Introvert in a Job Interview: Survival Guide

Listen into the inner voice of an introvert in a job interview: “Time to sit in a room and talk to a load of strangers. About me…. No, thanks.”

While not all introverts would view themselves as shy in such a situation, many will retreat into a thoughtful state in an interview when they should ideally be selling themselves. The thought of dissecting their achievements fills them with quiet horror, and they cannot help but fear that they will be judged by their (inevitable) pensive nature rather than the depth of their career achievements.

How can you make the most of the opportunity when you are an introvert in a job interview? Let me give you a hint: you do not need to pretend that you are something you are not.

Give yourself plenty of “me time.” Social interactions tend to drain introverts, so schedule regular periods of solitude into your job search. Take it easy on the day of your job interview, clear your mind and let your energies build. Making an effort to be more outgoing will be impossible without a significant reserve of social energy.

Do the proper prep work. Imagining how an interview will pan out is not enough. Ask one of your (outer) circle of acquaintances to ask you some typical interview questions. You won’t feel comfortable to start with, but after a few sessions, you will learn to carry yourself with enough confidence to answer without your brain turning to mush.

Introvert job interview practice

Practice your small talk. Light-hearted conversation and harmless banter are often part of the opening exchanges of an interview. Introverts detest these mindless forms of conversation, but you cannot afford to come across as cold or uninterested. Try to make that initial connection and feel your way into the briefest of initial encounters.

Focus on mirroring your interviewer’s behaviour. Your natural preferences will make you seem distant and unapproachable (although that is far from the case), so trying to subtly adopt a few of the interviewer’s mannerisms may go some way to meeting them halfway. If they are telling jokes, laugh. If they gesticulate, do the same. They will see you engaging.

Ask for a moment before you answer. Introverts value reflection and introspection, so be confident to ask for a moment to think when that tricky interview question comes along. You will have to be mentally quicker on your feet than usual, and you can’t say this for every question, but keep it in your locker for when you need it.

Be open about your introverted nature. Even sell it. You know how to harness your introverted nature as a career weapon, so it isn’t something to hide entirely. There are plenty of traits that can make introverts incredibly valuable employees. You never know; your interviewer could well be an introvert too. They may be hating the interview too.

The bottom line is that you should seek to find a job where you can bring your whole self to work. While some of your introverted preferences may get in the way of doing justice to your career story, hiding your introversion is also not advised.

You will need to share the load with the interviewer in terms of the conversation but an introvert in a job interview can shine through differently. You are likely a great listener, a deep thinker and a thoughtful colleague.

Introversion is one of your superpowers. 

Own it. Let your future employer know how it can benefit them.

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This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).