Whether you’re seeking an internal promotion or applying for a new job externally, your interview demeanor plays an important role in the decision-making process. Appearing confident can certainly help inspire others to have confidence in you. But there’s a point of diminishing returns.
Consider my former client, “Tom.” At 27 years of age, Tom has some impressive experience and a world-class education. He also has an ego a mile long and a few unrealistic expectations regarding his career opportunities. At the end of one recent interview, he told his interviewer he was in high demand and needed an offer on the table within 24 hours to even consider the position. The interviewer told him on the spot not to hold his breath.
[See: The 10 Most Common Interview Questions.]
There’s a delicate balance that must be managed during the interview process. You need to appear confident but not cocky. You want to demonstrate that you know you can do the job exceptionally well and that you’re a highly marketable asset. But if you push too far, your credibility is at risk. Cocky professionals are unlikable and, more often than not, people regard them with suspicion; there’s no way you can be as great as you think you are.
So what’s the perfect balance look like and how do you achieve it? Consider the following tips.
Clearly define your past successes using facts; avoid broad generalizations.
Imagine telling someone, “I’m a really great writer.”
Now imagine telling them, “I recently won an award for an article I wrote for a national trade publication.”
Which sounds more compelling? The second one, hands down, sounds confident without being cocky. The first one sounds like a brag. Without evidence to back up your claims, you risk appearing smug. When citing tangible proof — like an award you received or measurable results you achieved — you simply sound factual.
[See: 8 Important Questions to Ask a Job Interviewer — and Yourself.]
When discussing past successes, give credit where credit is due.
Very few professional victories happen in a vacuum. They’re usually the result of team efforts and collaboration — and your interviewers know that. Don’t be afraid of acknowledging the work of others in the interview. If you try to take all the credit for yourself, something will smell fishy. That being said, don’t shy away from the credit you rightfully deserve; just don’t pretend it was a one-man show.
Don’t exaggerate your successes.
Interviewers are very skeptical of those who appear to be exaggerating. I once interviewed a young woman whose previous role had been as an intern for a prominent brokerage. When asked to describe her experience, she said her job had been to “provide investment advice to clients.” When probed, she couldn’t explain deeper what that meant and she clearly lacked the required education and licensing to legally advise clients anyway. Regardless of whether or not she had the ability to do the job I was hiring for, she was immediately excluded from consideration.
Trying to make yourself sound more qualified than you are by exaggerating your experience will always backfire.
Don’t be afraid to acknowledge failures and weaknesses.
Interviewers don’t expect you to be perfect. Attempting to position yourself that way only looks disingenuous. Even worse, you can end up appearing to lack any hint of self-awareness.
Interviewers love to ask questions that force interviewees to disclose vulnerabilities. (Think: “What’s your biggest weakness?”) The worst possible answer is one that avoids sharing anything real or one that tries to spin a positive experience or trait as a negative one. Instead, be authentic — discuss an honest failure and what you learned as a result, or a true weakness and what you’ve done to overcome it.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Remember: Confidence comes from demonstrated competence. Present the best you have to offer. Be upbeat and positive, but don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Don’t let fear or ego take over. Charm them with well-articulated success stories, authenticity and a dash of humility.
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Cocky or Confident? 4 Tips to Strike the Perfect Interview Balance originally appeared on usnews.com
