It’s natural to feel job interview anxiety. If you aren’t nervous, it means you don’t care. So, those butterflies in your stomach indicate several things are at stake for you: your career progression, how your contributions will make a difference, the achievement of financial goals, and your overall well-being. They are all at risk.
Jitters are common in such a situation because many things are being evaluated. Every interview question you answer will be scrutinized. Your clothes make an impression; your posture, your long silences, or scratchy throat reveal nervousness. The feel of your handshake can make or break you. And, let’s not forget today’s environment – how you come across on a Zoom video call. Job interview anxiety can also be troublesome as well. You may be too distracted to think clearly about what you need to say, and you may give your interviewer the impression that you lack confidence.
Make job interview anxiety work for you instead of against you. Try these strategies for regaining your composure and landing more job offers.
Steps to Take Before Your Interview:
- Shift your perspective. There are advantages to anxiety if it gives you more energy and motivation to work hard. Still, you can accomplish the same thing with more comfortable emotions. Turn your job interview anxiety into eagerness, so you’re looking forward to your interview instead of brooding about it.
- Accept your feelings. Suppressing emotions can intensify them and make them surface at inopportune times. Embrace your doubts and challenge them rather than trying to ignore them.
- Research and prepare. Thoroughly read up on the company and staff members you’ll be meeting. Having a few tidbits on recent company accomplishments that you can mention as one of the reasons you want to work for them will help, e.g., Winner of Working Mothers of the Year Award, Leadership in the community, etc.
- Conduct a mock interview. Rehearsing ahead will give you confidence. Create your success stories to highlight the strengths you bring to the company. Practice answers to interview questions in front of a mirror and then with a friend or a career coach. You will gain someone else’s perspective about your performance. They can help you focus on what you did well and what difficult areas to improve, so you’ll sound as eloquent as possible.
- Visualize the perfect interview. Close your eyes and imagine the interview playing like a movie in your mind. Create a scenario that is your perfect interview. Visualize yourself in an office setting, listening carefully to the interviewer, and responding with relaxed confidence. See yourself having good eye contact, smiling, having a good rapport with the interviewer. Play your mental rehearsal the morning of the interview, and again in the parking lot, just before you go in.
- Sleep well. Getting 8 hours of sleep the night before would be ideal. If you’re too restless to sleep, lie still and rest. Meditate and picture positive images. A warm bath before bed may help too.
- Move around. Exercise is one of the most constructive ways to release tension. Go for a walk or run on the morning of your interview. The sun will make you feel energized. Rainy day workouts or yoga relieve stress too.
- Breathe deeply. Our emotions are closely connected to our breath. Doing breathing exercises each day will give you greater control. For a quick fix, try lengthening your exhalations and picturing your doubts, leaving your body.
- Limit caffeine. The last thing you need is too much caffeine. Put yourself on a budget, like one cup of coffee soon after you wake up and another one later in the morning.
- Leave early. A peaceful commute will help you stay on track. Ensure you understand the directions to the venue where you’re interviewing. Give yourself plenty of time in case of heavy traffic and severe weather.
- Determine company fit. Remind yourself that you aren’t the only one being interviewed today. You are also interviewing them to see if they are a good fit for you — career opportunity, values, and culture. Judging is a two-way street.
- Think Positively. You are unique – your talents and experience are a gift to any company. Your resume landed you the interview, so there is definite interest in you. Give yourself credit for showing up!
Steps to Take During and After Your Interview:
- Limit trash talk. Stop any lingering negative gremlins at the door. Answer their trash talk when they whisper, “you are not good enough” with a sassy response like, “Just watch me ace this interview!” “I got this.” “I can do this.” Shoulders back chin out and march forward.
- Smile and make good eye contact. Start with a great first impression. Put on a big smile, make eye contact, and shake hands while you introduce yourself. If you’re interviewing with more than one staff member, greet each of them warmly. If a panel is interviewing you, make eye contact with everyone on the panel as you answer a question – not just with the interviewer who asked the question.
- Create a conversation. Remember that an interview is a chance to give and take rather than being an interrogation. Many interviewers will appreciate your ability to guide the conversation toward your major strengths and concerns.
- Take Notes. It’s okay to jot down quick notes to keep yourself on track. It isn’t easy to keep all those questions you may want to ask the interviewer in your head. Just ask for permission to do so from the interviewer. They will appreciate your courtesy and seriousness.
- Show interest. Demonstrate your knowledge of the company and ask pertinent questions. Even if the job turns out to be unsuitable for you, you can practice engaging without being misleading.
- Finish strong. Reinforce your performance by closing on a high note. Be sure to articulate your interest in the job and the company. Summarize what you can contribute to the company and thank your interviewer for their time and consideration. Ask when you can expect to hear back from them. Follow up with a thank you note and any materials you promised to send.
- Reward Yourself. You made it through the interview. It is now time for reflection on what you did well and what you would like to improve in the future. Celebrate by doing something special for yourself.
Imagine feeling poised instead of nervous when you go on a job interview. Reframing your job interview anxiety and being prepared will help you to impress your potential employer and advance your career.
To your Career Success,
© Katie Weiser, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Katie Weiser with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
