When we enter an interview situation, many of us immediately become our “professional” selves. We were taught in order to get a job we must dress modestly, speak eloquently and behave in a confident and courteous manner.
But is it possible to act too professional? What happens when your personality disappears altogether because you’ve become so concerned with behaving the right way and saying the right things?
Many interviewees stiffen up, get nervous and rely on monotonous, impersonal answers to get them through the interview. And while those answers are sometimes enough to get the job, most job hunters really want to stand out of the crowd and hit the interview out of the park.
Getting over the fear factor
Interviews are nerve-racking events which demand perfection and leave little room for error. From the first handshake to the standard “we’ll be in touch,” interviewees are evaluated on every aspect of their presentation.
But job hunters should remember that an interview is a conversation. The employer has already read over your resumé and knows what qualifications you have. The interview is set up so the interviewer can see who you are as a person, how you present yourself and how well you might fit in at their company.
Making a lasting impression
Employers interview many applicants at a time for the same position, so being likable and memorable is beneficial to you being considered for the job.
During an interview, the employer is not only assessing your qualifications and professional assets, they’re also looking at how well you could fit in with the company. Employers know being successful relies on much more than just a basic knowledge of the company and good qualifications.
While those attributes are important, being friendly and having a warm, positive attitude is crucial as well.
It’s okay to laugh!
I’m not saying acting professional and speaking about your qualifications are not important. They definitely are. But it’s also important not to clam up and become an interview robot. What many employers are looking for is a passion for the role, the company and the industry in general.
When you show you have the qualifications as well as a desire to be a part of the company, the employer will look at you in a more positive light. Telling personal stories that showcase leadership, communication or teamwork skills offer insight into who you are as a person as well as how you have executed qualifications for the job in prior experiences.
Go ahead: laugh, joke and tell personal stories but remember you are trying to get a job. By showing a little personality you increase the chances the employer will remember who you are, which is a definite advantage over competing applicants.
So relax! Be creative, have passion and most importantly…be yourself!
Alternate interview tips
Now that you’re aware of the importance of being yourself during an interview, you can check out other resources that offer great tips on perfecting your interview skills.
In order to be a good interviewee, you need to be prepared for all aspects of what makes an excellent interview, which includes not only showing your personality, but also knowing the organization, being prepared and proper etiquette and interview attire.
Here are some great articles and websites to get you started:
- Why interviewing for your first real job is a ton of fun
- Job interviews for the creative professional
- Resource Education Canada: Interview tips
Hi Shannon,
You're SO right – especially at the entry level, it is very important to compete on more than your skills and qualifications. If you're genuinly interested in the position and the company you are interviewing with, letting that come through in your interview can be the difference between standing out or just being one of the other 100s of applicants that walked through the door.
As well, sharing life experiences that help employers remember you is always a great idea too (as long they're appropriate!!)
I could not agree with you more!!
The interview really is about showing who you are, the technical stuff is all on the resume.
Finding a company that is the right fit for you personally and professionally is really important.
Just don't do what these people do: http://www.howtonailaninterview.com
A firm handshake when introducing yourself is also key. It exudes a confident personality–just don't break the person's hand.
I found that laughing with/in front of the “higher” presence, often makes them laugh with you or at lease enlightens their mood. Laughing is contagious. Use it to your advantage.
But let’s also remember that we’re dealing with multiple generations here. From Baby Echos and Babyboomers to even Gen Y employers (HR). Many may not take must fun your dinstinct personality and may in fact think that you are not serious. Keeping you “personality” in pace with professionalism is a MUST. Right?
Thanks for the comment!
I completely agree with you. I understand what you are saying about how showing too much personality may lead the employer to think you are not serious about the job. That is why showing your personality while keeping it professional is very important.
Does the early bird catch the worm?
One of the findings of an Australian research company RightPeople (www.rightpeoplp.com.au), which analysed material from 420 research participants and which was widely reported in the media, was that ‘night owls’ were more intelligent than ‘early birds’. “We found this to be a fairly robust finding, consistent across disparate tasks,” he said. “However we are only talking two or three IQ points.”
The research was recently published in the Journal of personality and individual differences.
RightPeople also looked at links between circadian rhythms and personality traits, and found that morning people were generally very conscientious.
Research RightPeople found that morning people were also good time managers. However, they were also more neurotic and prone to worrying and stress.
For the full article go to: http://rightpeople.com.au/rightpeople-in-the-news-sydney-morning-herald-article.html
Does the early bird catch the worm?
One of the findings of research company RightPeople, which analysed material from 420 research participants and which was widely reported in the media, was that ‘night owls’ were more intelligent than ‘early birds’. “We found this to be a fairly robust finding, consistent across disparate tasks,” he said. “However we are only talking two or three IQ points.”
The research was recently published in the Journal of personality and individual differences.
RightPeople also looked at links between circadian rhythms and personality traits, and found that morning people were generally very conscientious.
Research RightPeople found that morning people were also good time managers. However, they were also more neurotic and prone to worrying and stress.
For the full article go to: http://rightpeople.com.au/rightpeople-in-the-news-sydney-morning-herald-article.html
I was once asked in a job interview to sing “Happy Birthday” to one of my interviewers. I wasn’t sure if they were joking or not, and when I laughed it off, they seemed to be waiting for me to start singing. I started singing a little bit, wondering if this would guarantee or cost me the job. In the end, they told me they wanted to see if employees would be willing to do whatever it takes to complete the projects, no matter the scenario. We had to be prepared to be outgoing, meet new people, and one way of showing we could be that person was singing happy birthday in a job interview!
I got the job.