The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide

Understanding who you are as a person will help you secure and survive a job interview.

Imagine you’re being interviewed for your dream job. So far, you’re happy with your performance. But then the HR Manager asks you to share something about yourself with the panel. Immediately, your brain freezes. The question feels highly personal to you, and you’re not in the habit of sharing personal information with strangers.

It’s a common misconception that introverts are shy. Some may be, but a more accurate characterization is that they’re simply private people. While there’s nothing wrong with being reserved, it can be an obstacle during job interviews, a time when personal questions are likely to come up.

As an introvert, you may feel put on the spot when an interviewer asks you about yourself. You may view personal information as irrelevant, since it’s your skills that demonstrate whether or not you can competently do the job you’re up for. But your interviewers want insight into your personality type, which helps them understand how you’d fit into their existing team if they were to offer you the job.

Fortunately, there’s a simple way to prevent yourself from being affronted by personal questions during interviews. Before you start applying for positions, reflect on who you are and where your strengths lie by conducting a self-assessment. Start by reflecting on your personality and talents, then identify and memorize a few adjectives that describe you in a positive way. By doing so, you’ll be ready to answer every question in your interview without experiencing your usual hesitation.

This technique was useful to author Jane Finkle’s client Joan – a former business owner and introvert – when she wanted to return to the workforce after caring for her elderly parents for fifteen years. During her absence from the workplace, Joan had become an avid volunteer fundraiser for a community organization, and she wished to pursue fundraising professionally. After reflecting on her personality type, Joan identified herself as intelligent, creative, decisive, and ambitious – all excellent qualities for fundraisers. Confident that this vocabulary represented her authentically, Joan felt comfortable including these words in her cover letters and in interviews. Doing so, she successfully secured a position fundraising and sourcing potential donors for an arboretum.

It’s inevitable that you’ll be asked about your personality during the recruiting process. By being prepared, you’ll not only overcome brain freeze, but also highlight the valuable qualities you’d bring to your new team.