You always want to put your best foot forward for an interview. That doesn’t stop your heart from racing or your palms from sweating. Calming your nerves can feel impossible, but some techniques can help you feel better and more confident walking into an interview. Here are a few things to help your pre-interview anxiety from taking over.
Go For a Walk
Being outdoors can help calm your nerves. Arrive early for your interview and if the weather is good, take a walk around the block, parking lot, or grounds of the building. Even if you’re doing a video or phone interview, take a walk or job in your neighborhood to clear your head and raise your endorphin levels.
Use the S.T.O.P. Method
One trick you can use for any stressful situation is the S.T.O.P. method.
- Stop whatever you’re doing and focus on your thoughts.
- Take deep breaths
- Observe your feelings, including how your body feels in the moment.
- Proceed by incorporating what you’ve observed into your actions.
Plan an After-Interview Activity
After a stressful experience, it’s a good idea to plan something to take your mind off of it. Plan something you can look forward to, such as dinner out, a hike, drinks with friends, walking your dog, reading a book, or curling up on the couch with your favorite movie. You can focus on what you enjoy rather than the thing that’s making you nervous.
Listen to Music
On your way to the interview, or just before, put on your favorite music. It can be anything that takes you out of your head. In Major League Baseball, batters choose a song that’s played when they step up to the plate. Pick an “At Bat” song that you play for yourself just before going into the interview. Some great songs include “Brave” by Sarah Bareilles, “Don’t Stop Me Now,” by Queen, “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, or “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson.
Prepare
Finally, to help calm your nerves, get prepared before your interview. Plan your wardrobe the night before. Map the directions or even take a test drive so you can see where you’re going. Check out the company website and come up with a few questions to ask the interviewer. Take another look at your resume right before you go into the meeting.
Are you ready to schedule your next job interview? Contact the recruiters at Nextaff to see what we’re working on today.
