The 6 Secrets to Boost Confidence at Your Next Interview
Even if you are a seasoned public sector professional, attending an interview can still be daunting.
If you are going for a senior-level role, you will need to demonstrate excellent business skills as well as general confidence and charisma.
The interviewer will be looking for someone with the ability to lead a team, inspire and motivate, and get the job done.
There are several ways you can boost your confidence levels to make sure you portray your best self at interview and secure your dream public sector role.
Being 100 per cent prepared is the foundation of confidence, and in this article, I’ll take you through the six secrets to boost and project confidence at interview.
1. First Things First
If you can, it’s a good idea to speak to the interviewer or potential line manager for the post in advance. This will help build rapport and will show you are enthusiastic about the role.
Additionally, it will give you an understanding of the focus the company places on the role, allowing you to prepare well for the interview.
As well as the role itself, see what you can discover about the organisation and staff. Check out their LinkedIn profiles, website, online newsletter and follow them on social media.
Having an overview of the organisation will demonstrate you are keen to work for them, and you may spot a snippet of information that you could bring into the interview.
2. Preparation is Key
I advise candidates to check back on the job advert and description to ensure you have an understanding of the key skills and attributes required.
Use these to prepare examples of how you fulfil the requirements of the role. An excellent way to do this is to use the STAR technique.
3. Rehearse Your Answers
Once you have your examples, it’s wise to practice your answers before for the interview. This could be in the mirror, with a friend or family member, or with your recruitment consultant.
Whichever way you choose to rehearse your answers, preparing in this way with a ‘mock’ interview scenario will give you confidence on the day knowing that you have positive examples to hand that show how you fulfil the role requirements.
4. Relax
With your preparation done, try to take some time before the big day to relax and feel positive. Cramming at the last minute will only lead to stress and anxiety; so go for a walk, read a book, spend time with friends – whatever gets you to your happy place.
Having an early night before and a healthy breakfast on the day of the interview will help make you feel energised and positive. And if your interview is in the afternoon, make sure you have something to eat at lunchtime – you won’t be your best self if you’re hungry!
5. Last-Minute Reminders
It’s crucial that during the interview you don’t put your CV or notes on the table – referring to them can make you look unprepared.
If you’ve rehearsed well and prepared for the interview, you shouldn’t need them anyway, but if you think you may have a last-minute panic, a good tip is to precis your answers on a postcard and take it with you. Aim to have three or four main points you want to make during the interview, with some brief notes that demonstrate your suitability for the role.
While you’re waiting to go into the interview, spend a few minutes going over the notes you’ve made, so you are clear in your head about your answers.
Being able to talk about yourself, your skills and achievements without referring to notes will make you appear confident and self-assured – qualities any hiring manager would approve of.
6. Be Aware of Your Body Language
Remember it’s not just what you say at interview that counts – the vast majority of communication is non-verbal, and everything from your body language and eye contact, to your speech patterns and choice of outfit, will convey a message to the interviewer.
So, chose your outfit carefully and make sure you polish your shoes!
On the day itself, it’s not just your appearance but your body language that will count. If you understand how your body language works – you can actually change your biochemical makeup; raising your levels of testosterone and decreasing the cortisol in your system to make you feel more confident.
The science backs this up. Amy Cuddy, a researcher at Harvard University, has studied body language and the impact it has on hormones. In experiments, she and her team found that high power poses increased testosterone by 20 per cent and decreased cortisol levels by 25 per cent.
So, before you go into the interview, it may be helpful to practice some ‘power poses’. You can do these in a private space so you don’t feel silly, but you will find they can definitely have a positive effect on your confidence levels.
Once in the interview, avoid slouching or sitting at an angle on your chair. Instead, keep a relaxed but attentive position showing you are professional but also approachable.
Another science fact for you – if you are nervous, your voice can alter. Feeling tense or stressed tightens the vocal mechanism, resulting in a higher pitch and thinner sound. Breathing exercises can help alleviate this, as well as taking regular pauses when you are speaking to keep your voice pattern steady.
Remember, letting your speech gallop away at a hundred miles an hour will not only make you look very nervous but will make whatever you are saying difficult to follow.
Conclusion
Preparation is vital to set you up for success.
Mental preparation, such as imagining yourself working at the organisation full time and picturing what it would be like on a daily basis helps engage a positive mental attitude.
Additionally, knowing you have done your in-depth research preparation, and can discuss the organisation’s aspirations and goals with conviction, will increase your confidence levels and show that you will make a great public sector employee.
Think confident, think positive.
Good luck!
Westwood Harris Burns are specialists in Executive Search and Senior Finance appointments within the Public Sector; with particular expertise in NHS, Housing and Charity Sectors. With over 60 years combined experience, we have extensive knowledge of the market, proven track records and established networks, allowing us to provide a wide range of services to both clients and candidates alike.
To learn more about how we can support you to either build your team or career, visit our Get In Touch page.
