How to beat the nerves in a job interview!
It is normal to feel nervous before and during a job interview – you may really want the job and know you have to perform under pressure, or you may be naturally shy. Employers and candidates are adjusting to virtual recruitment being the new normal and so there is a degree of nervousness around interviewing on camera too!
Try and keep positive and not put too much pressure on yourself. You’ve made it through to the interview stage which is fantastic! At the same time, there will be other opportunities out there so it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get the job, if anything it will be great practice for further interviews you get invited to!
You all know that interviewer will be in control of the conversation and you do not know what questions will be asked. This can lead to anxiety and make you feel nervous. Don’t worry, here are a number of tips for staying calm during a job interview which apply to both virtual and in-person interviews…
Preparation: the key to handling job interview nerves
Research the company
Go through the company’s website and find out as much as you can. This will give you an indication of what they are looking for and it showing that you have done your homework will give a positive impression. See what you can find on Google and LinkedIn too, you might find some interesting articles and history related to the company to discuss in the interview.
Know your CV and predict questions
Read through it many times over and imagine you are the interviewer scrutinising it. This will help you to predict the questions, and allow you to prepare answers. If it’s a CV with gaps, be prepared to explain them!
Prepare answers to common questions
Preparing answers to typical interview questions is a necessary step to dealing with job interview nerves. One of the major causes of anxiety before an interview is not knowing what questions might come up, however many of them are predictable. Be ready to answer questions like: “tell me about yourself” and “where do you see yourself in five years?”, “what are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?”
Plan your outfit in advance
Choose your outfit at least 24 hours before the interview to prevent a last-minute rush and pick something smart that you feel comfortable in. This is equally as important via video interview. It is best to be overdressed than underdressed!
Look after yourself
The better you feel about yourself, the less nervous you’ll be in the job interview. Take special care to look after your physical health in the week leading up to the interview. Eat healthily, avoid late nights, steer clear of too much alcohol, and do some exercise. This will give you a physical feeling of optimism and positivity.
How to control job interview nerves on the big day
On the day of the interview there are a number of steps you can take to help you feel at in a job interview. Follow these tips and nail the big day…..
Have a bottle of water and some snacks with you
Feeling thirsty can affect the sound of your voice, which can affect your confidence. You also want to avoid being hungry as you want to keep your energy levels up – healthy snacks such as nuts and fruit are perfect.
Have your CV with you
Having it in front of you can give you confidence and can help you to jog your memory.
Focus on your breathing
The feeling of anxiety can increase your heart rate which can send you into a panic. If this happens before or during the interview, take a deep breath slowly through your nose (count slowly to three while you’re doing it), then slowly breathe out through your nose. Repeat this three times and it will lower your heart rate.
Avoid speaking quickly
Nerves can make you talk too quickly. This is problematic in an interview as you can stumble over your words and end up giving answers which you haven’t thought through. Don’t rush to answer questions, pause after each question, take a deep breath, and answer slowly and concisely, aim for around 30 seconds per question.