INTERVIEW TIPS - How To Conquer Your Nerves When Interviewing
Posted 19th July 2022 • Written by Jack Kelly on forbes.com • • • • •
The Secret To Conquering Interview Nervousness
It’s not just you. Nearly everyone gets nervous before interviews. The problem is when the nervousness becomes overwhelming. The following steps will help you build confidence. By taking these actions you will be prepared to overcome the anxiety associated with the hiring process.
The key essentials are that the more you know about the company and the interviewers, practice your elevator pitch, and match your skills to the job description, the more nerves will subside. Instead of being worried, you’ll be infused with optimism, and feel powerful and in control of the movement. Rather than dreading the moment you either walk into the room or log onto the video call, you’ll feel exhilarated.
The interviewers and hiring managers will pick up on your positive frequency, respect that you are so knowledgeable about the job and happy to see that you are prepared, motivated and enthusiastic.
What To Expect In The Interview Process
It's natural to be nervous when going through the hiring process.
There is a high correlation between the time and effort exerted in the pre-interview phase and positive results. One of the keys to success is to learn all about the company, its people, its corporate mission and the products or services they offer.
Go to LinkedIn and search for the people who will be interviewing you. You can select a mode that they won’t know you’re looking at their profiles. View their titles, how long they’ve been at the company, where they previously worked and the college attended. The reconnaissance will provide you with much-needed fuel to find common ground and serve as an icebreaker.
Thoroughly read the job description. Make sure your resume addresses the requirements. If you lack some of the ingredients, come up with a pitch of how you can either learn the tasks or have skills that can transfer over.
Prepare an elevator pitch. This is similar to a commercial on television. You want to be able to sell yourself within about one minute. The expression comes from the ability to gain someone’s attention and notice while riding the elevator for a few floors. The pitch needs to be concise, and succinct and shows that you possess nearly all the skills to effectively succeed in the role. Roleplay the elevator pitch with people. It may sound great in your head, but when you first say it out loud, you’ll realize it needs fine-tuning.
Work Out All The Kinks
If you are going in person to the interview, plan out in advance where they are located, and how long it will take to get there. Find out what is the appropriate attire to wear. Make sure you bring several copies of the resume as other interviewers may be added at the last minute.
A savvy hack is to arrive early, and take a walk around the area as it gets the blood flowing, releases some of the tension, and you gain a sense of the neighborhood which can serve as another conversation point. Stop at a store or newsstand to get some mints, and chat up the person. Speak with the security guards and other personnel when entering the building. It will serve to loosen you up before you start talking in the interview.
Have something to eat and drink a glass of water before the meeting so you’re not feeling lethargic or hangry. Before going into the meeting room, go to a restroom to ensure that your hair is combed and your clothes look fine. Pop the mint while walking into the interview room.
If your interview is online. Check out the internet connection, sound quality, lighting and background. Make sure you have the correct platform to use and any passwords if required. Obtain in advance the email and phone number of someone responsible for the interview process just in case there is a glitch.
Carefully review your resume for accuracy, and delete anything that is untrue and could later blow up. Get rid of anything on your social media footprint that could cause concern for the company.
I Will Get That Job
Before your in-person or video interview, take some deep breaths. Breathe in to the count of four, hold for a couple of beats, then release to the count of four. You’ll be surprised to find that this is a great way to clear your mind and relax.
Engage in self-talk. Remind yourself why you deserve this job. Think of your reason why. Recall and replay in your mind all the other times you succeeded. Tell yourself “I am the right person for this job, deserve it, and will make it happen. I will get that job!”
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