Posture

Standing tall with your shoulders back can instantly command an entire room. Your posture should express confidence, as well as poise. Walking into a room can be the first thing an interviewer sees and often serves as a first impression. You want to be taken seriously while putting your best foot forward. The best way to do this is to express determination through your stance.

Be Prepared

It is always better to be over-prepared than underprepared. Research potential questions that an interviewer might ask you and write down some responses to those questions. While you want to avoid sounding too rehearsed, being over-prepared can calm your nerves, clear your mind, and help you nail your interview. Have your resume with you in a folder or portfolio and always carry extra copies in case there are multiple interviewers.

Dress to Express Yourself

While it is very important to dress appropriately for the job in which you are applying, have some fun with it! Bright colors and bold prints in moderation can show your personality through your style, as well as boost your confidence. Wear something that makes you smile. When you do this, your subconscious comes off more relaxed and comfortable allowing you to focus on the interview.

Do Not Downplay

You worked hard to get where you are. It is okay to be proud of the accomplishments that you have made. An interview is a place to share your accomplishments and talk about all the wonderful things you have done. It is important to remember to be yourself and do not downplay the work you put into getting to where you are now. Avoid using phrases that devalue the roles you played in previous work, such as “assisted" or “I was given" stick to phrases such as “spearheaded" or “I earned." An interview is not the time to be humble.

Try Power Posing

Whether you choose to start every morning with a power pose and a mirror pep talk or have never even thought of it, it is shown to be beneficial. For a few minutes every morning or even right before an interview, stand tall in front of a mirror and tell yourself how strong you are. YOU deserve this job. YOUR work merits a raise. And most of all, you have the power to go out there and get what you want!

Now with all of that, go put yourself out there, land that internship, apply for that dream job, and close the wage gap!