Suppose you're competing for a job against several other candidates with similar
relevant experience and excellent resumes. Each of you dresses appropriately
for the meeting, shakes hands firmly and maintains eye contact with interviewer,
then answers the questions articulately.
Who'll get the job? While a great resume and interview demeanor can help land an
offer, the deciding factor often is the amount of energy or enthusiasm you
project during the meeting.
Demonstrating this "energy edge" isn't easy for many candidates, though.
Introverts often are uncomfortable about displaying enthusiasm. Plus, if you've
been unemployed for several months, you may not feel enthusiastic. Yet, even
quiet candidates who don't normally show energy can demonstrate this quality to
interviewers.
Interviewing skills are learned, not innate, so you can teach yourself how to
project confidence and enthusiasm during meetings with hiring managers. They
only want you to provide to them during this 30 minute session that,
if hired, you'll work tirelessly, achieve goals and connect well with others.
Even if you don't have a naturally enthusiastic personality, you can verbally
and visually relate how you'll attack assigned projects.
To show vigor, strength and vitality during interviews, start by having the
right mind-set. Realize that interviewers want you to convey how you'd approach
the available job, not what your personality is like.
To project enthusiasm, think about a cause you're passionate about or an
especially enjoyable experience or adventure. It could be a family outing, trip
or volunteer activity. Now describe the event and the feelings it gave
you.
The first time I went rafting, for instance, I felt a tremendous rush of adrenaline,
for and exhilaration when we navigated the first whirling rapids. Afterwards, we
all shared a sense of accomplishment for successfully
making it through.
When I describe this experience, my enthusiasm and resulting energy are always apparent.
Yours will be, too, because of several verbal and visual cues. For example, your
voice level may rise or fall as you describe an exciting event. You also may gesture
to convey a strong feel or action.
Having a more alert, active body posture is another energy tip-off. Sitting up
straight or on the edge of a chair and leaning slightly forward shows that you're
vitally interested in and excited about what you're discussing.
It's hard to be enthusiastic about another person's experience if he or she
doesn't seem interested in it. In other words, if you don't show enthusiasm
about your background, interviewers won't be interested, either.
They'll have trouble seeing you as a vital achiever who takes pride in
reaching job and career goals.
By describing an accomplishment or work project with these same tones
and gestures you'd use for an exciting adventure, though, you'll convey
your commitment to interviewers. Suddenly your energy, interest and passion
for your job will emerge, separating you from candidates who depend on
their resumes to speak for them.
David Gordon, President of Gordon Communications, a marketing and
outplacement consulting firm in Highland Park, Illinois.
