We all agree - Interviewing Sucks! 

Yeeeeaaahhh.... I know. Interviewing majorly sucks.

I am an executive recruiter and I interview for a living.... but man oh man do I HATE interviewing.

And as good as I am at it... I still get nervous. I doubt myself. I get scared. 

I am human and as much as I prepare - I still have a lot of fear around interviewing.

Probably for the same reason you do: Lack of Confidence.

Ouch... so hard to say that our loud.

But it's true. The two biggest struggles in interviewing are fear and lack of confidence. 

It stems ultimately from fear of rejection - because if you are going to an interview - you probably either really really really need a new job or you really really really want your dream job.

And both of those are pretty high stakes.

So let's get to it. 

Here are some of my very best tips to help you interview with confidence, overcome your fear, and make interviewing a little less sucky.

Stroke that EGO:

Most of us are humble and if we aren't, we are taught not to be cocky or braggy. That is especially true for women at work. So when it comes to interviews - this flies in the face of our good upbringing. Why?

Because interviewing is a battle of the braggers. Whoever can tell their professional story the best, in the best package and delivery is awarded the first place and the (only) reward the offer letter. 

And that kind of bragging well... being so unnatural for most of us and a skill we rarely use causes us anxiety in our job search.

On top of that... if we don't think there is anything that makes us unique, special, or talented we struggle to identify what to even brag about in the first place. 

Que the self-doubt, confidence nose dive, fear, and job search downward spiral. 

Well - let's spin back up (that nugget is for you altered carbon fans). 

You can overcome this all by this simple low-risk confidence-building exercise.

Open a word document and write down everything you've ever done professionally. 

Not your roles and responsibilities but things you have DONE. 

• Like projects you've done.
• Things you've been recognized for.
• Ways that you went above and beyond.

And I'm not telling you to be braggy yet. Just write it down.

I had a call with a community member a few weeks ago that felt this way. And when she started thinking about how she trained others and helped to develop her team, she had an amazing experience to highlight.

It wasn't braggy.... it was just true.

So, start the exercise now. Think of 5 things you've done. Especially if they were highly valued by your company, supervisor, or team.

And... look at that list and say, "Dang! I am pretty awesome".

And just stroke that Ego! 

Become your own Publicist: 

Alright I know I have already addressed how weird braggadocious interviewing can be. But just WAIT.

I am going to tell you how you can use those 5 awesome things you to market the crap out of yourself in your interview.

You are going to take those five things and write down the following details.

• Situation: write about the particular situation or environment you were in when that awesome thing you did happened. 
• Task: write about what the task at hand was... like what had to be completed for you to be successful.
• Action: write about what you actually did to be successful in minute detail.
• Result: write about the effect or results of your specific action and how that had a positive impact on your project, your team, your company.

Suddenly. You aren't bragging. You're just telling me the facts of what you did, how you did it, and why it was awesome.

That ladies and gentleman is the STAR method! 

Now... how does that reduce fear? Well, the more STAR stories you have, as outlined above... the more amazing interview content you have. And because you have a ton of stuff to brag about...

Well, you don't have to worry about what you'll say or how you will answer questions - because everything is mapped out! 

If you want to learn exactly how to answer interview questions using the STAR method, then you definitely want to sign up for my upcoming Interviewing Workshop. 

I have early bird pricing if you are one of the first to sign up.

Click this link to learn more about the workshop and register: https://www.mercedesswan.com/show-up-show-out-interview-bootcamp-workshop

Build your Cheat Sheet

Do you feel better about interviewing already? I hope so! If not - a cheat sheet will definitely help.

You remember how you'd have an AWFUL chemistry test (or maybe math because that is awful too) and you had to remember symbols and those crazy rules. And when your teacher announced the test, everyone groaned... but there was the light at the end of the tunnel when Mrs. Jones said... but you can use a 2x4 notecard as a cheat sheet. And you were like... "THANK GOD"

Just me? Okay. Well. Just get on board anyways! 

I'm Mrs. Jones - and I am giving you permission to make an interview cheat sheet. 

The cheat sheet is ONE page that includes a few things:

• A list of your STAR stories
• The position profile
• Your research (as taught below)
• List of Questions

And the cheat sheet - you probably won't need it. But your cheat sheet is there to give you peace of mind. 

You don't have to worry whether or not you've missed something you really wanted to say or ask. 

And if you did your research - you have everything at an arms reach.

The cheat sheet, giving you permission to succeed even when you're nervous since the 99s and the 2000s. 

Stalk like you mean it!

Okay... not literally stalk. I once had a candidate say, "If you see me in Florida, I promise I'm not stalking you all".

And we were all like... "Why would you say that?"

So don't really stalk your interviewers... but we want to want to be a good stalker in terms of - anticipating the moves of our target. 

Meaning we want to know:

• Who are the interviewers?
• What are their backgrounds?
• What do they want?
• What are they looking for in an ideal candidate?
• What are the goals of the company?

AND then.... we want to meet them at the corner of 3rd Avenue and exactly what they want to hear. 

Yes... sometimes this information can be hard to find. But you can network, you can research online, and you can use the job description to figure out all of this. 

So yeah. STALK the shoes off of your interview because when you do, you'll take out all of the unknown. You'll have all the answers and you'll be prepared.

And according to me, an anxious mind.

Confidence = 0 ambiguity + all the answers + preparation = Job Offer

Becoming an Even Better More Confident Interviewer

 The werk, werk, werk to make a good impression in your interview starts now. 

So the tips I've given you will help you make an amazing impression during your interview because you'll go in with a different mindset just oozing self-confidence. 

Why? because you'll be prepared to take on anything that those awful recruiters ask you.

Now while we are on the topic of interviewing with confidence... I want to invite you to my new Show up, Show Out Interview Bootcamp! It is a 2-hour workshop.

The Show Up, Show Out Interview Bootcamp Workshop

This interviewing Bootcamp will show you exactly how to show up and interview with confidence and leave with a job offer in hand!

Click this link to go to the registration page and learn more about the Workshop:  https://www.mercedesswan.com/show-up-show-out-interview-bootcamp-workshop

If you like what you see, and want to learn from me exactly how I interview with confidence and stand out from the crowd, you can register right on that page.

Also, there is early bird pricing for you if you register before May 1st! 

Click here to never fear interviewing again