Going through recruitment processes as an introvert can be challenging. Here are some practical strategies to make the most of opportunities for jobs or promotions as an introvert.
Traditional recruitment practice and introverts
Key aspects of traditional recruitment practices seem to work against everything that’s natural for introverts. Interviews can be particularly demanding. You talk to a person or panel of people you probably don’t know, focusing on yourself, especially your best points, being as confident and outgoing as you can. Add in the constraints of a limited amount of time in the high-pressure environment of being assessed and it’s enough to start making excuses not to put yourself in that position.
It’s often hard to feel at your best as a quieter person who generally takes more time to reflect before talking. Other hallmarks of introverts that can make this challenging are a tendency to be more reserved and writing as a preferred style of communication.
It’s important to remember that recruitment is an assessment situation and an inherently challenging situation, regardless of personality type. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses to draw on. And there’s often valid reasons why the recruitment approach might want to test your ability to draw on your resources and think on your feet. Whatever the process or emphasis, you can learn to work your natural strengths to make the most of recruitment opportunities as an introvert.
Learning about the ways that you quietly influence
One of the reasons I am passionate about this subject is because I have been there. As an introvert at the extreme end of the spectrum, I’ve learnt the best practices to make the most of recruitment opportunities. I’ve worked hard on my skills over time with the support of a coach, with the insight of feedback, from reading about introvert strengths and from learning about my specific personality type (INTJ in Jung/Myers-Briggs terms).
A book that has helped me enormously is Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference by Jennifer B Kahnweiler. It focuses on the natural strengths of introverts and how use these skills to have impact. These skills can be applied to recruitment contexts to build skills over time and position yourself more effectively for the positions you desire.
Kahnweiler identifies six strategies that introverts can embrace to achieve influence:
- Taking Quiet Time
- Preparation
- Engaged Listening
- Focused Conversations
- Writing
- Thoughtful Use of Social Media
You can identify your specific strengths in this blend of introvert strategies via a Quiet Influence Quotient (QIQ). This is valuable for understanding how you can have impact in your own unique way as an introvert.
Learning to work your quiet influence in recruitment contexts
From these strategies, the two areas that introverts can really exploit to maximize recruitment opportunities are Preparation and Writing. Here are some tips in these areas to help you make the most of your introvert strengths for recruitment outcomes.
Preparation
The biggest factor for introverts in successful job applications is preparing well and thoroughly. Whilst extraverts can generally think quickly on their feet, introverts often need more work beforehand to have the key points at their fingertips.
The downside is this takes time. The upside is, whatever the outcome, the time invested means you are able to talk about yourself, your experience and your results positively, clearly and confidently. It’s important to strike a balance between productive preparation and over-doing it. As Kahnweiler points out, ‘The right amount of preparation sets you apart. Too much preparation, however, can kill your confidence.’ (p. 69)
Preparation strategies
Preparation strategies that I have found useful for recruitment situations include:
1 Develop a bank of case-studies of achievements:
Over time, I’ve worked to capture each of my key achievements, unpacking each example to describe the Situation, Task, Action and Results (STAR) and the skills used to achieve the outcome. This resource provides useful templates and prompts for you to do the same, with a focus on action verbs to present yourself in the best light. It’s useful to map the stories you create against any specific, critical selection criteria. Once you have these examples, ‘plug and play’ them in response to questions posed in writing or at interview.
2 Be able to articulate the skills you have used over time
People sometimes have trouble talking about the specific skills they have used in practical situations. Having the language to describe the competencies, skills, knowledge and experience applied, for example, in areas like ‘strategic agility’ or ‘business acumen’, can be a powerful tool. The book, FYI® for your improvement, based on the Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ Global Competency Framework (formerly Lominger) is a useful guide for talking about skills in language that connects. Whatever resource you use, ensure you can talk about competencies and skills using words that clearly communicate your understanding and what you have achieved.
3 Practice
Use your writing skills and other strengths to prepare, and when you know you need to perform, it’s time to practice. Don’t fight the need to shine. Practice talking about yourself using the examples developed. Hearing yourself talk out loud about yourself is one of the best ways to prepare for the situation of actually doing it, as uncomfortable as it might be.
Writing Skills
Writing is often a preferred communication method for introverts, with a preference for email over phone contact and written strategic approaches over verbal ones. Your role in writing a recruitment application of any type is to make a persuasive case for selecting you. The first step in any recruitment process is usually in writing, whether it be a written job application or an online profile. Ensure your written communication presents you in the best light and showcases your skills.
You can use your strength in writing in the following ways:
- Be outcomes focused: Be succinct, on point and emphasize the outcomes you have achieved.
- Use data and numbers to make your case: Use figures to show outcomes such as percentage change year on year or financial figures to show scale, impact and results.
- Be creative in how you write: Kahnweiler suggests including infographics, visuals, charts, bullet point and other graphic elements.
Other quiet influencing strategies:
The other strategies outlined in Quiet Influence can also be used to great effect and in combination with each other. For example:
- Taking quiet time to reflect on your skills is one of the most valuable things you can do to mine the gold from your experience.
- Engaged listening will help you perform in face to face situations as you concentrate on what is being looked for. This will help you respond with the best examples and competencies from your experience.
- Focused conversation is what interviews are all about and something that introverts are naturally good at. Shift your mindset to seeing any face to face interaction as a situation where you can listen well and dig deep to provide quality responses.
- Use social media and ensure your profile is professional on online platforms so you are noticed. Actively engage with social media to connect with potential employers. Follow industry experts and organisations of interest to increase your knowledge and profile.
Who can help you?
Seek support as you go through the recruitment process through coaches, mentors or trusted colleagues who can provide feedback and help you practice. You don’t need to do it all alone, even though that may be your natural preference. Asking someone to give feedback or take your through your paces in an interview situation will help immensely for the real thing.
Book a call with me to chat ways to work through any confusion you might be feeling and work out how to rebuild. The first call is free and we can work out the best next steps for you in that call.
What if I’m not successful?
If you’re not successful, seek feedback and learn from the experience. Identify where you can take action to improve your chances. See each recruitment process as a valuable learning experience. Whatever, the outcome, take heart and learn so you can present yourself confidently for new opportunities.
Do I need to act like an extravert?
Susan Cain in her book Quiet describes the ‘Extrovert Ideal’ as:
“…the omnipresent belief that the ideal self is gregarious, alpha, and comfortable in the spotlight.” (p4)
Cain advises introverts not to embrace the Extrovert Ideal as we can lose the very characteristics that make us unique. The contributions we can make are often because of the strengths and gifts of introversion.
Through learning to prepare, write strategically, listen intently and use social media thoughtfully, you will enhance your opportunity to be seen. When called on to perform in an interview, provide a presentation or solve problems, you will shine all the more if you have prepared from the foundation of your natural abilities.
The most powerful action we can take is to embrace our introvert strengths and present ourselves in the strongest light to achieve our goals. As Steven Pressfield says in The War of Art: “Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.” I wish you every success in your recruitment learnings and journey.
Author note
This post was originally a guest post for recruitment agency WorkSearch and published on their site in 2017. As their site is no longer live, it is reproduced here with minor amendments to reflect current times. Thanks to Bree Rackley for social media and guest posting support for the initial guest posting.
I hope these insights are helpful in making the most of recruitment opportunities as an introvert. Reach out to me for coaching if you need support at any time.
Warmest wishes
Terri
About the author
Terri Connellan is a certified life coach, author and accredited psychological type practitioner. She has a Master of Arts in Language and Literacy, two teaching qualifications and a successful 30-year career as a teacher and a leader in adult vocational education. Her coaching and writing focus on three elements—creativity, personality and self-leadership—especially for women in transition to a life with deeper purpose. Terri works with women globally through her creative business, Quiet Writing, encouraging deeper self-understanding of body of work, creativity and psychological type for more wholehearted and fulfilling lives. Her book Wholehearted: Self-leadership for women in transition and the accompanying Wholehearted Companion Workbook were published in September 2021 by the kind press. She lives and writes in the outskirts of Sydney surrounded by beach and bush.
Book your Self-leadership Discovery Call with Terri here.
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Read Wholehearted: Self-leadership for women in transition
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Further related reading on Quiet Writing:
- Shining a quiet light – working the gifts of introversion
- Self-leadership as the most authentic heart of leadership
- How to make the best of introvert strengths in an extraverted world
- How to tap into the power of emerging at mid-life
- Learned Wisdom: Journeys in Type and Transition
- Never too old – finding courage and skill to empower your dreams
