That painful moment provoked the same reaction from many: “I’m not good at selling myself: I’m not going to do well in my interview. There is a misconception that the common belief is that the job interview is all about convincing the employer and wrapping your skills and qualities in a nice gift wrap in order to get the job.

For some, the interview is equated with an interrogation and the recruiter trying to fault the candidate. So it’s difficult to get excited about the idea of ​​sitting in the hot seat and bearing the burden of proving one’s abilities.

Deconstruct certain perceptions

Fortunately, job interviews are changing. Nowadays, recruiters tend to approach them under the guise of exchange. This step provides an opportunity to validate information on both sides. The candidate is also entitled to ensure that the position and the environment correspond to his ideas.

Today, without trapping anyone, many employers would rather have certainty about the candidate’s professional profile that matches the requirements of the position. Through this change of attitude during the interview, the candidate can also determine whether the position suits him.

Having skills and demonstrating them are two different things. In general, the better a skill is mastered, the less aware we are of it. Achieving an eloquent display of skill requires greater effort. For example, if a candidate is accustomed to providing impeccable customer service, they have normalized their competency and lost sight of all the steps taken to get there. It is therefore difficult to be proud of or present it as an important asset.

Difficulty talking about yourself or a lack of confidence in your abilities

Even without selling yourself, the fact remains that interview practice requires you to demonstrate your skills and enthusiasm for the job. The discomfort experienced results from two main reasons.

On the one hand, it can denote a difficulty in speaking about oneself simply out of modesty, modesty or humility, then a tendency to minimize one’s abilities. For fear of inflating their abilities, some underestimate their accomplishments and abilities.

On the other hand, a lack of confidence in one’s own abilities can also make the exercise difficult. The interview puts the candidate in a position of vulnerability that can reveal weaknesses or even increase the sense of impostor.. Various reasons can explain this. A lack of trust can have its roots in low self-esteem or as a result of professional experiences that are perceived as negative or harmful..

your preparation

It is important to have the necessary level of confidence before applying or appearing for an interview. Reviewing positive annual reports, asking for feedback from trusted peers, or seeking help from a career development professional to address key elements of your professional profile are examples of actions you could take to regain your confidence.

Regardless of your speaking ability, preparing your communication will help you be clear and allow you to overcome the effects of job interview jitter. The better prepared you are, the more the presentation of your achievements and skills corresponds to your actual skills. In particular, you can think of more concrete examples of skills related to the job you are applying for.

Also, practice before the interview or, for the more introverted, write down your ideas to add vocabulary and ensure humility doesn’t erode your potential. This will make you more self-confident and, above all, you will know why the position fits your profile. Also, the words used become less important: your message becomes clearer.

Remember that many factors are out of your control during the job search. Concentrate on the aspects where you can act. Be indulgent, interviews are a bit like pancakes: the first one might not be as good as the following ones. By warming up, we relax!