We have all been there – preparing for an interview and being overcome with nerves both before and during the interview. You want to be able to give a good representation of yourself but the butterflies in your stomach and your racing heart will severely hamper your ability to do so. As you usually only get one chance to impress, it’s important to try and conquer those nerves to give yourself the best possible chance and increase the chances of getting to the next stage. In the run up to the interview you maybe asking yourself ‘How do I calm my nerves before the interview ‘? Here we have some tips on how you can do this.
Tune out your inner voice
Whilst on you way to the interview and even when you enter the building, try and focus on your surroundings. Focus on the weather, buildings you see on your journey, the people you see.Focus on every single thing you see or hear. This will help tune out your negative or destructive inner voice. You know the one.. that voice telling you that you haven’t prepared enough or that you are not experienced enough for this role. Tune that voice out.
Plan your journey and get to the interview early
If you are taking public transport, have you made a note of your route and any alternatives in case you miss a train or your train is cancelled? Have you built in a time frame to account for any delays? Always try and plan to be 20 to 30 mins early. It is not unknown to be given an incorrect or out of date address by a recruitment agent, so you will need extra time to mitigate against that.You will also need time to gather yourself before the interview. The last thing you want is to enter the interview room flustered because you have just sprinted from the train station!
And Breathe….
You don’t have to sit cross legged in the lotus position for 30 mins to get the benefits of deep breathing! Deep breathing can help to clear an anxious mind and is a great tool in calming you down before an important event. The great thing is that it can be done anywhere. On the train or bus on the way there , you could even secretly do it whilst waiting in reception.
- Take a long, slow breath in through your nose, first filling your lower lungs, then your upper lungs.
- Hold your breath to the count of “three.”
- Exhale slowly through pursed lips, while you relax the muscles in your face, jaw, shoulders, and stomach.
- Closing your eyes can help you focus but is not compulsory, especially if you are doing it in the reception!
Click here for more on deep breathing and meditation.
Over Prepare
Read as much as you can about this role and the company. Social media is a fantastic tool for finding about the company’s strategy, their competition and possibly about the people interviewing you.
Make a list of questions that you will ask at the end of the interview. Role play the interview, imagine the questions that they will ask and outline the answers.
The knowledge that your preparation means that you are unlikely to be tripped up during the interview , will go a long way in calming those nerves.
