When it comes to preparing for job interviews, you’ll find a ton of tips on the internet. There are articles on mistakes to avoid, dos and don’ts, what to wear, questions to ask, and how to answer hard interview questions. But there’s one thing all of these blog posts are missing — how to address or cope with the fear that comes with the interviewing process. My answer? Inspirational quotes that double as motivation and good career advice.
But first. Let’s talk about addressing fear.
Why you need to address the fear
It’s true, there are some typical interview questions that you can prepare for. But having all of the right answers doesn’t guarantee you the job. And there are questions you just won’t be able to predict being asked.
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One of the best ways to prepare for an interview (in addition to doing research) is to be yourself confidently.
Here are 8 quotes that will help you prepare for the interview and stay confident during the process.
Preparing for the Interview
I know this blog post is about building your self-confidence for an interview. This is why it’s important to prepare for the things you can predict. You can’t be yourself if you’re too stressed because you didn’t do research.
“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”
—Arthur Ashe
Do your homework on the company.
What this means is you should look at what the company is doing (specific to the job you’re applying for) and come prepared with:
- What they are doing well
- What they could be doing better
- Compared to industry best practices and competitors
- How you can help
For example, if you’re applying to a job in social media, look at their social media accounts and come prepared with what the company is doing well, what they could be doing better, and how you can help.
“Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge.”
—H. Stanley Judd
A common question in interviews is about failure. These questions are typically about:
- Obstacles you’ve faced, mistakes you’ve made, or weakness you have
- And what you’ve done to overcome them
When answering these types of questions, acknowledge the downside. But focus on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown.
“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
No two job interviews will ever be the same. But a little self-reflection can help with the upcoming job interview.
Reflect on the last interview you went to by asking yourself:
- What could I have done better?
- Do I wish I answered any questions differently?
- Are there questions I wish I asked during that last interview?
- What worked well?
“Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.”
—Katharine Whitehorn
Before your next job interview, it’s important to know your strengths. Doing the following exercise will help you prepare for questions about your qualifications:
- Think about your strengths
- Reread the job description
- Think about how your strengths apply to what is in the job description
Pro tip: Download this FREE Career Roadmap to discover your path to your dream job.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
—Albert Einstein
Don’t forget that you aren’t the only one who will be answering questions. You need to come prepared with questions to find out if this role and company are right for you. The best way to do that is to:
- Establish your end-goal
- Define your core values
- Know what it will take for you to accept the job offer
More on how to form interview questions that best serve your job hunt here.
Staying Confident During the Interview
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.”
— Confucius
Whenever you are asked a tough or unexpected question, this is a good quote to remember.
It reminds you that silence is okay. You can take a moment to gather your thoughts and breathe before answering.
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
— Winston Churchill
The job-hunting process is hard. And you’ll often face rejection. Be sure not to bring up your string of rejections or let your frustration of job hunting show.
Employers want to hire someone who is excited about the role and company. Not someone looking for a title and paycheck.
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy.”
— Norman Vincent Peale
This is most applicable to those of you with imposter syndrome. A.k.a. those of you who don’t feel qualified enough for the job you are applying for.
Remember that you got an interview! So you’ve already shown on paper that you have enough experience that they are interested in you.
They are just inviting you to learn more about the experience you demonstrated on your resume and want to get to know you.
Now that you have eight inspirational quotes that double as good career advice and motivation, you’ll be able to take on any interview with confidence. I encourage you to think about the reason you get fearful before an interview, pick one of the eight quotes in this blog post that addresses that fear, and write it in the notebook that you bring to the interview. And don’t forget to download this FREE Career Roadmap to discover your path to your dream job.
Want to start a career in marketing, but don't know how to get there?
Get the exact steps you need to take with the FREE Career Roadmap.
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