This week, we facilitated a class at FIU where we coached students on how to prepare their best selves when entering the workforce and taking the next step in their careers. Specifically, we discussed “humble confidence,” which means being able to discuss what you have been responsible for and what you have already learned from your work, school, and personal experiences—all while recognizing what you don’t know and showing your desire for the opportunity to grow professionally and your willingness to learn.
Often in interviews, candidates try to convince or sell an employer their initiative, capabilities, and experience… only to find it backfires. Why? Because how someone presents themselves and their experiences is only important to the other party if they think the candidate’s experience and personality will fit within the culture of the company. Using examples during your interviews will not only allow the interviewer to gain clarity on your experiences but also portray your “humble confidence” through your ability to discuss your skills and how you gained them. Indicating what you would need to learn to succeed allows the employer to determine if they have the resources to provide any necessary training and knowledge to ensure your success at their firm.
Here Are Three Tips for Performing Well in Interviews:
- Always know your audience. Ask for introductions if they don’t provide them, along with information on their background. Don’t assume that if they have a particular title, such as “Human Resources,” “Business Development,” or “Chief Financial Officer,” they don’t also have management experience, and similarly with the “President” or “Vice President” title. If you understand what they understand and know the perspective by which they are evaluating you (e.g., company cultural fit, technical ability, etc.), you can more easily gauge how best to answer their questions.
- Give examples of your exposure to a specific ask. For example, do you have experience on a particular project? If you were not the lead on the project yourself, but you assisted with it, state what your experience was. “I assisted Joe Garcia, Project Manager, at XYZ company for a buyout on the hotel project, with the exception of issuing the contracts, which Joe did.” Or “Other than the XYZ package for the Law Firm project which I took care of, all of my other projects were already bought out before I was involved.”
- Do not be taken aback if someone asks you to provide samples, additional references, or take assessments. At the close of an interview, offering additional references or resources to verify your current experience and capabilities will help both of you determine if your expectations align, and proper training will be given so you will be available to upskill in any required areas and meet expectations. You could ask something like, “Would you like any further references or information from me to aid in your hiring decision?” If English is your second language, companies may ask for samples of correspondence you have sent in a work environment. If you are going to be responsible for writing scope of work or RFIs, they may ask for a past example.
We can use dating and marriage as an analogy to interviewing; the more you learn about one another while dating, the better the honeymoon and, typically, the better the marriage. Interviews represent the dating phase, your first 90 days in the company represent the honeymoon, and beyond that is the marriage.
Keeping humble confidence in mind while interviewing and backing up your experience with references and examples will help to eliminate surprises on the technical end while giving you time to adjust to a new role within the company.
Yes, employers are looking for certain skill sets for certain jobs, but if you are not coachable, trainable, and motivated, they will go with a less skilled candidate instead of you any day because skills can be taught, but attitude and aptitude cannot.
Whether you are just starting out or toward the end of your career, bring “humble confidence” to your interviews and workplaces. You have nothing to prove except your commitment to the company and the job if you choose to accept it.
To You and Your Humble Confidence,
Suzanne Breistol