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How To Be Yourself During An Interview [& On A Resume]

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After sending resumes, it can be nerve-racking to start the interview process. You know the importance of being yourself to show your true personality but don’t know how to do so. You feel like you will say something too personal or not impressive enough.

If you struggle to stay true to yourself, you’re not alone. Many people are in the same boat. Luckily, this article will give you a few tips on how to be yourself and still reel in your next job offer.

What Does It Mean To Be Yourself?

Being yourself means being honest, authentic, and genuine. You don’t have to try too hard or pretend to be someone else to make a good impression on your interviewer. Your personality is what makes you unique, so embrace it.

When you enter an interview, you must know who you are. Confidence is a critical skill core to interviewing well. You have to be able to talk about yourself with confidence and honesty. You should know what makes up your brand.

What do people say when they talk about you? What makes them think of you when they hear your name? Answering these questions is an excellent place to start.

Who Said To Be Yourself?

The idea of being yourself is not a new one. Oscar Wilde said it best: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” This advice is helpful for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd and not just be another number in an applicant pool.

Why Is It Important To Be Yourself?

The most important thing to remember is that it’s okay to be yourself. If you try too hard to fit into the mold of what people expect from an interviewee or candidate, they will pick up on it. They’ll know that something doesn’t feel right about your answers.

It’s also important to be yourself because:

You’ll Perform Better

Being yourself is necessary because it can help you to become comfortable and confident in the interview. When you’re authentic, you will feel more relaxed and less nervous about answering questions.

You will also be able to give better answers because you are not trying to be someone else. You are not forcing yourself to say something the interviewer wants to hear.

They’ll See How You Fit the Company’s Culture

The first impression you make on your interviewer is critical. It’s the first time they’ll see you in action and determine if you’re a good fit for their company.

If an employer can see that you are a good fit for their team and culture, they will want to hire you quickly.

You’ll Be More Engaged

When employers see how engaged and authentic someone is, they will want to get to know that person even more. One helpful approach is to think of the interview as a conversation between two friends who have known each other for years. You should be comfortable revealing the values that define you.

You’ll Show Off Your Personality

Being yourself in an interview is crucial because it gives the interviewer a sense of who you are. If you’re being fake and trying to be someone else, you may lie about something or have trouble thinking on your feet.

Why Is It Hard To Be Yourself?

There are many reasons why it’s hard to be yourself. For instance, you might want to be liked and think people won’t like you if you’re not perfect. You might also fear rejection and judgment from others because of your unique qualities.

The following areas reveal the key stumbling blocks to authenticity during an interview.

Nerves

Nerves can make it hard to be yourself. If you’re feeling nervous and your interviewer asks a question that requires some thought, your mind will probably go blank. You may not be able to think of anything at all, or worse yet, you’ll give an answer that doesn’t reflect who you are.

Nervousness can also prevent you from articulating your thoughts clearly during an interview or on a resume.

Low Self-Esteem

Some people are naturally predisposed to negative thinking and suffer from low self-esteem as a result. Others experience difficult life changes or events that put them under stress and cause them to develop low self-esteem. Whatever the cause, low self-esteem affects an individual’s self-image causing them to doubt their own abilities and trust their own personality.  

Fear of Retribution

Fear of retribution can be a reason why people don’t act authentically. It can be a reason why people don’t speak up. It can also be why people don’t ask for what they want.

Fear is powerful, but it’s essential to understand that fear isn’t always an accurate predictor of the future. You may feel like someone will think lowly of you if you say something like you took a gap year to find the money for college. However, that doesn’t mean they will actually react in this way.

Lack of Confidence

Lack of confidence can be a big problem when it comes to interviews. You might feel like you’re not qualified enough or your resume isn’t good enough.

You may think that just because the job description says they want someone with experience with X, Y, and Z doesn’t mean they won’t hire someone without it. But this isn’t always true.

What Is an Example of Being Yourself?

You can show your personality in an interview or resume by describing specific situations. For instance, if you have a type A personality, you can say, “Although I have great leadership skills, I have some learning to do on delegation.”

During the interview, talk about specific experiences that show who you are. For example, “I volunteer at my local food bank every Saturday morning, which is why I prefer to work for a company with a strong corporate social responsibility like yours.”

How Do You Be Yourself?

Here are some steps to take to ensure your true personality shines through in all areas of your life.

How To Be Yourself in Life

To be yourself, you must accept who you are and what makes up your personality and character. Then, keep improving qualities that need improvement—but without trying to change yourself into someone else entirely.

Being true to yourself helps you connect with others better. People appreciate authenticity in other people.

How To Be Yourself in a Job Interview

Being yourself in a job interview can be tricky because you’re constantly surrounded by other candidates who have practiced answers and have experience that you don’t. Don’t worry. With the following helpful tips, you can keep calm and present your true self to the world.

Keep Body Language Natural

It’s essential to keep a good posture and not slouch. You should sit up straight, with your shoulders back and down. Don’t cross your arms or put your hands in your pockets either–this will make you appear closed off and unapproachable.

You also want to avoid fidgeting or playing with anything while you’re talking; this can make it seem like you’re nervous.

Speak Authentically

When you are in an interview, it’s essential to speak authentically. Focus on being yourself and sharing your unique experiences in a meaningful way for both parties involved in the conversation. When asked to describe yourself, don’t be afraid of providing an answer that might seem unrelated if it makes up who you are.

Wear Clothes That Boost Your Confidence

Wearing too tight or ill-fitting clothes can make you uncomfortable, leading to fidgeting or other nervous behavior.

If you wear a see-through shirt or pants that are too long, these things can distract the interviewer from focusing on what you’re saying.

Make sure your outfit is comfortable, and choose pieces that show off the best parts of who you are–your style and personality.

Let Your Personality Shine Through

Don’t try to be someone else or feel like you must put on a show for the interviewer. But if something comes up during an interview that makes you laugh or smile, share it!

If your dad shared wisdom that you’ve found relevant in your career so far, share it too. Your interviewer will appreciate having to know you within the shortest time.

Be Yourself Resources

Be yourself resources can help you to understand yourself better so that you can become more authentic and happy in your life. They are books, quotes, and movies that can help you look inside yourself, discover what makes you tick, and how to make choices that are right for you.

Be Yourself Quotes

These are all classic pieces of advice we hear when preparing for a job interview or even just trying to be ourselves in general:

“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde

“The shortest answer is doing the thing; the biggest answer is being yourself.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

“It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.” ― Andre Gide

Be Yourself Movies

If you want to watch something that will help you be more confident, we recommend watching some of these movies:

Be Yourself Books

Several books can help you learn how to be yourself in general life and during an interview, including:

Wrapping Up

The most important thing to remember is that you should always be yourself. If you try to be someone else or something else, it will only come across as fake and make the person interviewing you feel uncomfortable.

You want your personality to shine through so they can see who they are hiring before deciding on who gets the job. If you have questions, please leave them in the comment section below, and we’ll reply.

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