Overcoming Interview Stress
Submitted by Career Coach on Tue, 05/25/2010 - 10:01
Interview Stress
Your interview is tomorrow.. You know your appearance will matter, so you polish your shoes and brush your hair. You've memorized your whole resume down to the last bullet point. Other people think you're ready, but what do you think? You find yourself getting nervous in anticipation, and know that you need to appear confident. What do you do?
Your interview is tomorrow.. You know your appearance will matter, so you polish your shoes and brush your hair. You've memorized your whole resume down to the last bullet point. Other people think you're ready, but what do you think? You find yourself getting nervous in anticipation, and know that you need to appear confident. What do you do?
• Remind yourself that interviews are subjective and a lot can depend on your ability to help the interviewer feel comfortable with you.
• Take a few slow, deep breaths, just to calm yourself down.
• When you feel a little calmer, keep up the deep breathing, but visualize yourself
walking into the interview with confidence and comfort.
• In your mind, feel yourself in conversation, being calm, relaxed and knowing what you want to say.
• Practice being comfortable with silence, so you don't end up talking too much during the interview. Be prepared to use silence as a time to just breathe, this will help you know what to say, or give the interviewer a chance to fill in the silent space. You don't want to try to fill in the space, and blurt out words that have no relationship to the subject.
• Google the interviewer if you know their name, to find out more about their background. Of course you've already googled the company for background information.
• Prepare to find a connection with the interviewer, and imagine interacting as a peer with the interviewer.
• Visualize yourself asking questions about the organization.When you get the chance to ask your own questions at the end of the interview, work to establish that connection with your interviewer. Ask them what they like about the company in question, and communicate your ability to relate to some of the traits he or she identifies.
• Be prepared to communicate your ability to work with different people, think from different perspectives, and be open-minded. Give examples. Ask about the company culture and talk about your ability to work with and relate to different people.
• Assume you are the best person for the position. Have you noticed that it is that much harder to sit up straight when you are feeling down in the dumps? Write down all the reasons why you are the best person, and read them over and over again. This will help you enter the interview standing straight and feeling more in control.
• Be prepared to communicate your ability to work with different people, think from different perspectives, and be open-minded. Give examples. Ask about the company culture and talk about your ability to work with and relate to different people.
• Assume you are the best person for the position. Have you noticed that it is that much harder to sit up straight when you are feeling down in the dumps? Write down all the reasons why you are the best person, and read them over and over again. This will help you enter the interview standing straight and feeling more in control.
• When you are able to see yourself taking the above steps, and staying calm and confident, you're ready to go to sleep, let your unconscious mind internalize your practice and then wake up and be ready to get that job or promotion.
• Remember you are a peer of the interviewer and you also get to decide if the job is right for you.
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