9 How to be assertive at interviews

Chapter 9

How to be assertive at interviews

‘I don’t think of myself as giving interviews. I just have conversation.’

Charles Barkley

‘Death will be a great relief. No more interviews.’

Katherine Hepburn

In the career development courses that we deliver, people often tell us that they find it difficult to assert themselves in an interview – to be confident and articulate. The main issues that they say they struggle with are:

  • controlling their nerves and body language
  • having to ‘sell’ themselves
  • coping with a rude or incompetent interviewer
  • being asked unexpected questions.

The ability to be assertive is an important factor in performing well at interviews; how you behave and ...

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