Calming Your Job Interview Nerves

Going to a job interview is always an anxiety provoking event. It is our innate human tendency to feel anxiety, nervousness and fear prior to a job interview. All job seekers are afraid of being rejected by a potential employer and we all yearn for acceptance and interview success.

Nerves before a job interview can display themselves in various forms; sweaty palms, heart palpitations and even a dry mouth. In extreme cases some Job Seekers may even experience a form of panic attacks prior to attending a job interview. The important thing to keep in mind when feeling interview nerves is that what you are feeling is perfectly normal and there is a solution to this tension.

Read through Jobs.co.za guidelines on how to calm your job interview nerves and find effective techniques for staying relaxed and focussed prior and during any job interview.

Happy Job Interview Thoughts

As mentioned above, we all have an inherent desire for job interview acceptance. Don't let the fear of rejection be so compelling that you end up sabotaging your chances of employment before having even entered the interview room. All that 'stinking thinking' leads to is further stress, feelings of inadequacy and poor job interview confidence. Never underestimate the power of positive thought. By thinking positively about your job interview and holding these encouraging 'happy' thoughts with you as you approach your job interview, will lessen the intensity of your anxiety.

Visualise Your Anxiety Free Job Interview

Visualise your job interview going better than you ever could have imagined and 'Create' your own interview reality. The night before your job interview find a quiet place where you can relax; close your eyes, breathe deeply and start to visualise the way you hope your job interview will go. Picture the route you plan on travelling and imagine this being clear of all traffic en route to your job interview. See the outfit that you intend on wearing to the interview and how polished and successful you look and feel in it. Finally, in your mind's eye, see yourself in the interview, hear yourself speaking with confidence and imagine the impressed responses you will receive from your interviewer. There is nothing wrong with 'faking' your feelings until you feel them in reality, until then; Fake it until you make it.

Breathing Technique to Calm Job Interview Jitters

The way you breathe plays a huge role when trying to compose yourself before a job interview. Over breathing or hyperventilation reduces the carbon dioxide in your blood which is necessary to regulate the amount of oxygen used by your body. With your body now experiencing a lack of oxygen; this increases your tension and you feel even more nervous than before. Try to take deliberate and controlled breaths when feeling nervous before an interview. By redirecting your attention to your breathing before going into a job interview, not only are you ensuring that your regular oxygen intake is controlled but you are also concentrating on something other than how nervous you are.

Arrive early at your job interview and spend some time concentrating on your breath. Try to breath in for four counts, hold your breath for four counts then exhale for four counts and hold once more for four counts before starting again. By doing this before entering your job interview, you are sure to release the stress and tension you are feeling with each breath you exhale.

Adequately Prepare for the Job Interview

While nerves are a natural response to stressful stimuli, the best way to control your job interview nerves is by thoroughly preparing in advance. Research the company who will be conducting the interview and ensure you are comfortable discussing your findings. Ensure that you arrive at your job interview early allowing, enough time to compose yourself and manage any rebel nerves that may be getting the better of you. Rather arrive at your job interview over dressed than under dressed as first impressions last and you want to ensure that your application is taken seriously. Always carry yourself with confidence and poise but be careful not to exude arrogance as this will work against your favour.

Not many people experience job interview anxiety to the extent that they are unable to function. While this may be the case it is worth mentioning to all Job Seekers to stay rational about your job interview. Ask yourself, 'What's the worst that can happen?' The very worst thing that could happen as a result form any job interview is that you don't get the position. Any other anxiety provoking thoughts or fears and stressors are irrational, emotional and as a result from your nervousness. Remember that nervousness and excitement are two very closely related emotions and more often than not your nervousness is an indication that the position you are interviewing for is important to you and your career goals.

Tags