Interview Courage

24 February 2018

Interview Courage.  It won’t come the moment you need it.

Career courage won’t miraculously appear as you walk through the door into the interview, and it is unlikely to steal over you as you start answering the first question.

It can be built though.  Built incrementally, so it is solidly there when you need it.

How?  By intentionally and consistently stepping outside of your comfort zone, when you are not under the fire of an interview, and doing the types of things that you need to do in an interview:

• Speak up and share your idea in meetings with people you don’t know well
• Develop, have, and graciously share, your thoughts on topics typically asked about in interviews such as communication, team work, problem solving, initiative, planning, learning, leadership, self-management (add others you know are likely to be relevant to your interviews)
• Put yourself into situations where you practise meeting new people
• Share stories of times you have done great work so others learn from your experience
• Be 100% present in meetings and difficult conversations
• Bring a little more charisma/authenticity to interactions you have
• Exude warmth to those who you might find a little more intimidating or difficult to be around
• Make eye contact with people for just a fraction longer than normal
• Shake hands with genuine warmth

A large part of interview fear comes from the need to do things that are not in your comfort zone.  So, expand your comfort zone, little by little, by embracing the moments when you feel a little afraid.  When your heart starts pumping and you get a little sweaty, lean into the experience at the time, and in the places, where it is safe to do so.  Build the courage you need in interviews during times it won’t have the consequences it might have in an interview.

Each time you are presented with an opportunity to be a little more courageous is a gift that builds your capacity to perform courageously in a job interview (or anywhere), so grab them.

We must constantly build dykes of courage to hold back the flood of fear - Martin Luther King Jr.

As always wishing you a flourishing career.

Katherine