What is Your Interview Mindset?

Your interview mindset can have a significant effect on your chance of success in your job search. If you have never considered the way you present yourself in an interview, then it's time to examine your interview mindset to find out whether it's holding you back. Work on developing these three key aspects of a successful interview mindset.

1. Be Confident — But Not Too Confident

Confidence is the key to a successful interview mindset. Confident people know they have the right skills to do the job and are able to communicate that knowledge to interviewers. They appear calm and collected during interviews, unlike under-confident people, who sometimes come across as nervous.

Although confidence is a key aspect of any successful interview mindset, it's important not to let confidence spill over into arrogance. Arrogant people are off-putting in interviews, as they are often too aggressive and sometimes don't let the interviewers speak. If you're not sure whether your interview mindset is over or under-confident, ask a friend to interview you and let you know how you come across.

2. Put Yourself in the Interviewer's Shoes

If your current interview mindset casts interviewers as the terrifying gatekeepers of employment, you need to rethink the interview process. Interviewers are human beings who are trying to find the right person for a role - just as you are a human being trying to find the right job to fit your skill set. Put yourself in the interviewers' shoes, and empathize with the difficult job they are trying to do. Thinking about interviewers in this way helps you come across as a friendlier and kinder person. It also gives you an insight into what interviewers want to get out of the interview, which is a clear picture of how your skills and experiences make you a good fit for the role they are looking to fill.

3. Use Positive Self Talk

Never tell yourself that you are have no chance of succeeding in an interview before you even get there. This kind of negative self talk zaps your energy and leaves you looking and feeling unenthusiastic at the interview. Instead, use positive self talk to refresh your interview mindset and give it a more upbeat slant. Before an interview, repeat statements such as "I am a well qualified candidate for this job" to give yourself the confidence and self belief to tackle the challenge of the interview. A positive attitude is key to success in any job search.

Job interviews can be nerve wracking experiences, but you can make the process easier by improving your interview mindset. Work on being confident without being arrogant, developing a sense of empathy with the interviewers and using positive self talk to develop an interview mindset that maximizes your chance of success.

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