Introduction
Many job seekers experience anxiety and fear of being rejected by potential employers, which can affect their job interview performance.
However, pre-interview anxiety is a normal human behavior and can be controlled and handled effectively before the interview takes place.
In this article, we will discuss some practical ways to calm your nerves before an interview.
Managing Pre-Interview Nerves
Fears and nerves before a job interview can manifest in many forms, such as dry mouth, sweaty palms, shaking, heart palpitations, and sweating.
However, you are not alone – many interviewers feel some of these symptoms before an interview, and it is perfectly normal.
Understanding Interview Anxiety
Interview anxiety is similar to the anxiety experienced by athletes before a big game or musicians before a performance.
It can manifest in physical symptoms such as trembling hands, shaking legs, a pounding heart, feeling nauseous, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, and headaches.
Interview anxiety initiates our fight or flight response, perceiving danger, and giving us a shot of adrenaline.
While it can help us feel alert, it can also lead to interview anxiety.
Handling Interview Nerves:
How to Overcome Anxiety Before the Interview
Are you nervous before interviews?
Here are some ways to overcome interview anxiety and relax your fears, so you can make the most of your interview.
1.) Relaxation and Breathing –
Physical relaxation can help you feel more confident and less nervous.
Spend a couple of minutes before leaving for your interview to roll your shoulders, shake your arms and hands, and take deep breaths. Breathe deep through your nose counting to five and then exhale through your mouth counting to five.
These exercises can help you feel relaxed before entering the building for the interview.
2.) Visualization –
Reprogram your brain by visualizing a positive outcome. Instead of imagining worst-case scenarios, visualize yourself as the solution to the company’s problem.
Imagine that you have the necessary skills to solve the company’s problem. By doing this, you can reduce the negative impact of your imagination.
3.) Give Yourself a Pep Talk –
Give yourself a positive pep talk before the interview.
Tell yourself that you are going to do fantastically and that you will enjoy the interview. Even if the outcome is not favorable, you can learn from it.
Remember to put happy thoughts into your brain, think of something you love that makes you smile.
4.) Be Prepared –
One of the most overlooked tools is simply being prepared.
If you’ve practiced the interview process over and over until you know it like the back of your hand, and if you’ve memorized your resume then there’s not a lot that the interviewer can throw at you, especially if you’ve taken time to do your homework.
Find out everything you can about the company, the industry, and the position.
Practical Advice – How to Overcome Interview Anxiety
Here are some tips on how to manage pre-interview nerves:
Day before an Interview – the Evening before Your Job Interview
- Preparations before interview: Prepare a list of your achievements to remind you of how great you are. Review the related frequently asked job interview questions and best answers.
- Make your final job interview test: Pretend that you are sitting in the interview room and actually performing. You know how professional you are. Practice your sales pitch one last time.
- Imagine: Think about the traveling route that you are going to drive tomorrow. See yourself in the interview room, hear yourself speaking with confidence.
The Night before the Interview
- Get enough sleep: At least 8 hours. Make sure that you wake up physically prepared and mentally refreshed.
- The Interview Day: Morning or 3-4 Hours before the Interview.
- Dress for success: Power-dressing can help boost your confidence. It also impresses your interviewer.
- Eat wisely: Don’t fill yourself with too much food for energy reserve. Eat as you eat regularly.
- Document Check: Check your folder one last time. Check (and read) documents like resume and job description to have it fresh in your mind.
- Needless to say: Don’t drink alcohol before the interview, don’t smoke 2 hours before the interview, and don’t take medications/pills before the interview. It will show.
- Prayer before an interview: If praying helps you to relax and calm your nerves, then pray.
Traveling to the Interview
- Arrive early at your job interview and spend some time freshening up. You don’t want to be caught in a traffic jam with no spare time left.
- Mind the time before the interview: Make sure to arrive 30-45 minutes before the interview so you’ll have enough time to arrange your thoughts and relax.
- Listen to music: Turn on the radio and select your favorite radio station.
- Fresh air: Blast the air conditioner (or open the window) for fresh and crisp air. It will awaken your senses.
Car Parking or 30 Minutes before Your Job Interview
- Positive thinking and ‘happy thoughts’: All thoughts should be positive. Close your eyes and pretend to feel happy, and you feel happy – that’s the formula.
- Breathing: Breathe for four counts and hold your breath for four counts.
- Visualize your activities before actually performing them: Before the interview, see yourself shaking hands, smiling, speaking, making eye contact, and generally being comfortable with yourself – If you think it, it will happen.
Going into the Building
- Restroom check: First thing to do upon entering the interview building is going to the restroom. Wash your face, wash your hands, and smile into the mirror. Take your time.
- Drink fresh water: No Coke.
- Cell phone: Turn off your cell phone.
- Take slow/deep breaths: Take deliberate slow and controlled breaths to regulate the amount of oxygen in your body – It helps your mind focus better.
Conclusion,
Interview nerves and anxiety are a common experience that can happen to anyone.
It doesn’t matter if you are a newcomer or a seasoned professional, many people find themselves getting nervous as the interview approaches.
However, it is important to learn how to deal with interview nerves to make a positive impression and succeed in the interview process.