Applying for a new role, and going through the recruitment process can be a daunting task for even the most experienced professional.

Interview nerves affect most people, but they can make the recruitment process more stressful than it needs to be for you, the candidate.

Your next job might be the start of something amazing – so naturally, you will want to impress the hiring manager.

If you are preparing for an upcoming interview, we have created this guide to help you boost your confidence to help land you your next role.

1. Role Play Interview Practice

We all know that preparation is the key to success – and anyone who has ever had a job interview will have been told to practice their answers beforehand or at least have some specific examples ready to speak to.

But very few candidates ever actually go to the lengths of practicing a role-play style interview with someone, and yet doing this can help you significantly.

Practicing your answers while you are alone, or even writing down specific answers or themes are great ways to prepare – but nothing beats a real-life run-through beforehand.

So, get someone, a friend or a family member, to act as the interviewer and get them to ask role-specific or general interview questions – be prepared for both – and practice giving your answers.

You will not know until you rehearse in this way that you might want to add something into one of your answers, or that you need some extra practice when talking about a specific subject.

2. Boosting Your Confidence Before the Interview

Immediately before the interview is when candidates are at their most nervous.

So it is during this time that the most crucial confidence-boosting techniques are needed.

The following are great simple tips to help you in the hour up to the interview. Find somewhere private, either in your car or a private hallway to take a few minutes to practice the following:

• Picture yourself succeeding – visualization techniques are shown to be effective at helping reduce nerves and focus the mind.

• Breathing techniques – take slow, deep breaths to help calm any nervous jitters you may be having.

• Say some positive affirmations to yourself – saying ‘I will succeed’, ‘I deserve this job’ and ‘I am going to be successful in this interview’ will help you foster a positive mindset, which can significantly improve your confidence.

Once you are in the interview, let’s look at how some simple body language techniques can help you relax and be your most confident self.

3. Body Language During the Interview

The way you hold yourself will make you feel more confident so that you are able to give a better interview, plus it will also signal to the interviewer that you are relaxed and professional.

First impressions count, so smile when you say hello. Try not to perch nervously on the edge of your seat – sit all the way back in your chair, with a straight back, not slouching.

When you give your answers, talk with your hands as this will allow you to communicate your ideas more effectively. But also, be careful with the way you use your hands – don’t gesticulate too wildly, and when you are listening rather than talking, try not to fidget or keep touching your hair or your face, which people tend to do when they are nervous.

Remember to carry on breathing deeply, and always say yes to a glass of water – you can take a sip to compose yourself before you give your answers, or if you need a moment to pause.

Make eye contact with the interviewer, but not too much. And finally – smile during the interview – you want to look like you are happy to be there!

4. Be a Great Listener

There will be time during the interview when the interviewer is asking the questions or explaining about the company. During these times, remember to employ excellent listening skills.

An interview is about listening as much as it is about talking.

Nod when the interviewer is speaking and always make sure they have finished before you give your answer.

The interviewer will be looking for someone who will get along with the rest of the team – so an overconfident candidate who spends the entire interview singing their own praises can be a turn-off.

Remember that not every answer you give has to be perfect – but listen to what the interviewer is asking, and you can always ask them to repeat themselves or clarify if you aren’t sure what they meant.

Interviewers are human, and they don’t always give perfect interview questions.

5. Look to Connect, Not Impress

And finally, a great tip to boost your confidence is to not think about the interview as an interview – but a conversation.

Aim to connect with the interview, not to flat-out impress them with everything you say.

Building rapport with an interviewer is a great way to be a memorable candidate, and striking a meaningful conversation rather than stressing while trying to appear superhuman will allow you to naturally ease into the interview and will make the whole experience much more enjoyable.

Confidence is about being honest and transparent; it is obvious when someone is trying to be somebody they’re not.

Finally

Are you preparing for an upcoming interview? Or maybe you’re not quite there yet, and you’re still looking for a new role.

If so, we can help. We can help you will all aspects of your new job search, from resume help to arranging interviews, and of course – helping you prepare for your all-important interview.

To find out how we can help you in your new job search – get in touch with us at 919-813-2454 or at Info@TheBlackDiamondAgency.com.

You’ve been offered a new role with a new company – Congratulations!

There are a few things to do now. First, celebrate and inform your current employer of your resignation.

Secondly, is to think about how you’re going to make a success of your new role.

You know you have the right skills, abilities and experience that your new employer is looking for, so you can relax on that front.

But still, starting a new job can be daunting. You want to prove to your manager and your new colleagues that you’ve got what it takes.

Thankfully, there are a few strategies you can implement from day one.

So here are 7 strategies for creating success in your new role.

1. Knowing Where to Focus Your Efforts

Securing your new role is just the first step in this exciting new part of your career.

Although your recruiting partner will have helped you find a role which perfectly matches your skills, abilities and aspirations, it is not up to you to find out what is expected of you in your new role.

Things to think about:

• Find out what your manager’s priorities are – and then find out how this relates to you. This might be covered in the onboarding process, but it will help to have defined short, medium and long-term goals to work towards.

• What do you need to do every day in your day-to-day duties?

• What is your manager’s style, and how are you going to develop a relationship with them?

• What are your KPIs, and how will you be evaluated in your new role?

The more you can find out about where you fit into the business’ ultimate goals, the faster you will settle in and can start achieving success.

 

2. Demonstrating the Right Skills and Attitude

You will have been hired for your skills, and it’s time to put them to good use in your new role.

Think about is there anything you learned in your previous role that you could bring to your new organization?

You must also demonstrate that you can work well with your new colleagues – and this might mean navigating a few different working styles and figuring out how your new team works and how they communicate.

The key things to remember here are:

• Practice your communication skills and be patient with others – it takes time to form strong working relationships.

• Be flexible – you might have a fixed opinion from your previous roles about how to undertake specific tasks, but now is the time to observe others and fit in with how your new team operates.

• Be pro-active in problems solving – don’t be afraid to take on new challenges in your new role; it shows you are resilient and hard working.

3. Forming Good Habits

It is essential that you maintain professionalism in everything you do, and avoid getting into workplace gossip, even though it might seem like a good way to form initial bonds.

Focus on your results in the early stages of your role; don’t be afraid to ask your manager to clarify that you’re on the right path, but refrain from asking continually about things you aren’t sure of. Save up your questions and ask once a day. If you aren’t sure of what to do at any point, be proactive and find something to do – ask your new colleagues if they need help.

4. Active Listening

Active listening is different from the type of listening that most people demonstrate – that is, listening with the intent of responding, and not listening deeply to what it is the other person is saying.

You can learn a lot more when you focus intently on the things your new colleagues and manager say to you. You can absorb so much about the company, the people, your role and the industry when you actively listen.

So, never make assumptions – and actively listen to your peers; you might be surprised at how much you learn.

5. Always Learning

We can all be guilty of believing that we have nothing left to learn about a particular subject, especially if it’s an issue that you are very familiar with.

But the start of a new role should be a reminder than there is always more to learn.

Once you have your new role parameters and goals clearly in your mind, you can then look towards your ongoing development.

Speak to your manager about L&D and ask if there are any courses you can take or any in-house training extra to your onboarding that you can partake in.

Remember – every day is a school day!

6. Deciding What to ‘Let Go’ Of

Part of growing in your new role is in realizing what you can let go of.

Success is not always about refining your skills and developing new ones; it can also be an opportunity to let go of old habits and mindsets that could be holding you back.

Learn when to say ‘no’; notice when you are more likely to procrastinate or become distracted, and finally, say goodbye to the fear of failure.

Starting a new role is a powerful thing, and it can be the opportunity to be the ‘you’ you have always wanted to be.

7. 30, 60 and 90 Day Plans

And lastly, success will not happen on its own – is must be planned for.

The onboarding process in your new role should set the objectives of your position; however, the detail and specificity of onboarding programs can vary between organizations.

So, it’s advised that you set yourself some 30, 60 and 90-day goals – even if they are just personal goals that you want to achieve in your new Role.

Achieving personal targets related to your new Role is a great way to boost your confidence and draw success towards you.

30, 60 and 90-plan have been proven time and again to be a really effective way of helping people achieve their goals.

Finally

Are you just about to embark on the excitement of a new Role? Or perhaps you’re looking for your next opportunity and aren’t sure where to start your new job search.

If so, we can help.

We help candidates just like you find great new career opportunities. From resume help, and interview prep to career advice and organizing interviews for you. Get in touch with us at 919-813-2454 or at Info@TheBlackDiamondAgency.com.