The pressure on the job market is immense right now, but it’s sad to say that women still have to fight harden than men for the same business opportunities. So if you’re an aspiring female leader hungry for success, you need an edge in all interviews. Here’s how you can impress everyone in every interview room you ever step into.
Relax and enjoy the experience
All of us experience stress and anxiety before and during interviews, but these mechanisms might cause you to freeze, forget your lines and display some negative body language. To fight stress, practice some relaxation exercises and use affirmative language. Envision an interview going excellent, play some relaxing music while you wait and chew gum. Make sure to arrive early to avoid extra stress and to have time to compose yourself.
Don’t downplay your successes
Many people, but women in particular, tend to downplay their accomplishments or assign them to luck or help from others. Hiring managers want to hear about your success, so focus on yourself and highlight your hard work. Use the right language and instead of saying “I had the luck to get a promotion” say “I had all the necessary qualifications and result to get a promotion”. For most positions, it’s necessary to display good teamwork skills so it’s not bad to mention others who have supported you but make sure to put yourself first.
Dress the part
While HR experts shouldn’t pay too much attention to what you’re wearing, they will subconsciously take note of your attire and form first impressions. So make sure to look the part, dress professionally and impress everyone with your dress etiquette. A navy blue blazer over a button-down shirt is always a good option, but make sure to stand out from the other professionals with a bold detail. And don’t forget to pay special attention to your footwear. Opt for something classy, elegant, timeless, and most of all, high-quality. If you have to, order the right shoes from a country known for quality footwear like Australia. Finding elegant women’s shoes in Australia is easy and you can clearly see the quality and sophistication in every model. Keep your shoes clean and you will look impressive and professional from head to toe!
Watch your body language
Your body language can build trust in others, so make sure to display confidence with your stance and greetings. Make direct eye contact and offer a firm handshake with a genuine smile. Try to keep your chest open and lean forward to display engagement and interest. Some gestures make you appear insecure and small such as bowed head and crossed arms, so try to replace them with other expressions that will show off your friendliness, professionalism and confidence.
Show your enthusiasm
While they mostly focus on your skillset in interviews, this is not the only thing hiring managers are paying attention to. They are looking for a candidate that displays an interest in the company or cause and shows excitement about working there. Start your interview by mentioning something positive about the organization when entering the room—you can compliment the offices or the view to show your observation skills and enthusiasm. You can also mention the aspects of the company’s philosophy and state what you admire about it. To further show your interest in the position you’re interviewing for, pose one or two questions at the end. Try something like “What is the next phase of the interview and what can I expect from the selection process?
Preparation and practice will get you one step closer to success. Make sure to sell yourself through positive words, enthusiasm and confident body language. If you do this correctly, you will display confidence, strength and all other elements of a leader. And that will leave every hiring manager impressed!
