You’ve heard that you need to show enthusiasm in a job interview, right?
Well, it’s true!
But if you’re an introvert, or not a high-energy person, how do you do it? And how do you make it seem natural, without going overboard?
As an introvert myself, I’ve discovered there are easy ways to bump up your enthusiasm during job interviews. It just takes a little preparation and intentionality. Here are the four easiest ways I’m found to demonstrate enthusiasm for a job during an interview.
1. Research the company and the position.
The more you know about the work the organization does and what is expected of the position, the better off you will be. There is no need to work your knowledge into every part of the interview—no one likes a know-it-all—but you do want to show you are knowledgeable about the company’s mission and their work.
Look for news or press releases on their website about what they do. You could mention that you really liked their work on Project X, or that you’d love to hear more about the new initiative you saw mentioned on their website
2. Ask great questions.
One of the easiest ways to show enthusiasm during your job interview is to ask thoughtful questions that show your interest and excitement for the position. These could be questions about the position, what the interviewer enjoys most about working there, or questions about a recent project. Show that you are eager to learn more about the role and the company.
Just be sure you don’t ask things that you could easily learn from their website. I once had someone ask me at a job fair what my organization does! Yeah, don’t do that!!
3. Be aware of your body language.
This applies to both in-person and video interviews. Be sure to maintain good posture and eye contact. Both of these convey interest in the position, which is really the purpose behind showing enthusiasm.
4. Be yourself.
Trying to bump up the enthusiasm in your job interview doesn’t mean pretending to be someone else. Yes, not all of us are high energy, bubbly people, and that’s okay! But think about what things in life excite you. How do you act when you are really excited about something? How do you respond to things that make you really happy? Those are the responses you want to show. If you are passionate about the potential role, and about your skills and experiences, this will naturally shine through as you answer interview questions. The previous steps are just a few extra measures you can take to be well prepared and consciously think about how you are presenting yourself.
Plus, when you are well prepared, you are more confident. And when you are more confident, you’ll automatically project more enthusiasm.
So breathe, and remember to smile. You have totally got this!
Belinda Elliott 