Looking Inward

Knowing yourself inside and out

Many people say – and rightfully so – that a job search is a sales job. And what is the expectation of a good salesperson? That they are outgoing, gregarious and talkative – in short, they are extroverts.

That may be all well and good, but what if you’re an introvert? Does anyone really expect you to turn your personality around 180 degrees during a job search? Is that even possible?

So how can introverts conduct a successful job search when the deck seems to be stacked them? Believe it or not, there are cards that savvy introverts can have up their sleeves.

More than one way to skin a cat

Let’s start with networking. Networking, a place tailor made for the extrovert. Lots of people to speak with – just what the extrovert is good at. So how can an introvert survive such a highly charged atmosphere? The reality is that a successful networker knows how to shut up and listen; let the other person do all the talking. After all, talking about themselves is something that most people love to do and listening to them is an area where the introvert excels.

Whether it’s a networking situation or an interview, the expectation is that one should be able to talk about one’s self. But, by their very nature, introverts don’t like to talk about themselves. So, talk about something else.

If you’re a competent employee, you know the market or industry where you worked previously. So, talk about the industry. Display your knowledge of what going on in the industry – the trends, the changes, the successful players. It’s something you know, something that you should feel comfortable with. You can demonstrate your knowledge without talking about yourself.

But what if the interviewer directly requests, “Tell me about yourself”? Your response can begin with “I spent 20 years in the widget industry and here’s what I learned about that industry…”

Then let the interviewer ask a specific question about how you fit into these developments. If it’s something specific, even if you’re introvert, you should be able to answer a direct question.

Introvert or not, if you’re creative and work things to your advantage, you can successfully navigate the treacherous seas of the job hunt.

More tips.