How to Feel Confident at Job Interviews

Do Your Homework

Do some research on the company and the job for which you are being interviewed. This enables you to ask sensible questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the company and answer questions asked by interviewers. Interviewers want to know that you are genuinely interested in their company and their job and aren't just looking for any job. They will be impressed if you show that you've made an effort to learn about their company.

Your research can come from annual reports, company websites, promotional brochures, news releases and talking with staff etc.

Dress for the Role

If you want to play baseball, you need to dress like a baseballer. Similarly, if you are going for a blue collar job (trades or physical labour) dress appropriately with trousers and perhaps an open neck polo shirt or short sleeve shirt for men and slacks and a short sleeve top for women. If you are going for a white collar job (professional/administrative), wear a collar and tie or a suit. A good idea is to visit the firm, if possible, and see what people are wearing; if not, it's better to over dress than under dress.

Make sure your grooming is impeccable; neat hair style, clean finger nails, trimmed moustache etc. Keep distracting jewellery to a minimum and don't wear anything too outlandish. For example, don't wear a pin or badge that identifies your membership with a specific religion, political party or cult.

First impressions are very important. Make sure you impress in every way.

Be Enthusiastic

Your prospective employer wants you to be a vibrant, enthusiastic person with a positive attitude. Make sure you put some special emphasis on showing that you are that type of person. Ask sensible questions; smile a little and be personable. Enthusiastic, personable people create a good working environment, something every employer wants ... enthusiasm is catching.

Be Totally Honest

When I read a discussion group question recently about whether the writer should use false certification, it brought home the fact that there are numbers of unscrupulous people who fake diplomas, certificates, and referee reports. If you lie, you will be caught out at some stage. Be honest and you won't have to worry about something you have lied about catching up with you later ... and perhaps getting dismissed.

Questions

Try to envisage the types of questions you will be asked about your prior job performance and how you expect to transfer skills learnt to your new job. Additionally, expect the unexpected questions that include such things as how you can add value to the company, what your greatest achievements are, how you would do such and such if you get the job, why you want to leave your present job, when you have had failures or things go wrong, and how you would handle specific situations.

Conclusion

Improving your confidence at interview is all about being prepared. While you can never be prepared for everything, some degree of preparation will be a great help. Remember that all of us have to face interviewers at some stage of our lives and that it gets easier as you gather more experience. Just be yourself and everything will go smoothly.