Job Interview Success for Introverts

Robert McIntosh

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2014
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783000739
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Careers
• Index: Computer Science

If you identify as an introvert and your ambition and passion is hampered by anxiety about taking the next step in your career, this book is for you.

Job Interview Success for Introverts

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Job Interview Success for Introverts

Copyright © 2014 Impackt Publishing

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First published: August 2014

Production reference: 1280814

Published by Impackt Publishing Ltd.

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Credits

Author

Bob McIntosh

Reviewers

Arslan Ali

Karen M. Caito, CPC, ELI-MP

Adrienne Tom, CRS, CPRW, CEIP

Acquisition Editor

Richard Gall

Copy Editors

Maria Gould

Faisal Siddiqui

Project Coordinator

Venitha Cutinho

Proofreader

Paul Hindle

Production Coordinator

Melwyn D'sa

Cover Work

Melwyn D'sa

About the Author

Bob McIntosh, a proud introvert, is a career trainer who leads more than 15 job-search workshops at an urban career center. Bob is qualified in the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory and leads an engaging MBTI workshop, in which he encourages introverts to realize their strengths and apply them to their job search. In addition, Bob is well known in the community as a LinkedIn authority; he teaches LinkedIn for Business workshops at a local community college. Bob's greatest pleasure is helping people find rewarding careers in a competitive job market. Follow Bob on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bob_mcintosh_1 and LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobmcintosh1.

I'd like to thank my wife, Donna McIntosh, and my three wonderful children, Miranda, Chloe, and Robert for their patience and constant mention of introversion.

About the Reviewers

Arslan Ali has more than 14 years of experience related to the IT industry and training institutions with 5 years of exclusive experience in teaching various disciplines and projects in an IT institution. He has worked in various roles including software engineering, software testing, training, and quality assurance. The major focus of his expertise lies in coordination, implementation, and testing of ERPs and customized applications. He is also a trainer for context-driven testing for various companies and individuals.

Arslan is currently working at Sidat Hyder Morshed Associates as a Senior Consultant – Information Solutions; but besides that, he is also an active founding member of TestersTestified (www.testerstestified.com) (@testtified), Outtabox! (www.outtabox.co) (@OuttaBoxPk), and OISOL – Open Integrated Solutions (www.oisol.com) as a training consultant for software testing and context-driven testing workshops.

You can follow him on Twitter at @arslan0644 and on LinkedIn at pk.linkedin.com/in/thegoodchanges/.

I would like to thank Impackt Publishing for this opportunity and my father for his reading habits which I successfully inherited in me!

Prior to becoming a professional coach, Karen M. Caito has had 25 years of expertise as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Being an introvert and building confidence is a journey. She was able to experience first-hand how to thrive in an extroverted world by using several "techniques" to increase her confidence level so that she could achieve her life goals and create her niche coaching brand, Confidence Coach for Introverts. What she does best is help the overwhelmed, exhausted professional to become calm and confident so that the best version of themselves gets center stage in their health, career, and relationships, so they can finally be who they really are. She can stimulate that change in her clients in 90 days. Karen is also an Energy Leadership Expert, helping her clients discover the four Big Energy Blocks holding them back from success and catapulting them into abundant confidence with the use of the Energy Leadership Assessment Tool. She holds a BS in Marketing and Communications from Rochester Institute of Technology and is a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist. Her pharmaceutical career includes companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Procter & Gamble, Sanofi-Aventis, and Merck. Visit her website at www.caitocoaching.com.

Adrienne Tom is an award-winning resume strategist and interview coach in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with a passion for guiding senior-level professionals through the discovery of what sets them apart. Collaborating together, Adrienne works closely with senior professionals to develop leading edge marketing tools that help them stand out and advance their careers.

In addition to over 10 years in the career industry, Adrienne is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Certified Employment Interview Professional (CEIP), Certified Resume Strategist (CRS), and a member in good standing with three national and international career associations.

As a testament to her expertise, Adrienne has been the recipient of several prestigious industry awards, including six Awards of Excellence for outstanding resumes and outstanding online profile development from Career Professionals of Canada, as well as an international TORI Award (Toast of the Resume Industry) from Career Directors International. Her work has also been published in two national resume and cover letter books.

To learn more about Adrienne's specialized offerings for senior-level professionals, managers, directors, executives, and aspiring leaders, contact her at Career Impressions: www.careerimpressions.ca or [email protected].

Preface

So, you're an introvert

I was in my mid 40's when I discovered my preference for introversion. Until then, I thought I was an extrovert, mainly because I could, and still can, talk with ease to complete strangers. Truth be told, I hoped that my preference was for extroversion, not introversion, simply because society favors extroverts in most aspects of life: school, work, social interaction, and the job search, to name a few. I doubted my acceptance and didn't speak proudly of my preference until I learned more about the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory.

Do you remember when you learned your preference for introversion? Were you in doubt like me? Did you have a sense of dread thinking of the stereotypes of introverts, such as shy, loner, standoffish, aloof, recluse, or rude? Furthermore, you may have believed that introverts couldn't make small talk or associate with important, outgoing people.

But if all of this were true, how were you capable of talking with complete strangers, even approaching them, or want to be with your peers and attend social gatherings? How was it that some of your friends accused you of talking too much? And how have you been able to rub elbows with authorities in your town or city, to make small talk with the best of them? You were behaving more like an extrovert, weren't you? No, you were behaving like an introvert, able to adapt to your setting, and doing all the things mentioned here was a result of your introversion.

Now being an introvert doesn't seem so bad, does it? In fact, being an introvert has its benefits. You are an intelligent conversationalist. You think before talking and, therefore, don't make as many faux pas as some of your extroverted friends and colleagues. You are an engaged listener who doesn't think about what you'll say next before totally hearing the other person out. Being alone doesn't upset you; rather, you enjoy going to the movies alone and eating alone. Your friends and family can't understand this. You love writing and do it well. There are many things about being an introvert that you appreciate, feel comfortable with, and wouldn't want to change.

There are truths, though, that set introverts apart from extroverts; truths that put introverts at a disadvantage in life and the job search, especially at the all-important interview. Some of the strengths introverts possess can be faults, particularly when it comes to verbal communications. Talking, small talk to be precise, is a challenge for introverts because they feel the need to think before speaking, whereas extroverts will speak before thinking. Because of their inclination to think before talking, introverts are often left out of conversations.

In the job search, talking is integral to one's success. You can't rightfully go to a networking event and an interview and expect not to talk in the manner people expect you to. In other words, there are unspoken rules about conversing at networking events and interviews. Organized networking events are attended by people who see them as an opportunity to sell themselves. Often there is small talk which leads to delivering an elevator pitch. If the two parties are interested in what the other is selling, the conversation can extend. Some networkers like to "work the room," which means meeting as many people as possible, collecting as many business cards as they can. This is considered a success for the extroverts.

Success for introverts at a networking event looks a little different. Small talk becomes more like "deep talk." Introverts are not interested in the competitive nature of networking events. One of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator questions goes something like this:

"When you are with a group of people, would you usually rather, A: Join in the talk of the group—or—B: Talk individually with people you know well?"

Can you guess how the introvert would answer? The second answer speaks to how introverts prefer to talk, not their ability to converse. Yet, this isn't how networking events work. Networking events are friendlier to extroverts.

At the interview, which is this book's ultimate focus, talking is paramount to success. Answering questions to the satisfaction of the interviewer(s) means the difference between winning the job or…going home the loser. This is not what you want. You want to succeed with flying colors at the interview, to hear the interviewer(s) say, "We'd like to offer you the job." You'll only hear these words if you're prepared for the all-important interview. Being prepared is also what this book is about. (I'll give you a hint; introverts are strong in the preparation department, more so than their counterpart, the extrovert.) On face value, the interview may favor the extrovert; but don't give up the battle just yet.

Introverts have a good sense of the job search in general; but we know that what matters is getting to the interview. You'll have to rely on your ability to analyze the steps it takes to get there, including your strong written communication skills, that is, CVs, cover letters, approach letters, and LinkedIn profile—along with your exerted efforts to talk. Some would argue you need to behave more like an extrovert, or utilize your extroverted traits. But there are characteristics of the introvert that are endearing to employers. You will learn what these are.

If introverts are labeled as quiet, having few friends, and private, then how does that propel them to succeed in networking and interviews? The answer to this question is thorough effort. This is what we'll look at when explaining how introverts can succeed in winning the position, leaving some extroverts out of the picture.

What does it mean to be an introvert? As I was explaining to my daughter, whom I suspect of being an introvert, introversion and extroversion are preferences; neither being better than the other. What I didn't explain to her are the challenges she'll most likely face. As an introvert, I face challenges every day, especially those surrounding talking. Which is ironic, especially since my occupation as a workshop facilitator at an urban career center requires me to talk all day. I chose my occupation because I'm good at disseminating information in a way people understand, but it does take a toll on my energy. I adapt.

So, your ability to talk will be challenged, and it's up to you to adapt to challenging situations—networking events, telephone interviews, and face-to-face meetings.

In this book, you'll learn how to conduct the job search that gets you to the interview. You'll also learn about questions from hiring authorities that may be a challenge. For example, one that would be a challenge for me would be, "Give us an example of when working as part of a team had a positive impact on the company, and what you learned about your ability to be a team player." You see, introverts don't prefer being on a team; rather, they like to solve problems on their own or with one or two other people. Then there's brainstorming and open work environments. Oh boy.

Let's begin our journey to the interview.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Before the Interview...

Table of contents

• Job Interview Success for Introverts