missing, every other ingredient will not sit well.

Your confidence is revealed through the following 7 items I have called confidence boosters:

1. The way you walk into the room
Walk with your shoulders raised and not hunched. Your strides must be measured- neither hasty nor slow. Your head should be held high. Don’t be stiff. Let out your chest a bit.

Control the way you breathe. Your posture is critical to the way you are perceived. You should walk in such a way that you show strength, assurance and confidence.

2. The way you sit
Don’t sit carelessly. Sit up straight. Your laps should be together. Don’t slouch on your sit. Never knock your knees- that shows you’re anxious.

Lean a bit forward towards the interviewer. That position conveys an impression that you’re interested and engaged during the interview. The most important things is you should be comfortable in your sitting position.

Don’t cross your legs- it can be misunderstood as overconfidence. Don’t cross your arms- that is often interpreted as being bored or hostile.

3. Maintain eye contact
Cicero (106-43 BC) said “Ut imago est animi voltus sic indices oculi” meaning the face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are it’s interpreter. A popular saying is also that the eyes are a window to the soul.

During the interview, always maintain eye contact. If it’s a panel interview, maintain eye contact with any of the interviewer while he/she is asking a question- however, while responding ensure you have eye contacts with all the interviewers on the panel.

If you avoid eye contact, the interviewer will interpret it as being disinterested, hiding some information or having some trust issues. However, do not stare.

4. Your body language
Research has shown that only 7% of any message is conveyed through words. 93% is through non-verbal communication of which body language forms a very significant portion. Your body language can indicate if you’re excited or if you’re disinterested.

You have to watch actions like nodding, fidgeting and gesticulations. Also be careful about actions like clearing your throat, shaking your legs, snapping your fingers, touching your nose, biting your fingernails and other similar actions.

Engaging in the aforementioned can be perceived as showing anxiety.

If your hands are clammy or you’re sweating, don’t be afraid to use your handkerchief. Better to use it than to have sweat drop off your brows.

5. Your facial expression
While this is also an integral part of non-verbal communication, I’m discussing this separately because of its significance to how successful an interview can be.

You should have a smile on your face throughout the interview process and no matter how demanding it may be. Smiling is a way to diffuse the tension and maintain a connection between you and the interviewer. Nothing disarms easily like a smile given at the right time.

Avoid frowning or rolling your eyes. They convey negative messages to the interviewers.

6. The way you answer questions
Be careful about your voice tone, pitch, speed and volume. Be audible enough for everyone in the room to hear you but don’t shout. Always avoid a situation where the interviewer will ask you to speak up.

The tone of your voice must be friendly and not harsh or hostile. If you’re answering a question and you have to narrate a story or an incident, modulate your pitch frequently so you can bring some excitement into your narration and prevent your speech from being monotonous.

Don’t rush when you’re talking. Let your speech be measured so it can be taken in by the interviewers. Speak clearly and precisely. Avoid using long, winding statements. Be direct in your response to questions.

7. Your energy level
If the job role demands that you display enthusiasm or show that you’re outgoing, your energy level is an area to pay attention to.

While all the aforementioned confidence boosters have an impact to play on the energy level, the candidate must be deliberate in showing up as a high energy individual. Two major things drive energy: passion and your level of preparation.

To be continued

Bayo Adeyinka

Do you have copies of my books? Send a DM to @Rovingheights and they’ll deliver to your doorsteps.

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