Interview Survival Guide: top tips for extroverts

Written for LinkedIn: view the original here.

You might think that an extrovert would feel a lot more at home in an interview setting. The caricature of the sociable, talkative soul who is energised and enthused by interaction with others, might at first seem the perfect fit in a situation where, as we are constantly reminded, you have to sell yourself. But not so fast!

Interviews can be just as uncomfortable for us extroverts, and there are just as many pitfalls we need to look out for. Here are my top tips for a more comfortable ride at your interview. Feedback and challenge always welcome.

Top tips for introverts to come in a subsequent article.

Get comfortable with silence

 Silence is golden, so the song tells us. Perhaps, but it’s also deafening. Your ability to keep the chat going may make you the great conversation partner your friends always tell you that you are, but it’s important to recognise when you’ve finished and not attempt to fill awkward pauses with more noise.

Interviews are awkward. Accept it and be disciplined about sticking to a point and finishing when it’s made.

Avoid expressing unnecessary extras aloud

Extroverts are more likely to verbalise while they are thinking. The introvert tendency to think first is more helpful in an interview setting. It’s important to remember that you will be judged on everything you say, so be careful what you say aloud even if talking it out to yourself.

How many times do you say “Oh I don’t know” when thinking something out for yourself?

Let’s say I ask you to give me an example of leading a team. If you need some time to think, request it and say nothing else. I will then judge you solely on how you present the example you chose.

Let’s say that, instead, I hear you saying that you’re struggling to think of an example. I might then be left wondering whether you don’t have many examples, however untrue this might be. Keep me guessing that you’ve got so many that you’re thinking up your best one.

Being as prepared as you can will help you avoid the situation where you may repeatedly need time to think through your examples. I will write a separate piece with top tips on presenting your experience.

Importantly, however, the job specification will give you a good indication of the kind of skills and aptitudes you’ll be asked about.

You don’t have the luxury of building up to it

This is a bit of feedback I receive quite a lot and something I’m always working on in my own technique.

When you are asked to describe something, don’t spend so long telling the story or describing the scenario that you miss the key point, which nearly always will be related to your role and why it matters.

Remember you’re not telling the entire story of the project, full breakdown of the meeting or life history of the team, only the chapter that most matters to your example. Give the flavour for context then get to the point.

This balancing act is hard, and the extrovert’s chatty tendencies make it more likely that it will tilt too much in favour of narrative and waste precious time. Pick some of your favourite examples and practice describing them in a snappy and concise manner.

Be friendly but not too friendly

It’s good to feel relaxed. No-one wants to be a bag of nerves and most interviewers don’t want to be hostile or traumatise you. Of course, everyone needs to keep this advice in mind but if you tend not to be too nervous about speaking at interviews it can be especially easy to let your guard down. These are potential relationships at this stage: think of interviews as the courting phase where you’re out to impress, not the married 40 years phase when you can talk about anything with withering acceptance.

Try to avoid:

• Giving too much detail about the faults of others or the organisation’s culture, especially to justify yourself.
• Making personal disclosures where it’s not necessary. Your marital or parental status, for example, are unlikely to ever be relevant. Disability is a little more complicated but a good rule to follow is disclose only when it is to your advantage or where there is a genuine health and safety issue.
• Statements that are too honest. I know you could do with the money. I know you might be looking to go part-time because it’s tiring to have to get up and work 8 hours every day. I know you’re looking to move on from your current job, hence why you’re here. Keep in mind the things that your interviewer will take as a given and give your higher motives for your interest.

Keep questions focussed

Another useful bit of feedback I was recently given was to keep my questions sharp and focussed. I think that choosing not to ask any questions is a wasted opportunity, but time is likely to be tight.

These questions are unlikely to spark any extended conversation, so think very carefully about whether your question really gets to the heart of what you want to say. Write down the things you want to know, and try to be as punchy as possible.