Don’t Let Impostor Syndrome Derail Your Next Interview

It’s hard to shine in an interview when your capabilities, accomplishments, and creativity don’t jibe with the mental picture you have of yourself — so it’s important to quash this negative self-concept before you start interviewing to maximize your performance. The author offers three strategies to help quiet your inner critic and ace an interview: 1) Understand the goal of the interview process. Much of what will determine the success of an interview is social. When you remember this, it can help remove pressure from feeling like you need your interview to be technically perfect. 2) Practice, practice, practice. As with every skill, the more you do it, the better you’ll be at it; as your aptitude improves, so will your confidence level. 3) Calm your nerves. If you feel self-doubt while answering the interviewers’ questions, redirect their attention toward the specific challenges the employer is facing and how you would help overcome them. By making a point of shifting the interviewer’s focus in subtle ways, you’ll become less worried about your performance, allowing your best self to shine.