It's very common to be nervous about a job interview. Every candidate wants to put their best foot forward, but nerves can get the best of you. You want to calm your nerves as much as possible before your interview.
So in this article, we'll provide some tips and tricks to help calm you down before your interview starts.
Tips to calm your nerves before a job interview
Prepare for your interview
One of the best ways to feel more confident going into your interview is to be prepared. You can practice commonly asked interview questions and answers.
If you have a friend or mentor willing to spend some time with you on it, ask them to do a mock interview. Doing this will help better your answers.
The more time you spend preparing the more confident you will be. Since we have no way of knowing what you will be asked, make sure you prepare answers for multiple interview questions. While you might still be nervous about your interview, you should relax once you realize you are prepared to answers the questions that'll likely be asked.
Take some time and do some research on the company you will be interviewing with. Visit their social media websites such as Twitter, Linkedin, and Facebook.
By visiting one or two of these sites, you will have a good understanding of the company's values. Read the recent articles posted on their site. It also helps to read about the people you will be interviewing with.
Prepare your outfit and know where you are going
Another tip to stay calm is to know what you are going to wear. Candidates can have anxiety about their interview outfit.
Take some time to try on a few options in front of the mirror. Maybe even send a picture to a close friend for their option. If they don't like it, pick something else.
Not having to stress over your outfit the day of your interview can make a big difference in how you feel. Getting your outfit right can help you look and feel comfortable so that your body language will be positive during your interview.
You definitely want to avoid being late for your interview, so take some time to plan out your route or even practice how to get to the office. Make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview so you have time to check-in and get through any security they might have.
Tricks to stay calm during your job interview
There are a few ways to calm your nerves once you get to your job interview. Here are some things you can do that can help you relax during your interview.
- Take a few deep breaths.
- Do relaxation the exercises that work best for you.
- Bring notes with your talking points in case you get stuck.
- Make a list of questions you want to ask.
Allow yourself to feel the nerves. It's normal to have these feelings before and during a job interview. Every hiring manager and recruiter knows you may have some nervousness. It's how you manage those nerves that will be up to you.
Before your interview starts, try to clear your head and focus. Think about the conversation you are about to have. You already have the information needed to discuss your experience and background. You can speak with confidence when discussing your skills and career.
Final thoughts on calming your nerves during a job interview
If you take the time for your interview preparation, you won't let your nerves win. Remember, everyone gets nervous before a job interview. Whatever you might be feeling is normal.
You just need to be ready when those feelings arise so they don't get the best of you. If you did your homework and have practiced staying calm and confident, you should do just fine.
