Overcome Interview Nerves – tips for interview success

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Job interviews can be very stressful. Practical tips for interview success include simple techniques for overcoming job interview nerves and reducing your interview anxiety.

Poor interview performance as a result of feeling tense and nervous is one of the most common challenges candidates face.

Knowing how to control interview stress and calm your nerves before an interview builds your confidence and leads to better overall interview performance.

Six Simple Steps to Job Interview Confidence

Take these six steps to feel confident about your job interview.

1. Prepare properly

One of the best ways to reduce nerves is to be prepared for your interview.

Find out what you can about the company. Practice your answers to common interview questions and be ready to explain any tricky issues on your resume such as employment gaps and reasons for leaving.

2. Make a to-do list

Before
the interview think about the things that worry you and put some coping
mechanisms in place. Making a list of what needs to be done helps
reduce stress.

Prepare a list of what to do the day before your interview and check the items off as you complete them.

This way you can go to bed the night before the job interview knowing you have prepared everything and get a good night’s sleep.

3. Get your interview clothes ready

Be confident that you will look the part and make the right impression with your interview attire.

Check
your clothes are clean, pressed and tidy. Polish and clean your shoes.
Try out the way you will wear your hair. If you look good, you will feel
good.

4. Use visualization

Before
you leave for your interview you can use visualization techniques to
help you relax. This involves:

closing your eyes and breathing deeply
picturing yourself confidently and calmly greeting the interviewer
picturing yourself answering the interviewer’s questions fluently and establishing a good rapport with the interviewer

Remind yourself that the interview is not an interrogation, the interviewer wants to see you succeed.

5. Physically relax

On
the way to the interview and while you wait practice smiling! Smiling
releases endorphines which the body uses to reduce stress. Take a deep
breath, slowly breathe out and smile.

Practice sitting in a
position that you feel comfortable and confident in with your hands held
loosely in a relaxed fashion.

To overcome interview nerves during the interview breathe deeply and regularly.

Keep
your posture straight, with your legs crossed at the ankles or feet flat
on the floor. This ensures you come across as relaxed and composed.
Hunching in your chair or crossing your arms or legs makes you look
nervous.

Be aware of signs of anxiety during the
interview such as jaw clenching or face rubbing and correct
these.

Acting and looking confident by sending the right message with your interview body language,
even if you are not feeling confident, helps you to feel in control.

Your posture, what you do with your hands, looking directly at the
interviewer and maintaining eye contact will affect your mindset and how
you perform in the job interview.

6. Take time to think

One
of the best tips for interview success is simply to pause before
answering questions. This gives you a chance to breathe and organize
your thoughts. Speak slowly and calmly.

If you feel yourself starting to panic, pause and take a deep breath. Regain your focus and continue.

The interviewer will not notice a quick 10 second pause and this way you get your nerves under control before it gets worse.

Make the right impression in your interview

To succeed in your job interview it is important to make the right impression from the word go. Make a positive impression from the moment you arrive for your interview.

These tips for interview success will reduce your nervousness and build
your confidence, helping you to come across as the winning job
candidate.

Calming your interview nerves and anxiety is a key factor in your success. Interview stress can cause you to make job interview mistakes.
Be aware of common interview mistakes and feel confident that you can avoid them.