7 Tips for Interviewing as an Introvert

Here’s a secret...I’m an introvert.  An introverted recruiter?  Yes, it is possible.  

I could muse forever about the misconceptions around introverts. For example, “introverted” doesn’t automatically equate to “shy”, it’s more about how we respond differently than extroverts to outside stimulus such as, well, other people.  We also think carefully before we speak, dislike small talk, and take time in revealing our true nature to others.

These attributes don’t always lend themselves to making interviews a fun or easy experience for an introvert. How do you handle a half hour of intense, think out loud, show off your personality, respond in an instant, “Ah, the attention is all on me!” time?

It all comes down to preparation.  I understand from previous personal experience that a careful evaluation of the situation before an interview can be a more necessary step in the process for an introvert.  Until the day that standard interview practices accommodate the personality traits of 50% of the population, here are some tips to help you, my fellow introverted friends:

Before the interview:

1. Set up a fake interview. Collect standard interview questions and create your own relevant questions based off the specific job description for the position you are going for.   Ask a friend/family member to conduct a fake interview, going through the list of questions in random order to construct the situation to be as authentic as possible. Get feedback from that trusted person, adjust, and retry.

2. Research your interviewer on LinkedIn (or company website, Twitter, etc.). Don’t go into the meeting knowing nothing about the interviewer - aim for minimal amount of surprises.  LinkedIn helps a lot with this, because you can get an idea of that person’s education, their work history, how long they’ve been in the company, and even what they look like.

3. Collect as much information about the company, interview location, and the interviewer from your recruiter (if you are using one).  If you did not secure the interview through a recruiter, try to gain insights from any connections you have working in that organisation already, or connections you know who have interviewed there previously.

If using a recruiter, they will have most likely visited the office of the company, met the hiring manager, and possibly had other candidates interview there previously.  Ask for as much information as you can, even any weird things you should know about how to get to the meeting (is there a receptionist to greet you or do you need to expect to ring a bell and wait?).  It’s the simple pieces of information that allow you to focus your mental attention on what’s important, instead of worrying about having to respond to and process silly stimuli.

4. Prepare questions to ask at the end of the interview.  Use your previous research to help create intelligent, thoughtful questions about the position, the interviewer, and the company.  Write or type the questions and bring with you in a professional looking folder/portfolio.  

Example questions: What are the expectations of the role in one week, one month, one year?  What is the biggest challenge in the role? How are people promoted within the company? Ask the interviewer -  Why did you join the company?  How would you describe the company culture? There are endless other examples online, here is a helpful article I found with smart questions.

5. Right before the interview - talk to a family member or friend on the phone. This is my favourite trick.  When interviewing you want to feel relaxed, open, and able to display your awesome personality in the best way possible.  Call a family member or friend for a quick hello and pep talk to get yourself into the right mindset.  

During the interview:

6. Take a moment to answer if you need to.  There is nothing wrong with saying, “Let me think about that for a moment,” and gather your thoughts.  A pause to ponder is okay.  

7. Think of acting “up” to your personality and just forget how drained you will feel after.   How do you act if you are spending time with your friends or family?  Try to get into that zone even if you feel you have to “act” a bit, you simply don’t have time for slowly lowering your guard in this situation.

Being introverted doesn’t have to mean being at a disadvantage during interviews. Remember that the interviewer is just a person on the other side of the table trying to learn about you.  And you never know, they could be an introvert, too.