Interview with Confidence: Boost Your Self-Awareness and Showcase Your Strengths

This week, I've had the privilege of coaching several individuals on mastering the art of interviewing. My focus is always on helping potential employers truly understand who you are, the value you bring, and how they can harness your strengths to their fullest.

Today, I want to delve into a key aspect of successful interviewing: the power of authenticity.

In the pressure of a job interview, it can be tempting to shape your responses based on what you think the employer wants to hear. But here’s the truth: there’s no point in pretending to be someone you’re not. The real key to success lies in making them appreciate you for who you genuinely are.

I'm going to explore why it’s crucial to present your true self during an interview. But to do this effectively, you first need to cultivate deep self-awareness.

'Knowing yourself' isn’t just a trendy concept; it’s the foundation for showcasing your unique strengths and the value you bring. This self-awareness allows you to confidently share with potential employers:

• How you like to be managed

• The types of feedback that help you thrive

• What keeps you motivated

• The areas where you naturally excel

However, before you can authentically share these insights with others, you need to understand them yourself. This requires taking time to reflect, assess, and gain a clear picture of your true self. Whether through assessments like the Gallup CliftonStrengths (in which I am certified to coach!), understanding your Love Language, or identifying your habit tendencies, each step towards self-awareness empowers you to be genuine and authentic in every interview.

So, let’s dive in and uncover the authentic you that employers will love!

Love Languages in the Workplace

You might think love languages are only relevant in personal relationships, but understanding your love language can be a powerful tool in the workplace, particularly when explaining how you like to be managed and receive feedback. Dr Gary Chapman’s concept of love languages identifies five different ways people prefer to give and receive love: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch (like high fives int he workplace!!).

While these are typically associated with personal relationships, they also have valuable applications in professional settings.

For example:

• Words of Affirmation: If this is your primary love language, you may thrive on verbal recognition and positive feedback. Expressing this to your manager can help them understand that you value regular acknowledgment and encouraging words.

• Acts of Service: If you value actions over words, you might prefer managers who provide support by helping with tasks or removing obstacles. Knowing this can guide your manager to offer practical assistance when you need it.

• Receiving Gifts: If you appreciate tangible tokens of appreciation, you might respond well to incentives or small rewards for your hard work. Sharing this with your manager can help them understand what motivates you.

• Quality Time: If you value undivided attention, you may prefer one-on-one meetings and time dedicated to discussing your work and development. Communicating this can ensure you receive the focused interaction you need.

• Physical Touch: While less applicable in professional environments, this might translate to valuing a warm and friendly atmosphere where gestures like handshakes, fist bumps, or high fives are appreciated.

Understanding and sharing your love language in an interview can lead to better communication, stronger relationships, and a more supportive work environment tailored to your needs.

Understanding Your Four Tendencies

Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework categorises people based on how they respond to expectations, both outer (societal, work-related) and inner (personal goals). The four tendencies are Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel. Understanding your tendency can increase self-awareness and help you communicate your strengths and work preferences during a job interview.

For example:

• Upholder: You respond readily to both outer and inner expectations. Highlight your reliability and ability to meet deadlines without much supervision. In an interview, emphasise your strong sense of responsibility and self-motivation.

• Questioner: You question all expectations and will only meet an expectation if you believe it’s justified. Showcase your analytical skills and tendency to seek out the rationale behind tasks. In an interview, demonstrate your ability to improve processes by asking the right questions.

• Obliger: You meet outer expectations but struggle with inner ones unless you’re accountable to others. Discuss your responsiveness to team needs and how you excel in collaborative environments. Explain how you thrive when there are clear expectations and accountability.

• Rebel: You resist both outer and inner expectations. Focus on your independence and desire for innovation. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and tackle challenges in unconventional ways. Emphasise how you can bring fresh perspectives and creative solutions.

Knowing Your Gallup Strengths

The domain you lead with can significantly enhance your self-awareness and help you articulate your unique value in a job interview. The Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment identifies 34 strengths, categorised into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. Knowing your top strengths and leading domain can help you communicate how you naturally excel and contribute in the workplace.

For instance:

• Executing: If you lead with executing strengths like Achiever or Discipline, you might highlight your ability to turn ideas into reality and your consistency in delivering results.

• Influencing: If you excel in influencing, such as with strengths like Communication or Maximizer, share examples of how you’ve led teams with a clear vision or driven high quality results.

• Relationship Building: If your strengths are in relationship building, like Empathy or Developer, discuss how you’ve fostered strong relationships and support and mentor others and create a positive work environment.

• Strategic Thinking: If your strengths lie in strategic thinking, like Strategic or Analytical, provide examples of how you’ve developed innovative solutions or strategic plans based on data and proof.

Bringing It All Together

Having this knowledge about yourself allows you to draw upon it in an interview with confidence.

• Preparation: Understand what your tendency means for an employer and how you approach your work. Define the environment and management style that bring out your best, and review your top strengths and leading domain.

• Examples: Prepare specific examples that demonstrate how you’ve used your strengths and tendency to achieve positive outcomes.

• Alignment: Tailor your responses to align your strengths with the job requirements, explaining how your natural talents will help you excel in the role.

This self-awareness not only boosts your confidence but also provides clear examples of how you operate best, making you a more compelling candidate. The most important thing is that you are representing your true self – what you’re great at and how they will get the best out of you. This will ensure that who you are is aligned with the job you are applying for.

Until next time... Binny

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Binny Langler champions the radical idea that you can design the work life you want.

By coaching you on how to write the next chapter of your work story with YOU as the hero, spotlighting your unique superpowers.

As Founder & Director of The Inkling Effect, Binny has over 20 years of experience in helping professionals discover and apply their unique strengths to create more fulfilling and meaningful work.

A certified Executive, Gallup Global Strengths Coach & Career Change Coach - with a Masters of Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Her mission is to be a change catalyst for curious professionals who are seeking a fresh start in their career journey. She uses a fast-track process that reveals your superpowers to enable you to script the next chapter of your work story with intention and purpose. Binny specialises in challenging the status quo, utilising Design-Thinking to empower her clients to embrace their potential and pursue brilliance, whether that be in their current role, or transitioning to something entirely different.

Book a Free Career Strategy Chat HERE

Coaching options:

• Elevating individuals through a group coaching program 

• Personalised private 1:1 coaching 

• Transforming teams via tailor-made coaching programs