How to Show Enthusiasm in an Interview: 6 Ways

You probably heard the advice that you should show enthusiasm in an interview if you want to get the job offer.

And it’s true…

Hiring managers are more likely to offer you the position if you seem enthusiastic about coming to work for them.

So in this article, I’m going to give you six ways to show enthusiasm in interviews – even if you’re an introvert like me.

6 Ways to Show Enthusiasm in an Interview

1. Boost your energy level

If you’re a quiet, introverted person, you don’t have to pretend you’re outgoing and “bubbly”.

But you SHOULD bring it up a notch… especially if the interviewer seems like a more outgoing person. You need to “meet them in the middle” and bring more energy than you usually would.

Talk a little louder than usual.

Use more inflection or changes in tone of voice (ups and downs).

You don’t want to sound “flat” or monotone.

Also, give them visual signs that you’re listening and interested in what they’re saying (nod your head, maintain good eye contact, etc.)

If it’s a phone interview, remember that they can’t see your facial expressions or body language, so your tone of voice becomes even more important. So focus on showing even more energy in your tone of voice when answering questions in a phone interview.

Overall, the way you talk and communicate is the first way hiring managers will judge your enthusiasm in the interview, so it’s really important to practice.

You really want to seem like you’ve been looking forward to talking with them and are excited to be there in the interview.

2. Ask a lot of questions

One of the best ways to show enthusiasm in the interview is to ask lots of questions. You want to seem like you’re eager to learn more and really putting a lot of thought into considering their position.

Topics you can ask about:

• The job duties and responsibilities
• The training you’ll receive
• Goals and expectations in the role
• Why the job is open and how their interview process works

For more ideas, here’s a list of 105 great questions to ask the interviewer.

Overall, you should aim to ask at least two or three questions to each person you meet in the interview.

It’s a great way to show enthusiasm and if you don’t ask any questions, employers are a lot less likely to hire you.

3. When something sounds interesting, say so

This advice is really simple but really important.

If you want to seem enthusiastic in the interview, tell them verbally.

If the hiring manager tells you about the job duties and you hear something that you’ve really been wanting to do more of, tell them. You could say, “That’s really exciting to me. I’ve been hoping to get a chance to do more ____, so I’m really glad you mentioned it. That’s a big positive for me!”

You can also tell them you’re excited about the work the company or group is doing overall.

Example: “I’m really passionate about driverless cars because I feel they can save lives immediately. It’s really exciting to me that so much of your effort goes into developing the software used in these cars.”

In that example, you’re talking about the company’s overall mission and why that excites you.

Every job seeker has different interests and priorities, so be honest and just tell them the pieces that actually do interest you.

But don’t just assume they know you want the job. They want to HEAR from you that you want their job, and why. So make sure to tell them.

4. Compliment them

No, I’m not talking about telling the hiring manager, “I really like your shirt.”

Compliment them by telling them what their group or company is doing that stands out to you or is unique.

What would make you want to come work for them? Compliment them on it.

It could be their work culture, their products, their reputation, or anything else.

Example: “The way you described the work culture here sounds really unique. I’ve talked to a few other companies and haven’t gotten the same sense of team environment from talking with the group managers. This sounds really great.”

Now, this might sound similar to tip #3 above (“when something sounds interesting, say so”)…

…And it is. In this case, you’re just turning it into a compliment for the hiring manager. It’s THEIR team, so telling them that the team sounds awesome is a direct compliment to them.

And everyone loves a compliment.

You can also compliment them on something that their job seems to offer, that other positions don’t. This will make them feel like their job is unique (while also showing them you’re interested in the role).

Example: “I’m really excited about how you’ve described the opportunity to work hands-on here, while also managing projects. That’s not something I’ve seen from other employers in this industry that I’ve talked to recently. It sounds like you’ve really built a unique group here, and the opportunity is very exciting based on what we’ve talked about so far.”

So try to give at least one compliment like this when you meet with a hiring manager. It’s a great way to show enthusiasm in the interview.

5. Perfect your posture

Earlier in the article, we talked about showing enthusiasm in your voice and maintaining good eye contact.

Well, there’s another important step to showing enthusiasm via your body language – your posture.

Practice sitting upright and keeping good posture before your interview so you’re ready to impress when you sit down across from the interviewer.

Avoid slouching or looking tired – both when listening and when answering interview questions.

Avoid tapping or fiddling with your hands or feet, too. You want to see calm and interested in what you’re discussing.

6. Finish strong!

Don’t let your energy level or enthusiasm drop at the end.

This final impression is what they’ll remember most.

To end your interview, shake their hand firmly. Thank the interviewer for their time, and tell them you’re excited to hear about the next steps in the process.

Even if it’s been a long interview and you’re feeling tired, BOOST your energy one last time! It’s really important to finish with high energy and high enthusiasm for two reasons:

1. It will show them you’re still interested in the job (they ALWAYS want to hire someone who seemed excited about their job… even if that person is slightly less qualified than another candidate!)

2. It’ll make you seem more confident! You always want to seem like you’re confident at the end of the interview, and talking/acting with enthusiasm and energy is how you do it.

As a bonus step, remember to send a Thank You note after the interview too!

Show Interest and Enthusiasm in Your Interviews to Get More Job Offers

If you follow the tips above you will seem more enthusiastic in your interviews, and more confident when you tell them about yourself and your skills.

The end result? You’ll make a better impression and get more job offers.

Remember to practice these things before your next interview, though.

Many of the tips above require steady practice to form habits… like your posture, eye contact, and your tone of voice and volume when speaking.

So don’t wait until you need to “turn it on” at the last minute. Go practice in everyday conversations!

That’s the best way to show enthusiasm in an interview and get the job offer.