Banish Interview Anxiety With These Tried-And-True Tricks

Banish Interview Anxiety With These Tried-And-True TricksBanish Interview Anxiety With These Tried-And-True TricksBanish Interview Anxiety With These Tried-And-True TricksDont let vorstellungsgesprch jitters get the best of you. Heres how to prepare and overcome your fears. TWEETFor most people, landing an interview is as nerve-wracking as it is exciting. At some point after the initial thrill wears off, theres a good chance that youll abflug to feel a little nervous. But dont worry with the right preparation, it is possible to calm your nerves and ace that interview. Next time, consider these recommendations to prepare yourself for success both physically and mentally.Practice makes perfect.Although its not possible to predict exactly what youll be asked, most interviewers do rely on some old favorite questions. After all, what interviewee has never been asked to talk about their strengths and weaknesses or to tell the interviewer a little bit about themselves?Ideally, you should already know how youll answer questions like these when you go into your interview. However, you dont want to sound too well-rehearsed, as though youre reciting your answers from memory. In other words, the challenge is to be prepared, but not sound too prepared. The best way to accomplish this is to jot down a couple of talking points for each potential interview question, and then practice the general ideas you want to discuss rather than memorizing specific phrases. You might want to dig out some index cards to quiz yourself, writing the interview question on one side and your talking points on the other.When you feel like you have your talking points down, ask a friend to give you a mock interview by reading the questions on the cards at random. Give each answer as though you were in a real interview. Practice using this mock interviewing technique until you feel confident and well-prepared, but not so long that you start to sound like a broken record.Bring what youll needWhenev er you interview, you should always bring three things, at a minimum something to write with, something to write on, and at least one copy of the same resume you used to apply for the position. However, its also a great idea to bring any other notes that you might find helpful. Having the information you need at your fingertips can help you to reduce interview anxiety and feel more confident, even if you dont need to refer to it.Here are some examples of written notes or materials you might want to bring alongA brief summary of your background research about the company.Specific ideas you have for addressing the unique challenges of the position.A list of questions you would like to ask during the interview.It might be tempting to bring a lot of extra information for example, a list of the talking points you came up with for common interview questions but sticking to the basics will help you to find the information youre looking for when you need it.You might also find it helpful to use a highlighter or colored pen to mark specific details in your resume that you want to bring up for example, the accomplishments that you are most proud of or the job title(s) that are most relevant to the position youre interviewing for.Dont leave anything to chanceThere are a lot of things that could go wrong on the day of your interview, but the good nachrichten is that you can avoid many of these potential problems by planning ahead. As soon as you schedule your interview, begin working out the details in order to maximize your chances of success. Once the logistics are covered, youll be able to focus on the interview itself rather than worrying about what might go wrong.Start by getting your outfit ready especially if you havent interviewed in a while. Try the whole outfit on and make sure you can stand, walk, sit, and bend comfortably. Make sure it is clean and free of wrinkles and odors, and store it safely in a location where it will stay that way.Next, make sure you know where youre going and how to get there. If possible, go to the location a day or two before the interview to see what the building looks like and figure out where you can park. Make sure to leave plenty of time in case you get lost, get caught in traffic, or cant find parking.Take care of your bodyJob interview preparation is almost as grueling physically as it is mentally. Stress often manifests in physical ways, but you can take steps to prevent these effects.The night before your interview, try to pamper yourself. Consider taking a nice hot bath, listening to music, or drinking tea. Think about what helps you to relax and try to incorporate this into your interview preparation routine.No matter what, make sure to get a good nights sleep. Not only will this help you to look your best, it will help to keep you mentally sharp and allow you to think more clearly and speak more eloquently. When you wake up on the big day, make sure to eat a hearty breakfast with plenty of polype ptid to keep you going strong.MeditateThe word meditation might bring to mind images of monks kneeling for hours at a time. But meditation doesnt require any special equipment or hours of focus, and you dont have to be a monk in order to experience the benefits of meditating.Meditation is a great way to clear your mind and calm your nerves. There are many ways to practice meditation, and no right or wrong way to do it. If youve never meditated before, try these stepsFind a quiet, relaxing spot where you wont be interrupted. Some people find an outdoor location to be ideal, but you can meditate inside, too.When youre seated comfortably, close your eyes and begin to focus on your breath. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold your breath for a moment, and then breathe out slowly through your mouth. You might find it easier to focus on your breathing if you count each inhale and exhale, or you might prefer to just maintain awareness of your breath. Let go of any distracting thoughts , feelings, or worries and just focus on your breath.After a few minutes or so, you should begin to feel calmer and less nervous. Once you feel that your mind is clear, you might wish to spend some time visualizing positive outcomes, such as having a great interview experience or receiving a job offer.Meditation can be a helpful tool for calming your mind before an interview, but it has also been shown to have powerful long-term benefits when practiced regularly.Hire a TopResume writer to help you land more interviews, faster.Related Articles