Five Things Beauty Pageants Taught Me About Interviewing

Although walking across a stage in a swimsuit and four inch heels might not be a necessarily life skill, my experience competing in beauty pageants certainly prepared me to ace an interview.

The private interview portion of pageant competition was always my favorite part of competing (swimsuit was my least favorite by the way). I must admit, I loved having all of the judges’ attention focused directly on me and on what I have to say. I saw it as an opportunity to let the judges know what I was all about, and of course, to share my desire for world peace.

I was pretty good at it, too. I won the award for best interview in the first two pageants I entered. After those two moments of glory, I never won an interview again, and I think I know why.

I went into my first two private interviews with little training and with a great deal of enthusiasm. I had no idea what to expect so I certainly didn’t appear rehearsed; I answered the judges’ questions honestly and with no pretense or agenda. That all changed after I began seeking professional pageant interview coaching.

I became very aware of my mannerisms and my speed of speaking, so much so that I stifled the enthusiasm I brought to my first two interview experiences. This made me just another “Pageant Patty” and diminished my own style of interviewing.

I am definitely a proponent of research in preparation for any interview, but when you become so rehearsed that it appears unnatural and almost un-human, you lose what essentially makes you “you.”

So what exactly did my beauty pageant experience teach me about interviewing for a job?

1. Realize that the “judges” are people just like you. I think sometimes we forget that even though the person or people interviewing us might have a prestigious title or position within a company, they are people, human beings. I always go into my interviews with the intention of letting the interviewer get to know me, and with the mantra “I’m just going to try to make a new friend.” This usually calms my nerves.

2. Appearance matters. In pageant interviewing, if your suit didn’t fit or lay exactly right, it was a distraction and could subtly diminish your credibility. Fair or not, appearance matters. It’s worth it to get a suit tailored to fit perfectly and to invest in a great pair of shoes. Besides, don’t we all feel more confident when we know we look good?

3. Be honest. It is very tempting to want to answer interview questions with the presumed “right” answer. Of course, it is important to put your best and most professional foot forward, but it is also important to answer honestly and with integrity. Remain true to yourself. Don’t lie; you’re great, there’s no reason to lie or pretend to be someone you’re not.

4. Stop talking. When you’ve sufficiently answered the question you are asked, stop talking. This is something I’ve had to practice because I am an extremely verbal person (ok, I’m a chatterbox). Babbling doesn’t make a strong impression. Answering only the question you were asked will prove to the interviewer that you are able to stay on topic and that you are an effective communicator.

5. You are essentially in control of the interview. This is one of the most important lessons you can learn about interviewing. There are methods of subtly directing an interview by answering questions in such a way that leads the interviewer wanting more. If you have specific attributes or experiences you want to make sure the interviewer is aware of, throw in a small but concrete detail about a specific experience in an answer to a question. Oftentimes the interviewer will want to know more about what you mentioned, and you’ll have an opportunity to expand on the facts you want to talk about.