Job Interview Confidence

by Jeffrey Lareau on January 10th, 2014

As a job seeker, sometimes you're given conflicting advice.  (Okay, it might be more often than “sometimes”.)  I frequently hear that job seekers who lack confidence should “fake it till they make it” in a job interview.  This article (http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/interviewing-fake-it-till-you-can-make-it/) suggests that no matter how qualified you are, if you don’t come across as self-assured and confident within the first 60 seconds of your interview, then there’s a devastatingly large chance that you’ll be thrown out as a candidate. 

However, I also often hear that job seekers should “be themselves” during a job interview.  This article (http://www.experiencefactor.com/job-interview-tips-for-colorado-job-seekers-be-yourself/) encourages job seekers to be honest about nerves if the subject comes up, and this article (http://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-if-youre-nervous-in-an-interview-2013-11) suggests that candidates admit upfront to being nervous at the beginning of the interview.  According to these articles, admitting nervousness shows employers that you’re approachable and relatable, which makes you seem easier to work with.

Well…which is it?  The idea of being yourself might naturally conflict with the idea of faking confidence.  If both methods have positive research results backing them up, which one should you do?  Should you start practicing your best smarmy Matthew Macconaughey smile, or should you be prepared to lightheartedly point out your nervous sweat marks after you shake the interviewer’s hand?  

The answer depends on you.  Some people can fake confidence really well, and other people have a natural charm to them when they play up their tenseness.  Basically, if you know that you can’t fake confidence, it’s inadvisable to do so.  A good interviewer isn’t going to fall for false confidence from a person with clammy hands and back sweat.  In that situation, it’s best to just be honest.  You can then set goals for yourself to slowly become more confident with each interview, until you don’t have to worry about faking it anymore.

Post a comment if you feel strongly about either option!

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