5 tips to get over imposter syndrome when interviewing
Trying to get through life with its daily challenges is tough enough. It also doesn’t make things any easier when occasional moments of self-doubt, fear, and the times where we just don’t feel like our efforts are good enough creep in. Have you ever felt this way about interviewing? Chances are, you have.
Here’s a scenario:
You get a call for an interview and you are completely elated. You are so happy, you could burst! This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. You tell everyone you know and spend about 5-10 mins just buzzing with excitement. Then, something strange happens where you’re all of a sudden not excited anymore. You start questioning why you were the successful candidate and if your skills are good enough. You’ve also now convinced yourself that there’s absolutely no way that you’ll come out of the interview in one piece. Then you begin to spiral. What’s worst is that, this isn’t the first time this has happened. You’ve been here before and it’s a terrifying place to be…
You wonder: “Was there no one else who was better for the job? Did someone back out of the interview process and is this why I was called? Maybe, I should just quit while I am ahead. Maybe I’ll phone the recruiter back and cancel the interview.”
But wait, before you go ahead and cancel, please know that what you’re feeling is completely natural. Interview jitters are common. However, what you’re feeling is also more than “jitters,” you are feeling a sense of imposter syndrome around the interviewing process. Imposter syndrome is the constant inability to believe in yourself or to believe that your successes are deserved. You don’t believe that what you’ve achieved (i.e. getting the interview) was achieved as a result of your own efforts, skills, or even your resume.
Here are some tips to consider that can help you get over imposter syndrome when it comes to interviews and build your confidence:
1. Lean in to how you feel, but don't stay here - you first have to feel before you can heal. Don’t ignore how you are feeling but acknowledge it head on. While you do this, be sure to be kind to yourself in the process. Your next step is to know that it’s time flip the switch and think of a solution as opposed to focusing on the problem or how badly things could go wrong. Your mindset should now be: “ I am not going to cancel, I am going to nail this interview and I’m going to figure out how.”
2. Practice and Prepare so you know your “stuff” - prepare and do mock interviews with others and practice your responses in the mirror. Prepare questions that you anticipate the interviewer will ask you about the company and the job. Know your resume really well so when you recap your experiences and accomplishments, it doesn’t sound like you’re at a recital. This will help to build your confidence and keep everyone engaged.
3. Try and relate to the interviewer -research the interviewer’s profile and get a sense of things that he/she is interested in outside of work. For example, what professional networks is this person a part of? Do they volunteer? If you’re looking on LinkedIn, do you have common network connections? Any additional information that you find can help you build a rapport before you even with him/her.
4. Control the flow of the interview - create more of a conversational style of an exchange and not one that feels transactional - this one is a bit trickier than the others and will take practice. In any event, here are the brass tacks: you’re excited about the opportunity, but you should also think that they (the hiring company) should be excited to meet with you also. Use the interview as a way to also interview them also. It has to be a mutual fit. When you do this (respectfully) you create a nice back and forth and the exchange feels more conversational. This will be huge in alleviating any interview jitters and make you feel comfortable, excited, and confident.
5. Reframe your thinking and stay positive - okay, now for some tough love. Negative thinking creates negative results. You need to stay positive and instead of hoping for the worst, you have to shift your thinking to a place where you except the absolute best outcome from the interview. Try not to think of what the other candidates are like or if you were selected as a last option. This thinking is counterproductive and these are things you’ll never know the answer to. At the end of the day, all that should matter is that you got the interview.
That was a lot to digest and it might seem like you’re being asked to do the impossible. You’ll notice that you weren’t advised to relax. No one ever likes to be told to “relax,” that never solves anything. Instead, lean into your feeling and turn this into a passion for wanting to crush your next interview. This dream job of yours that you received a call back for? How badly do you want it? You already know the answer. Be consistent when you practice the above tips and remember to be kind to yourself and to be patient. You got this.
