How To Calm Nerves Before An Interview: Quick And Useful Tip

Many people may be nervous before an interview. So, how to calm nerves before an interview?

Before an interview, it’s normal to experience anxiety. But as these suggestions demonstrate, you can learn to manage your pre-interview anxiety and turn it into something productive by doing your research and adopting the right attitude.

Be flexible in your approach, but don’t be too rigid. If you make an effort to recall statements and responses word for word, you risk becoming confused if a question is posed in a different way or the interview process takes a slightly different turn. Instead, consider keywords and themes, and practice responding to a variety of questions on related subjects. 

Don’t just avoid thinking about a question you’re particularly afraid of and hope it doesn’t come up. that’ll just give you something else to feel worried about! Instead, confront it head-on; consider how to respond to it if it arises; and seek guidance from your peers.

Please continue reading for more details.

Go For A Walk

Fresh air does everyone a load of good. Take a walk around the block (or, if you’re feeling ambitious, go for a run to release all those good endorphins) before a phone interview. If it’s face-to-face, give yourself five minutes to get your bearings before entering the building.

Practice The S.t.o.p Method

This is the best mental technique for handling any stressful situation, according to executive coach Chris Charyk. It goes like this:

• Stop what you’re doing and focus on your thoughts.
• Take a few deep breaths.
• Observe what’s going on in your body, emotions, and mind, and why you’re feeling them.
• Proceed with an intention to incorporate what you observed in your actions.

With this method, it’s crucial to take your time and be thoughtful about both the actions you take and the emotions you allow to rule your thoughts and actions. It serves as a reminder that even in the most stressful circumstances, you have the ability to conquer your own anxieties.

Prepare For The Worst

There is a solution for every fear, no matter how great it may be. In your teeth is lettuce? Include floss and a small mirror in your bag along with the other necessities you should always bring to an interview. Concerned that your answer to a challenging question won’t be adequate? When you don’t have the answer, be proactive and learn how to hide your tracks. By planning ahead, you can feel confident that even if the worst occurs, you’ll be more than prepared to handle it.

Make An Interview Cheat Sheet

The act of planning itself is just as crucial as anticipating the worst. You will worry less the more you have planned to accomplish. Start a note on your phone and write down all the essentials, such as the address of the building, the name of the hiring manager, the time, the three main points you want to cover in the interview, your questions, and anything else that comes to mind. You’ll feel so confident that you have everything covered if you pull that baby out just before you are summoned. See more about How To Summarize An Interview?

Plan Something For Afterwards

What would make you eager to persevere through two hours of nervous sweating in front of a total stranger? A delicious meal or a massage? How about a Netflix binge date with your dog? Whatever it is, plan for it to be ready for you when you finish; that way, you’ll have something amazing to anticipate and concentrate on rather than your anxiety.

Eat A Good Breakfast / Lunch

With a great meal comes a great interview. Going the healthy route and choosing foods high in antioxidants that boost energy is what some people mean by this. Others might find it to be indulging in their favorite comfort foods. There isn’t a single correct response; instead, choose the one that feels best to you. Make sure to eat something beforehand because no one can think clearly during an interview if their stomach is growling.

Give Yourself A Pep Talk

It’s not crazy to talk to yourself; in fact, it’s smart (and has been shown to help you stay motivated by science). All the things you need to hear, tell yourself: you’re smart, you’re qualified for this role, you’re going to kill it. Say it out loud and with assurance so that it really sticks. Finding a quiet area to do it is all that is required. See more about How Early Should You Arrive For A Job Interview?

Call An Uplifting Friend

Nothing is more beneficial than the support of a kind, upbeat friend or relative. I’ve called my mother many times before a significant, stressful event, and it always makes a difference (and I’m not embarrassed to say that I still do it as an adult). In other words, let someone else give you the motivation you need if you can’t.

Listen To Music

Alternatively, listen to a podcast or watch a speech by someone who inspires you. You can do this to fill your mind with positive thoughts instead of negative ones.

Smile

It’s no secret that smiling boosts your confidence, even if you fake it, so what’s the harm in giving it a shot?

No, I already know the response. And even better, if you keep it long enough, the hiring manager will come to like you more.

Use Your Stress As Adrenaline

Since anxiety and adrenaline are closely related, studies have shown that getting pumped up before public speaking, as opposed to calming down, produces better results. To do this, say “I’m excited” rather than “I’m calm.”

So it’s good if you’re trembling and your heart is pounding. Mark Slack, a writer and consultant for Muse, advises, “By reframing your nervous energy as excited energy, you can still feel amped up, just in a way that helps you perform better instead of a way that hinders you.”

Remember It’s Just A Conversation

Finally, remind yourself that you’re not fighting a shark or jumping out of an airplane. You’re conversing politely about your career with one or possibly two people. In his article How to Keep Your Cool When You Interview With Your Dream Company, Muse writer Richard Moy said it best: “As much as they want you to work for them, they also really want you to be the one.”
So, not all the pressure’s on you. Not only will they be questioning you, but you also have questions that need to be answered, and they are likely anxious about coming off well.

Don’t Speak Too Fast

As you wait for your interview, take three deep breaths through your nose as slowly as you can. Nerves have a tendency to make us breathe more quickly. Next, exhale for three counts through your nose. three times, please. You should need a total of 18 seconds to complete that. Your heart rate will have significantly decreased by then, and you won’t rush to finish your sentence.

Read about: How Long Do Job Interviews Last

Stop Yourself Shaking

You only need thigh or buttock muscles squeezed. If the muscles in your thighs or buttocks are tense, it is almost physically impossible to have shaky hands. With the use of this technique, you can appear and feel more assured, and the majority of clothing will completely conceal your behavior.

Stop Your Voice Shaking

Try to say the entire Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme out loud by opening your throat and sticking your tongue out as far as it will go. You’ll sound more assured and authoritative as a result of opening up your throat. Naturally, you ought to do this prior to the interview rather than in front of the panel.

Stand Up While You Wait

Before an interview, it’s common to be led into a boardroom and given a seat to wait. The last thing you want is for them to see you struggling to get out of a chair, so don’t take it. When you first meet someone, getting down on their level will make you appear more confident.

Find Your Best Sitting Position

A chair’s back should never be trusted, to start. It’s simple to slouch backwards to the point where your throat becomes constricted. On your chair, I suggest slanting a little forward. If you sit in this position, you’ll appear and feel more dynamic.

Show Your Hands

It has been demonstrated that showing our hands on the table in front of us rather than hiding them underneath the table increases our chances of landing a job. Being honest means exposing our hands.

Make The Other Person Feel Special

During a job interview, a lot of people over-exert themselves and wind up just bigging themselves up. We’ve all experienced being bored by others who were only interested in talking about themselves. Do not forget to inquire, and show genuine interest in the response. It’s important to appear enthusiastic and committed to the position, but try not to oversell yourself.

Listen

We find it difficult to listen when we’re paralyzed by fear and in full flight or fight mode, and we frequently give the incorrect answer. In order to make the other person feel special and demonstrate your value for their question, try to slow down your body’s automatic reactions and pay attention.

Use Your Own Voice

Instead of adopting a stiff public speaking voice, try to use your natural voice. Avoiding speaking too loudly is frequently all that is necessary. Talk as if you were having a conversation with a bunch of friends.

Be Yourself

When we meet new people, if we are being ourselves, we will come across as unhurried, genuine, and assured. Make an effort to use the language you are familiar with.

Enjoy the interview and be proud of your accomplishments because if you’ve already been shortlisted, that means they must already think highly of you. Slow down, pay attention, and be authentic, always. If you do that, you’ll come across as unhurried, genuine, and assured. Job done.

Conclusion

So, how to calm nerves before an interview?

Uncertainty about the interview process is a major source of anxiety. Knowing that you are well prepared will make you feel much more confident and give you a better chance of controlling your nerves.

There are numerous ways to conduct research. Naturally, you’ll want to do your research on the potential employer, be sure your skills are a good fit for the position, and be sure your resume is flawless. Additionally, you should practice responses to potential tough questions, ranging from the incredibly technical to the more competency-based ones. 

It will also help if you have a few inquiries of your own prepared. To see if anyone has posted details about the interview procedure and the kinds of questions asked, you can also try searching for the company on websites like Glassdoor.