How to Show Confidence During Job Interviews
Job interviews can be stressful for a number of reasons, but these five tips can help lessen anxiety.
- Prepare, prepare, prepare. Pour over the company’s website to learn about who’s who and what’s what. Find
reviews about the organization using sites such as Glassdoor and LinkedIn. Reach out to contacts in your network who may shed light on the interview process. Finally, make sure to look up information about your interviewer. - Create examples to highlight skills. To stand out from others being considered for the job, prepare stories of examples that illustrate desirable skills. Instead of vague answers such as I helped increase sales, provide a specific example: I helped increase sales by X percent by doing X.
- Practice responses. Once you have gathered a number of responses, create talking points. Then rehearse aloud until you feel comfortable retelling them.
- Be positive. Prior to the interview, practice active positivity. Listen to upbeat music or watch inspirational videos. Think about prior successes and use positive self-talk.
- Work off nervous energy. Whether it’s jogging, dancing, or lifting weights, burn off nervous energy to avoid coming across as anxious or wired.
Finally, know that those butterflies in your stomach are signs that you care about the position. That’s not a bad thing, experts say.
Source: Vozza, S. (November 16, 2021.) 5 ways to boost your confidence during a stressful job interview. FastCompany. https://fastcompany.com
Job Opportunities Look Bright for 2022 Grads
Employers plan to hire 26 percent more new graduates this year than they did in 2021, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook 2022 report.
Between an unemployment rate below 5 percent and more than 10 million job openings, the class of 2022 faces a rosy employment picture. In fact, 60 percent of employers surveyed say they plan to increase hires.
NACE’s annual Job Report collects data from employer members as well as nonmember companies. A total of 157 respondents were queried between August to October 2021 about hiring for the new year.
Source: Gray, K. (November 11, 2021). Employer hiring plans jump for class of 2022 graduates. National Association of Colleges and Employers. https://naceweb.org
Remote Work Costing Gen Z Valuable Life Lessons
Gen Zers overwhelmingly indicate their desire to work remotely. But experts say doing so costs the new generation of workers more than learning the ropes from seasoned employees. It’s hurting their personal growth, too.
In the not so distant past, most employees spent more time at the workplace than anywhere else. The office was where new-hires matured by learning how to resolve conflict and handle interpersonal challenges. This was especially true for workers under the age of 25, an important time for human brain development.
In-person work likewise helped young people develop by forcing them to deal with authority, cope with emotions, control impulsivity, and learn to read social cues. A mix of competition and congeniality, the pre-pandemic office provided a unique atmosphere to hone life skills while junior staff members were working side by side with more experienced coworkers.
However, being isolated and working from home has deprived young adults of opportunities to learn about human nature. To offset this deficit, more experienced workers suggest that their younger colleagues mindfully build work relationships, seek out face-to-face time, and not hide from uncomfortable situations–the very experiences that lead to personal growth.
Source: Knight, R. (October 19, 2021.) What Gen Z misses out on by not being at the office. Business Insider. https://businessinsider.com
