The Green Sheet Online Edition

September 11, 2023 • Issue 23:09:01

Street Smarts^SM

Interview with confidence

By Nick Cucci
Fluid Pay LLC

Interviews are an essential part of workplaces, but it's no secret that most people dislike them. Unless you are one of the few people who naturally excel at interviews, there is a good chance that you get nervous before you walk into them. Don’t worry; it is completely normal.

Fortunately, it's also completely optional. In this article, I'll explore how to interview with confidence so you can let your talents shine and land the job.

Interviewing with confidence is not about emotions. It is a state of preparedness. When you have the tools and tricks to effectively navigate the interview process, you'll naturally feel more confident walking in (see tinyurl.com/2468nbdy). Ultimately, this means that you are more likely to perform well—and you might just find you enjoy it too.

Tips to be more confident in interviews

People often think that confidence is about adopting the right mindset, but that's really only part of it. Confident interviewers are not just people who naturally own a room or think they are the best at what they do. They are people who know how to interview and how to present themselves well—and these skills can be taught. Following are steps you can take to achieve interviewing excellence.

• Know what you are walking into: A great way to be more confident in any situation you encounter is to walk in prepared. If you have a general idea of what to expect, you will feel more relaxed about effectively navigating the interview process.

  Preparing for your interview should always include going over what you know about the process. Take time to look into the company and its core values, review communications with the company that cover who you are interviewing with and what the process will look like, and revisit the job description, so you know how to speak to the exact needs of the role (see tinyurl.com/3tcdj8vj).

• Consider why you are a good fit: While reviewing the job description is a great way to get in the right frame of mind for an interview, it's also a starting point for your own self-reflection. As you look at the description and consider the culture of the company, take time to consider why you are such a great fit for the position offered.

  Companies do not want people who are just there to fill a role. They want active members in their community that can help lift up their teams. Explore the skills you have and the personal traits you possess that make you a natural fit for the role. This will allow you to be more prepared to speak to this and sell yourself.

• Adapt to the culture of the workplace: Workplace cultures differ from one company to the next (see https://tinyurl.com/yp8dbpdp). They can change in response to the company's industry, the department with the job opening, and even the team you will be on. The better you understand this, the more likely you will be able to comfortably assimilate into this new environment.

  Since workplace cultures govern how teams operate, it's important to be able to fit in with them. Consider the communications with the company that you have already had, and keep an eye open as you walk through the building to your interview. Look for indicators of whether the culture is casual or highly professional. Be prepared to adapt to what is appropriate in the new environment. Doing so will make you a natural fit.

• Ask questions that show you care about a good match: Most people get so caught up in the idea that they are being evaluated in an interview that they forget that interviews go both ways. It is natural to want to be selected, but being selected for a role that isn’t a good match will not do you or the company any favors.

  The questions you carry into an interview say a lot about you, and they can also help you to make sure that you actually do want this job (see https://tinyurl.com/mrxa2fnm). Take time to create a list of questions that will help you define the workplace and the role you will have if hired, so you can feel confident you are making a move that will support your personal and professional development.

• Prepare your personal highlight reel: The interview process is a competition, so it's always important to put your best foot forward. While it's necessary to be authentic, an interview is not the place to exercise your humble nature. During an interview, you want to show yourself in the best possible light.

  This can be accomplished by taking time to consider your biggest professional accomplishments. When you actively reflect on them, you will be able to apply them to your responses to questions.

• Learn what makes you valuable: Your sense of personal value is going to be visible in an interview, whether you are aware of it or not. If you do not know your value, it is unlikely that you will be able to demonstrate it.

  Taking time to reflect on your value in the workplace can work wonders for helping you to walk into an interview feeling empowered. Think about your professional accomplishments, your peer dynamics, the roles you have played on teams and even your personal interests. You are probably bringing a lot more to the table than you think.

  If you aren’t quite sure where to start, consider talking to people who have seen that value—friends, peers, bosses and even family.

The simple truth is that you will not be the right fit for every job. Businesses consider a lot of factors when hiring someone for a team. However, acing an interview is a great way to ensure that you stand the best possible chance of landing the job you want. Even if you don’t get the job, if you perform well in an interview, the company might just call you back for another position later.

Nicholas Cucci is the co-founder and COO of Fluid Pay LLC. Cucci is also a graduate of Benedictine University and a member of the Advisory Board and Anti-Fraud Technology Committee for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, as a CFE himself. Fluid Pay is the ONLY 100 percent cloud-based Level 1 PCI Payment Gateway processing transactions anywhere in the world. Contact Nick at Nick@FluidPay.com. Benefits of crypto for the underbanked.

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