24 Oct How to come across positive in interviews

I know that it sounds cliché’d, but “Shew!  This year is flying!”  This weekend I noticed all the Christmas Decorations coming out in the shops, and there are only six weeks until the schools break up for the year.  I have also noticed that a lot of the candidates are coming for interviews tired and demotivated.  It’s been a busy year, the news and social media are full of negatively and drama, and it’s easy to get sucked into this negative mind-set.

People like positive people, and people employ people they like!  So if you want to get a job, you have to put a smile on your face, inject yourself with positivity and energy, and go out there and make it happen!  Easier said than done?

Every negative mood started with a single negative thought, which snowballed out of control.  The good news is that a single positive through can do the same thing!  Here are a few things that you can do to hopefully turn your mood around for your next interview.

Play loud music on the way to the interview. 

Make a play list of songs that make you feel alive, turn it up loud and sing along.  Dance and jump around if appropriate.  Get that blood pumping and feel alive! There is nothing like some music to lift your spirits (just make sure you turn it down when you arrive at the interview!)

Stay in the moment.

People tend to walk into an interview, and I am not sure if it is nerves or adrenaline, but they either jump straight into the past (more often than not, to negative work experiences); or to the future- worrying about reasons why they cannot accept the position or skills they may not have.  Just breathe.  Don’t let your mind run away.  Stay present and look for the value in the moment.

Smile and be friendly.

In life, you get what you give.  So if you want people to be nice to you, be nice to them.  Smile and be friendly (not over familiar), and your interviewer will have no choice but to be friendly back.  Never forget that your interviewer is a personal too.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own nerves and what is at stake, that we forget this.

Start a fan club

Unfortunately in life, we tend to be surrounded with too many negative people in general.  Start developing a group of friends that are positive and believe in you.  If you need an extra boost before the interview, phone one of them, and tell them the purpose of your call.  If you are going to an interview with one of our clients, give RESOURCE recruitment a call, and we will tell you exactly why we think you are amazing for the position and all the reasons that you are going to do amazingly well!

Turn the negatives into positives.

You need to constantly be mindful of your thoughts, can catch negative thoughts or doubts.  As soon as you do, rephrase them and repeat the positive version to yourself a few times.  For example, change “I hope this position is not as hard as the last one.” To “This is going to be such a fun, stress-free position.  I have the skills, experience and attitude to do any position I want!”

Don’t play the Victim!  You create your life- now take responsibility and make the most of things!

The challenges we face in life are all opportunities to learn and grow.  Without challenges you would not be looking for a new job that potentially could make your life so much better.  I interview many people who thought the end of the world had come when they were retrenched, only to realize that it was the push that they needed to get out of their comfort zone!

Focus on the positives in previous positions.

Ever notice how it is easier to get passionate and talk about the negative stuff?  It’s that negative thought spiralling out of control.  And before you know it, the interview is over, and all you have talked about is your miserable boss, how you get no recognition and you cannot afford to complete your studies.  If you focused on the positive, you could have told them all about how you have grown in your last position, all the amazing experience you have, your achievements, and your dreams to study further.

Be grateful

There are a million books and posts out there about gratitude, and they are all true!  At the end of the interview, thank everyone for the opportunity.  Be grateful that you got short listed for the interview.  Be grateful that you may have been asked some questions that made you think.  Be grateful for advice you may have been given.  Be grateful if it made you feel inspired.  And be grateful if you ever not successful- because something better is out there for you, and you are one step closer to finding it!

Be kind to yourself

Finally, be gentle with yourself.  We all blow the odd interview question or interview all together.   We all say stupid things and make mistakes.  Don’t dwell on it.  You are human.  Take the positive, and move on.

It’s really hard work staying positive, but it’s worth it!  Read inspiring quotes, keep a gratitude journal, surround yourself with positive people, do something new and exciting that challenges you and constantly look for the good in everyone and everything!

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

Happy positive thinking!