People with introverted personality traits might be at a slight disadvantage in job interviews, since society (and perhaps employers) values extroverted personality traits. But, no fear! Here’s how to get hired for quiet, shy personality types.
7 Job Interview Strategies for Introverts
1. Apply for jobs that suit you. This may seem obvious, but many introverts are stuck in jobs that don’t suit their personality types. When you’re job hunting, focus on a career that suits you. This is not only an effective job interview strategy for introverts, it will also make your future job much easier!
2. Do your research. How long has this company been running, who founded it, how many people does it employ, and what is its mission statement? The more you know about your potential employer, the more comfortable you’ll be in the job interview – whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. Ask your interviewer questions, because it shows that you’re intelligent, motivated, and organized.
3. Get comfortable with who you are. Many people with introverted personality traits think they’re socially inept, weird, or insanely shy. Introverts don’t always realize that they’re simply drained by groups of people and that they process their thoughts differently than extroverts. The more you know about introverted personality traits – and the more comfortable you are with yourself – the easier your job interview will be.
4. Be open about who you are. An effective job interview strategy for introverts is to be real. Don’t lie about your personal or professional strengths and weaknesses, future plans, or past experiences.
5. Be honest. Do you feel overwhelmed or nervous at the thought of being interviewed by three or four people? Consider expressing your anxiety. This may help in two ways: 1) sometimes simply saying how you feel out loud makes it less powerful; and 2) often, interviewers will respond with reassurances and anecdotes of their own nerve-wracking moments! Expressing your thoughts in an open, professional manner can go a long way – in getting you hired – especially if you’re a quiet, shy personality type.
6. Practice your answers. An effective job interview strategy for introverts is to be prepared for the standard interview questions, such as: What are your educational background and professional accomplishments? What are your weaknesses, and how can you improve on them? Why are you no longer at your last place of employment? Why are you interested in this job, or this company? An interviewer may also say, “Tell me about yourself.” It may help quiet, shy personality types to practice their answers before the job interview.
7. Explain yourself. Since introverts don’t like being the center of attention, they may be tempted to keep their answers short. While it’s not an effective job interview strategy to be long-winded, it’s also not effective to be closed-mouthed! So, aim to answer questions in a couple of minutes (as opposed to simply saying “yes” or “no”).
If you found 7 Job Interview Strategies for Introverts helpful, try:
- The Introvert’s Personality Traits
- Tips for Networking Successfully for Introverts
- How Introverts Communicate
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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