Don’t be afraid to show enthusiasm at interview

040

Eagerness. Confidence. Enthusiasm. These are the intangibles that employers are looking for. These qualities will set you apart from the crowd when interviewing for a job.

Too often job candidates suppress these essential qualities for fear that they will look "too desperate." "I always try to play hard to get." one job hunter explained. "That way the interviewer will think I can be choosy." This "choosy" attitude may keep this job hunter unemployed.

It is understandable that nervousness can cast a pall over any hopeful interviewee. But once the discussion has begun, an interviewer expects some of your true beliefs and attitudes to emerge. It sounds so simple, yet interviewers often comment about the number of candidates who appear uninterested and unenthusiastic.

Here's how you can stand apart as the person who is ready and right for the job. Help the interviewer break the ice. Don't be afraid to appear friendly by initiating some small talk. Use common sense here, but remember the interviewer may feel as uncomfortable as you do and may welcome some tactful, interested comments. It may help you establish a rapport that will carry you through the interview.

Smile and laugh when appropriate. Interviewing can be tedious, hard work on both sides. A little levity can help you both relax and certainly will make you appear warm and pleasant to be with. Use facial expressions, eye contact and voice intonation to communicate sincerity, confidence and enthusiasm. A deadpan expression or infrequent eye contact says negative things to the interviewer.

When discussing your achievements, express the feelings of pride and enthusiasm you feel regarding them. The interviewer is looking for someone who will approach this new job with vigor.

When asking questions or discussing the hiring company, avoid a suspicious, probing tone of voice. Instead, sound non-judgmental and interested. For example, "From what I've read, there seems to be a great deal of opportunity here for someone with innovative ideas," sounds far better than, "I've read a lot about the troubles this industry is having."

Don't confuse cockiness with confidence. Comments like, "Oh, that sounds like it would be a breeze," or "When can I start?" make you appear pushy or naive. Assume a willing, learning attitude. The most confident, skilled and experienced candidates know that they will always have more to learn.

Keep pace with the interviewer. Assess the basic conversational style and tempo of the individual. Watch for cues. If the person is friendly and chatty, assume some of the same characteristics. If the interviewer is introspective and analytical slow down and let him digest what you have said.

Try to sense when the interviewer has heard enough about a particular point and wants to move on. To check this, there's nothing wrong with asking, "Would you like me to go into more detail?" Show a willingness to assume responsibility. Portray yourself as a person who is willing to go the extra mile. You can do this by talking about the challenges you've enjoyed in the past. Saying, "That project meant extra hours but the results were worth it," is much more positive than saying, "Does this job require much overtime?"

Do you need answers to tough job hunting questions?  Are you looking for some added punch to help you stand out from the crowd?  Joan Lloyd’s has developed job hunting tools that can help you to maximize your job search:

Savvy Negotiation Strategies to Get Paid What You’re Worth on a New Job (Detailed, special report)
Easy, Step-by-step Guide to Using the Internet to Land a Great Job (Detailed, special report)
The Resume that Gets Results and the Interview that Gets the Job (37 page, detailed instructions)