I know it, you know it. Negative energy is not good for anyone. Even for the experienced interviewers like me, job interviews are stressful, but staying positive is key to making a great impression. For early career professionals seeking to enter the field of public health, it is important to note that employers look for skills and a positive attitude. In fact, experts say that interviewers are more likely to remember negative information shared during interviews than positive information. So, keep your negativities at home, kick them to the curb, and unlock the doors and grab your next public health job.

At Public Health 360, one of the things we share with our fellows is interviewing techniques using out PH360 pitch script. Using role modeling, we train fellows on how to make employers say, “Yeah, this is someone that I can work with.” If you want to be that candidate, I pull the curtain and share some tips to help you keep your cool and turn any negatives into positives.

4 Techniques to Stay Positive in Your Interview

  1. Prepare and Practice Your Interview Moves
    • Know the company, the job role, and common questions. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel. In Public Health 360, our fellows are trained to become conversant with the language of public health and key players at the local, national, and global levels.
  2. Highlight Your On-the-Job Achievements
    • Talk about your successes to showcase your abilities and keep a positive tone throughout the interview. In Public Health 360, all fellows leave the program designing at least two programs. So, you have projects to discuss, and employers love candidates who show rather than tell.
  3. Use Mindfulness and Visualization
    • Practice deep breathing or meditation before your interview. Visualize yourself succeeding to calm your nerves. In our Public Health 360 fellowship pitch sessions, we share on the power of authenticity and core values and passion for the work of public health. Know thyself and voice thyself.
  4. Practice Positive Self-Talk
    • Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Remind yourself of your strengths and what you bring to the table. We reinforce the self-talk around not only the skills you have, but how to describe them to your next boss and colleagues that you bring something to the table.

5 Tips to Turn Negatives into Learning Opportunities

  1. Demonstrate your Reflection on the Experiences
    • Be clear. Think about what went wrong and why. Understanding the cause(s) of the negative experience. Narrate as an observer not a victim.
  2. Share Lessons Learned From the Experience
    • Discuss what you learned from the negative experience and how it helped you grow. What did it mean as a professional? How would you do otherwise?
  3. Show Growth Following the Experience
    • Give examples of how you applied the lessons learned to achieve better results. Since this happened how have you become a different professional. Remain on the track of positivity.
  4. Keep It Brief Don’t Be Bitter, Let Go
    • When discussing negatives, be brief and steer the conversation back to the positive outcomes. No one wants to hang around, not talk of work with, bitter people who never let go. Don’t be that bitter person.
  5. Reframe the Experience and Recast Your New Self
    • See negative experiences as opportunities for growth and learning, making it easier to talk about them positively. How have you leveraged that experience in a project where you nailed and accomplished big time?

Final Thoughts

Staying positive during interviews can make a big difference. Prepare well, focus on your achievements, practice mindfulness, and engage in positive self-talk to keep your attitude upbeat. Turn negative experiences into learning opportunities by reflecting, sharing lessons learned, showing growth, keeping explanations brief, and reframing your thoughts. Hiring managers will never accept it, but nobody wants to hire a bitter employee. Make all setbacks to be foundations for soaring. Negative energy can pierce the room and your meeting platforms (Zoom or Google Meet, Teams, etc). Remember, every challenge is a chance to grow. Stay positive, and let your optimism shine in your next interview!