Demonstrar confiança é essencial em qualquer entrevista de emprego. É importante que você demonstre que confia em você e no seu trabalho, para que o entrevistador também sinta a mesma confiança e considere você como uma boa opção para a vaga.

O problema é que, ao mesmo tempo, entrevistas de emprego costumam ser uma das situações que mais deixam as pessoas nervosas! E se ela for em inglês existe mais uma camada de preocupação, afinal, você precisa demonstrar que é especialista na sua área e também que domina o idioma estrangeiro.

Então, calma: respire fundo e faça o exercício em inglês abaixo com 9 dicas para demonstrar confiança em qualquer entrevista de emprego.

EXERCISE

Match the tips below with their corresponding paragraphs.

• Practice your handshake
• Make eye contact
• Talk slowly
• Think positively
• Practice breathing techniques
• Prepare and rehearse your answers
• Maintain good posture
• Dress the part
• Calm your fidgeting

Extra: check the vocabulary highlighted in the text and try to create new sentences with the words.

How to appear confident in an interview

1._____

To show confidence, start by practicing your eye contact. Keeping natural and steady eye contact throughout your interview is an excellent way to project confidence. Aim to maintain natural eye contact instead of making eye contact that feels intense or prolonged.

Steady: firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving.

2._____

After you work on your eye contact, you might also find it helpful to practice good posture. Body language is an important aspect of communicating confidence during your interview. Start by sitting with your arms unfolded in your lap in order to convey an open, friendly attitude. Make your back straight with your shoulders back and your chest and chin raised.

Unfolded: open or spread out from a folded position

To convey: make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable to someone

3._____

One great way to show confidence in an interview is to greet the interviewer with a firm handshake. A firm handshake shows experience and confidence, and it gives the interviewer a good first impression. Keep the following tips in mind to give a good handshake:

• The interviewer should be the one to initiate the handshake
• Stand and look the interviewer in the eye when you shake hands
• Offer a sincere smile to show you are happy to be there
• If your palm is damp, quickly blot it on the side of your pants or skirt before shaking hands
• Greet the person with her name and a pleasantry, such as, “It is very nice to meet you, Ms. Smith”
• Have a firm handshake, but do not apply too much force
• The handshake should last between two and five seconds, which usually equals two or three pumps
• Make sure your other hand is visible and unclenched.

Damp: slightly wet

To blot: dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material

Pleasantry: an inconsequential remark made as part of a polite conversation

Unclenched: relaxed

4._____

When you get nervous, the blood flows away from your brain and into your muscles for fight or flight mode. This lack of blood in the brain can impact cognitive functions. However, when you take slow, deep breaths, you bring oxygen back to your brain to help you think.

Flight: the action of fleeing or attempting to escape

5._____

Fidgeting is a sign of nervousness. If you tend to tap your fingers or twirl your hair, practice keeping your hands on the table. You should also make a point not to keep a pen or paper in your hands if you typically fidget with anything you are holding. If you often shake your leg when you are nervous, you can keep your hands in your lap and apply a little pressure to remind yourself to stop shaking. Try asking a friend or family member to tell you how you fidget so you can be aware of your habits and work on them.

To fidget: make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience

6._____

One great way to showcase interview confidence is to prepare your answers to common interview questions. When you walk into an interview with the knowledge that you are prepared, it can take off the pressure and help you feel more confident. Consider sitting down with a friend or family member to think about your answers. They do not need to be memorized, but aim to prepare enough so that you can produce responses you are proud of.

7._____

Speak calmly and slowly. To stop yourself from rambling, try to answer each question by addressing one a point at a time.

Confident people also tend to take their time when answering questions. If you feel like you need a moment to compose your thoughts, feel free to say, “That is a good question. Let me think about that for a second.” Also, do not be afraid to ask the interviewer for clarification of the question.

Rambling: lengthy and confused or inconsequential

8._____

Choosing the right outfit for your interview can help improve your confidence. Research the company’s dress code to see how you should dress for the interview. If the dress code is formal, men should wear a suit, and women should consider a pantsuit or skirt suit. Look for clothing in classic and neutral colors, such as black, navy or brown. If the company is casual, proper interview attire can include slacks, dark jeans, button-up shirts and polo shirts. When in doubt, it is wise to dress more formally.

Attire: clothes, especially fine or formal ones

10._____

A final way to calm your nerves and boost your confidence is to think positively. One step you can take to think positively is to focus on areas where you lack confidence and practice making them better. Once you pinpoint where you feel most nervous, you can make a plan on how to address these areas. For example, you can:

• Practice shaking hands with friends
• Sit down for mock interviews with family
• Record your mock interviews to review them
• Practice answering different types of interview questions

To pinpoint: find or locate exactly

Mock: arranged for training or practice

ANSWER KEY

1. Make eye contact
2. Maintain good posture
3. Practice your handshake
4. Practice breathing techniques
5. Calm your fidgeting
6. Prepare and rehearse your answers
7. Talk slowly
8. Dress the part
9. Think positively

SOURCE: Indeed

E se você quiser praticar um pouco mais, a Companhia de Idiomas está lançando um curso de curta duração com encontros ao vivo sobre "Entrevistas de Emprego em Inglês”, para você praticar muito e passar uma excelente impressão. As aulas começam no próximo dia 26/11 e estamos dando um desconto especial para os primeiros inscritos. Clique aqui para mais informações.

Michel Rosas é formado em Publicidade e Propaganda pela Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo, é coordenador de marketing e comunicação na Companhia de Idiomas e professor de inglês há 13 anos. É especialista em estratégias de engajamento e nutrição pela Northwestern University e estratégias de marketing de conteúdo pela Universidade da Califórnia, assim como vários cursos de análise estratégica e utilização de ferramentas de marketing digital. Também é colunista de inglês na Exame.com.