Attending a job interview means you worked hard to reach this point thanks to your qualifications, experience and hard skills. Now, it's time to show off your personality and soft skills. Despite your endless hours of preparation leading to 30 minutes of flawless execution, why does the interview feel strange to you? Here are a few possible reasons.
1. Avoiding Total Honesty
Your job interview represents a rehearsed way of convincing your potential employer why you are the perfect fit for the position. While it's good to be honest, avoid the same type of blunt honesty you may find with your everyday dealings. Do not say to your interviewers that you're about to leave your job, even though it's the truth, because the people in front of you may feel as if you do not last long at positions. Try not to come across as desperate for any job that comes your way.
2. Acting Too Formal
Dressing up in business formal wear may be a departure from the norm for you, especially if you work in a place that stresses jeans and polo shirts every day of the week. When you first walk into the room, the formality of the place may seem overwhelming. If you stay relaxed and establish trust and rapport with the others in the room, the air of formality will usually lessen, and talking to your future boss will become easier.
3. Talking in a One-Sided Conversation
A job interview often seems like a one-sided conversation because your future boss finds out more information about you rather than vice versa. You're the one who answers the question, "Why do you want this job?" Turn your job interview into a two-way conversation, which is more natural, by actively listening to what other people say. Formulate relevant, engaging questions in your mind for the portion of the interview when your hiring manager asks if you have any queries. Find commonalities between you and your future co-workers to start up a conversation.
4. Taking Things Personally
You instantly take a job interview personally because you put so much time and effort into it. Your goal is to land this job. The other side has a different goal, and that's to find the best fit for the position. When you don't land a particular job, there are probably multiple factors that go into the decision. Some of those aspects may have nothing to do with your performance, and the final decision comes down to whether you're the best fit for the team. Sometimes, however, that best fit is someone else.
5. Selling Yourself
Selling yourself isn't something you do on a regular basis. An interview may feel strange because you have to balance a boastful attitude and confidence. Remember, most employers just want to get a feel for your soft skills and personality as opposed to your past accomplishments and qualifications. Therefore, there's really no need to brag about what you did for past employers.
Your job interview shouldn't feel weird, even though you have to step outside your comfort zone to win the day. Just know that everyone in that room is human, so treat them as such.
Photo courtesy of COD Newsroom at Flickr.com
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