4 Tips to Help Introverts Ace Interviews

The addition of AI and increase in remote work mean we’re not talking with people as much as we used to. Interviewing is stressful for most of us already, but it can be especially hard for introverts which can make landing your next job a little harder. If interviewing, expressing yourself, and connecting with others are difficult for you, you’re not alone! Here are 4 tips to help you feel more prepared and have an easier time acing your interview:

1. Ask Family and Friends for Compliments
If you struggle to talk about yourself, then go to the people who know you best and ask them what they think are your biggest strengths and skills. If a close friend says you’re a great listener and your coworker says you’re always someone who always finishes what you start, then these are great attributes to highlight in an interview when you’re asked about what value you bring. It’s also a great confidence boost.

2. Practice Ice Breaker Questions & Common Talking Points
“Tell me about yourself” is still a common ice breaker question you can expect at the beginning of an interview. Preparing how you’ll give a short and engaging response to this question will help you start off strong. Making a good first impression does a lot to set the tone for the rest of the conversation, so you want to start and end strong. People ramble when they get nervous, and “small talk” is harder for introverts, so practice really does matter here.

3. Be Aware of Your Body Language & Inflection
These two things play a surprisingly big role in how you’re perceived in interviews whether virtual or in person. If you’re interviewing virtually, it’s important to look into the camera and make eye contact periodically to help build a connection and it’s also important to remember to pause and smile and lean in slightly while speaking. These things are helpful for in person interviews too. And be mindful of your tone of voice and inflection. When you change the tone and meter of your voice as you speak, it helps keep people engaged and also helps you build a stronger connection.

4. Practice Interviewing with Someone You Don’t Know Well
Practicing with someone unfamiliar serves two purposes. It lets you test out some of the strategies we’ve already talked about, and it forces you to have to think on your feet and address real life situations where you’ll have to improvise, which is what interviewing is all about.

Need more help? Our career coaches are real people, not AI bots, and we’re experts at all things related to a job search. If you’d like to speak with a real person, then give us a call or send us a message through our website. We’d be happy to chat with you about your unique situation. Cheers to your success!