Ready to put an end to interview nerves?
Searching for a job can already be a stressful and time-consuming process. You have to research companies, customize your resume, write cover letters and fill out applications. But then you get that call or email asking you to come interview. You have a brief moment of excitement, and then the dread and the nerves of interviewing hit you.
It’s not uncommon for job seekers to be nervous about the interview. While an interview can lead to amazing opportunities, this nervousness can be due to various reasons. What’s essential is overcoming these nerves.
How to calm your interview nerves
- Research
- Talk to a friend or family member
- Eat a good breakfast
- Plan your outfit
- Focus on breathing and relax your muscles
- Think of it like a conversation
Research
A lot of the anxiety from job interviews comes from not knowing what to expect. Getting yourself well-prepared through research will help curb those interview jitters.
So what does research look like? First, you want to research the company to understand how your skills align. Look at the company website, blogs, and social media accounts. Sites like Glassdoor will have employer reviews and can give you more insight into the interview process. Sometimes past candidates will post interview questions which you can use to help prepare.
It’s also helpful to research any current industry trends. You won’t be caught off guard if asked about industry issues or trends. Knowing what’s going on in your field/industry will boost your confidence.
Talk to a friend or family member
Get your loved ones to be your hype crew. Chatting with a family member or friend can boost your confidence and help curb those pre-interview jitters. Even when practicing positive self-talk, it’s easy not to believe your words. A little pep talk and compliments from a loved one can help ease nerves.
Eat a good breakfast
Getting a good breakfast will give you the energy you need for your interview. Hunger can add to the stress, so pick a favourite food to help boost your mood.
Plan your outfit
Before the day of the interview, have your outfit already picked and laid out, ready to go. You don’t want to be rushing around the day of, unsure what to wear or realizing the pants you wanted are in the laundry hamper.
When choosing clothes, stick to solid and non-distracting colours but wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. if you look confident, you’ll feel confident.
Focus on breathing and relax your muscles
To help keep your mind from wandering, try focusing on your breathing whenever you can. Before answering a question, take a moment to pause and breathe. This will help you avoid rambling and losing your breath and will help relax you. Taking a moment to pause
Without knowing it, we can clench our muscles making us very tense. As you focus on breathing, think about relaxing your muscles (without slouching). You’ll feel and look less anxious, allowing your confidence to show through.
Think of it like a conversation
Changing your mindset about an interview can help relieve some stress. We often feel like an interview is an interrogation. Instead, think of it like any other conversation. The hiring manager is trying to see if you fit the role and company well. On the other hand, you’re also there to test the waters and see if the company is a good fit for you. To help even out the playing field, come prepared with some questions. Asking your own questions can help level the playing field.
IT Recruitment Agency in Toronto | About Live Assets | IT Staffing Solutions
Live Assets is a boutique IT Staffing/Recruiting firm specializing exclusively in building IT teams of excellence for the Information Technology sector.
We are a small, but productive team that works closely together and has had a 96% success rate for the past number of years!
We have a diverse number of clients and industries and focus on both full-time and contract I.T. opportunities.
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