For people with the Advocate (INFJ) personality type, job interviews are hardly low stress. It’s a big deal for an Advocate to find a job that speaks to their values, their interests, and their passions – so when they do, they want to do everything in their power to maximize their chances of getting hired. And that means acing the interview.
So what’s an Advocate to do? If this is your personality type, here are some tips that might just help you land your next job.
Harness Your Strengths
Every personality type comes with a wealth of unique gifts, but it would be hard to deny that Advocates’ strengths are particularly well suited to the interview process. People with this personality type tend to be exceptional communicators, able to fine-tune their thoughts and feelings in a way that resonates with their conversation partner. And Advocates’ eagerness to learn, combined with their drive to help others, creates exactly the sort of positive, can-do attitude that most interviewers are looking for in a job candidate.
What to Do
Make sure that your understanding of the job’s scope is accurate. Chances are you have a vibrant, creative, wonderfully well-intentioned vision of how you could grow and learn and be of help in this job – so make sure that this vision actually lines up with what your potential employer has in mind. Listen carefully to the interviewer’s description of the job. Find out exactly (and we mean exactly) what tasks and contributions the new hire will be expected to perform.
What Not to Do
Don’t lose sight of the employer’s practical, immediate needs. You probably have all kinds of creative, innovative ideas for things that you could try and changes that you could make in this job. While those ideas might be great, they won’t mean much to your interviewer unless you first prove that you’re willing to pay your dues and work through the humble, everyday tasks that need to get done.
Wondering which career fields might be a match for your personality? Take our Job Preferences test to find out.
Work With Your Weaknesses
Advocates are open-minded in many ways, but they rarely shift their opinions of whether something is good or bad – and that includes a potential job. If this is your personality type, you probably walk into an interview with a pretty clear picture of whether or not you want the job, and it would take something major to change your view of the situation. But sometimes your view of the situation really does need to change, so here’s how you can keep an open mind throughout the process.
What to Do
Before going into the interview, take stock of your preconceptions about the job. Are you assuming that the position will offer room for growth, or are you telling yourself that it’s a dead end? Have you come up with a mental image of what kind of new person is most likely to get hired? Remind yourself that these assumptions might not be true.
What Not to Do
Don’t overlook red flags. Maybe you’ve told yourself that this is your dream job, but if the interviewer says something that gives you pause – whether it’s an unwelcome revelation about the scope of the job’s responsibilities or something more troubling – don’t brush it aside. When possible, politely ask the interviewer to clarify their remark: Would you mind walking me through that again? I want to make sure that I’m understanding you right.
Prepare Wisely
Good news: Advocates are pretty darn adept at getting ready for job interviews. If this is your personality type, you probably have a good intuitive sense of how to research specific details about a career or an employer while keeping sight of the big picture, and your understanding of human nature may help you in preparing for the interpersonal aspects of the interview as well. That said, even Advocates can have room for improvement when it comes to preparing for a job interview.
What to Do
Work your network. If you know someone who works with this employer or in a related field, reach out to them. As someone with the Advocate personality type, you probably dislike the idea of nepotism, so you don’t need to ask them to put in a good word for you if that makes you uncomfortable. Instead, treat this as a conversation. You can ask for general advice, but it’s usually more effective to be specific – so come prepared with any particular questions that you have about the company or the field.
What Not to Do
Don’t underestimate your previous performance. Many Advocates look at their work and academic experience through the lens of what they could have done better. On the plus side, this attitude probably motivates you to improve yourself and your life, but unfortunately it can also lead you to undercut your own achievements. When taking stock of your work and school experience, focus on the facts of everything that you contributed and accomplished – for example, the fact that you completed a project or got a glowing review from an important client – without getting too mired in your feelings that you could have done even better.
Conclusions
With their gifts of creativity and insight, people with the Advocate personality type can absolutely shine in job interviews. Just do your best to keep an open mind, investigate your preconceptions, and present the full value of your precious experience. Wishing you the best of luck with your next interview, dear Advocate!
To all of the Advocates out there: what do you find stressful or difficult about job interviews – and what advice do you have for other job seekers with your personality type? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Further Reading
- Joyful Jobs: Diplomat Personality Types and Career Compatibility (Part I)
- How Your Personality Type Can Help You Get Hired
- How Introverts Can Create More of an Impact at Work
- 4 Ways Advocates (INFJs) Can Spread Positive Change Even Better
- Check out our Career Tools & Assessments for more professional development resources.