How Positive Thinking Can Lead to Job Interview Success

A strong mindset is half the battle won, and this is nowhere truer than at the workplace. As Singapore enters another phase of this pandemic, workers continue to struggle with evolving work demands and their wellbeing. A survey conducted by payroll software company Employment Hero found Singapore's workforce to be the unhappiest, with 48% of Singaporean respondents saying they were unhappy in their jobs and would not recommend their companies as places to work.

It's understandable then that workers will look for new jobs instead. But job seekers looking for new opportunities may find it hard to be at their best when feeling at their lowest. Harnessing the power of positive thinking in a job interview is a challenge, but might prove helpful in the long run.

Positive attitudes and experiences can help with learning, too, especially when one needs to take up training opportunities to open the door for new career options.

How does positive thinking work?

There's a sea of literature out there about positive thinking and why we should embrace it as a way of life. Advocates of positive thinking see it as the reason for their successes in life, whether in small wins (getting a parking spot) or the big ones (nailing a job interview that got them their dream job).

However, while the practice of positive thinking is meant as a constructive approach, it's important to note the opposite effect of toxic positivity, which is closer to suppressing negative thoughts and emotions.

David Chan, director of the Behavioural Sciences Institute and a professor of psychology at the Singapore Management University, writes that we should be able to distinguish negative emotions and negativity and to be careful not to lean into the latter. While negative emotions aren't a bad thing, fostering negativity can be counterproductive.

Fostering positivity, which involves imbuing positive attitudes and experiences that lead to positive outcomes, can help counter a negative mindset. Increasing positivity, then, should be interpreted as a practice of mindfulness.

Being in sync with your mind and body will give a heightened awareness of your thoughts and feelings, which in turn, allows you to manage them more effectively. When you live in denial of your negative thoughts and emotions, you are effectively suppressing those fears and insecurities without solving the problem. It's therefore important to acknowledge negative emotions to confront the problem head-on.

Contrary to the misconception that positive thinking solves problems, it's the other way round. It's how you handle your problems that determine your state of mind. Suppressing your fears will only make them worse in the long run.

The same principle applies to interview preparation and getting into the right headspace for an upcoming job interview. It's natural to feel anxious and worried about the interview, especially if it's a job you want. But instead of forcing yourself to think positive, i.e. denying your fears and anxieties, a better way is to reflect on those negative emotions and focus on facts and truths that double as positive affirmations of your strengths and attributes.

How to apply positive thinking in job interviews

The post-COVID job landscape has created a different recruitment process for everyone. The virtual job interview has become the norm, with job seekers scrambling to find the best light that will flatter their features on a tiny square on the screen.

Aside from these logistical issues, however, ensure that you're in the right mindset for the interview. Your interviewer has likely seen a lot of virtual interviews the whole day, and you have to stand out from the rest. Set the tone by bringing your energy up, and make the interviewer feel that you are enthusiastic about the opportunity on the table.

Having a positive mindset during the interview can help create good energy between you and your interviewer. Positive thinking can even boost your self-confidence in an interview because it involves looking at your strengths and abilities in a positive light.

Positive thinking requires practice. To do so, psychologists recommend any of these three techniques:

• Mindfulness - Being mindful is to be fully present at any moment. Learn to sit with the negative feelings and embrace them without any judgment or reaction.
• Cognitive restructuring - Examine your negative thoughts: what evidence do you have for or against them? Are there any alternatives? Are these based on fact or were you over-generalising?
• Practising gratitude - Acknowledge the things in your life that are positive. Be grateful that you made it to the job interview. The employer saw potential in your application and would like to know more about you - this is a good thing!

Once you're used to practising positive thinking, you can easily set yourself in a good mindset for your interview. This will prove helpful not just for job search situations, but in any event where you feel pressure or out of sorts.

Job interview scenarios where you can employ positive thinking

Still nervous about your upcoming job interview? Don't worry, what you're feeling is completely normal. Nerves are your body's way of preparing you for something you're uncomfortable with and can help you adjust. It might help to prepare before the interview, such as thinking of possible scenarios that may come up.

Here are five typical scenarios during the run-up to job interviews and how you can deal with them using positive thinking techniques:

Scenario 1: You might make a fool of yourself at the job interview

Ask yourself - what's the worst that could happen? Though slightly unconventional, a mantra in the form of a question keeps you grounded while reminding you to focus on what's important. By thinking about the worst possible outcome, you'll come to find that whatever happens won't be the end of the world. It always seems much worse in your head than it really is.

Scenario #2: Your insecurities make you doubt your chance of success

Remember: You are good enough. Perhaps the most common source of negativity most of us carry inside is simply self-doubt. Not a single person is immune from self-doubt, no matter how successful or experienced they are. If you find yourself thinking that you're not good enough to get the job, think about all your accomplishments over the years and remind yourself that you've made it this far.

Scenario #3: You're anxious about being judged at the job interview

Be proud of who you are. If the prospect of being judged at the interview makes you nervous, focus on the principles and values you stand for, and be proud of them. Say the mantra out loud: I am proud of who I am. You are an individual with unique perspectives and insights to offer. Remember that.

Scenario #4: You can't shake off the nagging feeling that you won't get the job

You deserve to be successful. It's quite natural for our brain to anticipate failure - it helps soften the blow when it eventually happens. The problem with this, however, is the fact that negative thoughts can also be self-fulfilling prophecies. If we keep dwelling on the prospect of not getting the job, it will be reflected in our posture and energy level on the day of the interview, which can, in turn, lead to lacklustre interview performance.

Instead of allowing it to fester, turn it around by telling yourself that you deserve to be successful. Focus on the positive contributions you make in your daily life and allow yourself to feel good about them.

Scenario #5: You're afraid that you won't give the “right” answers

Remember that you're an individual with your views and opinions. Who's to say what the interviewer will perceive as right or wrong? What's important is for you to stay true to yourself, and express your views clearly and articulately. So the next time you start stressing about this, remember this and take a deep breath. You'll feel much better!

Getting into the right mindset for a job interview can be difficult if you're struggling with insecurities and self-doubt. That's where mindfulness makes a world of difference.

If you're getting started, start a 10-minute daily meditation with meditation apps such as Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer to reset your inner thoughts.

Check out our Career Resources page for more tips on how you can ace that job interview. It also offers expert insights and advice that could help give a boost to your career journey.