Ploymint

Going to an interview can be nerve-racking, whether it’s your first time or twentieth. If you find yourself feeling the dreaded interview anxiety every time you’re sitting in the waiting room of your next job prospect, it may be time to make a few changes in your approach. For most people, there is no instant cure for the interview jitters, but rather, it’s a process that takes place days before the interview. The following tips should help prepare your mind for the stressful interviews that come your way.

Prepare in advance

Getting ready for your interview in advance means more than preparing a few hours before your scheduled meeting. If you want to avoid feeling nervous the day of your interview, it’s best to have all of your ducks in a row at least 24 hours ahead of time. This means that the day before your interview, your outfit should be picked out and cleaned, your resume should be updated and printed, and you should already know the route you will be traveling.

When these things aren’t done ahead of time you will only be creating more anxiety for yourself. A stain on your usual interview suit shouldn’t be found a couple of hours before you need to leave. You don’t want to realize your printer is broken while you’re attempting to print your resume on your way out of the door. Finding out your GPS can’t locate the building you’re looking for isn’t something you want to learn on your way to the interview. If you prepare ahead of time, it gives you one less thing to feel nervous about.

Study

Being in the moment can be helpful for some during an interview, but it always helps to do some research beforehand. The more research you do, the more confident you will feel walking into the interview. Confidence is an important factor in overcoming your fears.

The company

It doesn’t matter which company you’re interviewing with, always research it ahead of time. If you feel you know the company like the back of your hand, it can help you understand the type of answers the interviewer is looking for. Knowing the company is also important because they may ask questions that you can only answer if you know a decent amount about them. When they ask you “Why do you want to work here?” you can talk about why you want to work for that specific company, rather than the industry in general.

Interview questions

Take some time to think about the questions they could ask. These questions vary depending on the specific job, but a quick Google search can help find commonly asked questions. Spending some time piecing together a well crafted answer will help you feel more prepared than if you were to wing it. If you feel like you can handle any question that comes your way, you’ll worry much less.

Breathe

The best methods to prevent your shaky feelings involve being prepared, but if you still find yourself getting nervous, just remember to breathe. The best last-minute action you can take before an interview is to deeply inhale through your nose and exhale out your mouth. Inhaling through your nose will get the oxygen to your brain quicker, giving you a faster release. While you take your breaths, make sure to clear your mind of all thoughts on the interview ahead, it will only make you more nervous to continue thinking about it.

As long as you plan ahead, do your homework, and take time to breathe, you can reduce or eliminate your interview jitters.