{"id":2893,"date":"2022-04-22T11:28:10","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T10:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/?p=2893"},"modified":"2026-05-12T18:36:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T17:36:30","slug":"overcome-interview-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/overcome-interview-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Beat Interview Anxiety (Without Faking It)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@krivitskiy?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alexander Krivitskiy<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/photos\/nervous?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interview Anxiety: How to Calm Your Nerves and Show Up Ready<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You wake up at 2:47 AM the night before. Your stomach is doing acrobatics. You&#8217;ve already rehearsed your &#8220;tell me about yourself&#8221; answer fourteen times, and now you&#8217;re convinced you&#8217;ll forget your own name when the interviewer extends their hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If that sounds familiar, you&#8217;re not broken. You&#8217;re just experiencing <strong>interview anxiety<\/strong> \u2014 the same low-grade dread that hits almost every job seeker, from new grads to senior executives. The good news? It&#8217;s manageable. The better news? Some of it is actually working in your favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide isn&#8217;t a list of vague tips like &#8220;just relax.&#8221; It&#8217;s a career coach&#8217;s playbook: what to do the night before, the hour before, the moment your mind goes blank, and the morning after a rough one. Let&#8217;s get into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Interview Anxiety?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interview anxiety is the physical and mental stress response triggered by the prospect of being evaluated in a job interview. It shows up as racing thoughts, a pounding heart, sweaty palms, a dry mouth, and the sudden conviction that you have nothing useful to say \u2014 even though you&#8217;re qualified for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s a specific type of performance anxiety. And it&#8217;s extremely common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Interview Anxiety Happens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your body doesn&#8217;t know the difference between a sabre-toothed tiger and a hiring manager named Karen. When it senses high-stakes evaluation, it triggers the same survival circuitry that physiologist Walter Cannon first described in 1915: fight-or-flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cortisol and adrenaline flood your system. Your heart rate jumps. Blood moves away from your extremities (hence the cold hands), and your prefrontal cortex \u2014 the part of your brain that handles careful reasoning \u2014 gets partially hijacked. Which is why you can perfectly explain your last project to a friend, but blank out trying to summarise it to a recruiter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s the part most articles skip: this response evolved to help you survive. A moderate dose of it actually sharpens your focus, speeds up your reactions, and improves recall. Psychologists call this the <strong>Yerkes-Dodson law<\/strong> \u2014 performance climbs with arousal up to a point, then collapses if arousal goes too high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal isn&#8217;t to eliminate the anxiety. It&#8217;s to stay in the productive middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is It Normal to Feel Anxious Before an Interview?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes \u2014 overwhelmingly. Surveys from career platforms like JDP and Joblist have consistently found that the vast majority of job seekers report experiencing interview anxiety, with many describing it as worse than the fear of public speaking or a first date. If you feel nervous, you&#8217;re not the exception. You&#8217;re the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Nerves Help vs. When They Hurt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A useful frame: nerves that point at preparation are working for you. Nerves that loop, spiral, or shut you down are working against you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nerves working for you:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reviewing your resume one more time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anticipating tough questions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Showing up early because you don&#8217;t want to be late<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A small adrenaline kick that makes you sit up and listen carefully<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nerves working against you:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Catastrophizing (&#8220;If I bomb this, my career is over&#8221;)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repeating the same mental rehearsal so many times that it loses meaning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical symptoms are severe enough to affect your speech or breathing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoidance \u2014 putting off prep because thinking about it feels worse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fixes below are designed to push you from the second list back to the first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 24 Hours Before Your Interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most interview anxiety comes from a vague sense of &#8220;I should be doing something.&#8221; A clear plan dissolves a surprising amount of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The night before<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stop prepping by 8 PM.<\/strong> New information at 11 PM won&#8217;t stick. It&#8217;ll just give your brain more to grind on. Close the laptop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lay out your outfit, bag, and documents.<\/strong> Print two copies of your resume. Drop your portfolio, notebook, and a pen into your bag. Tomorrow, you will thank me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Re-read the job description one last time.<\/strong> Not to memorise it. Just to load the language into your head so it surfaces naturally tomorrow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skip the alcohol and heavy dinner.<\/strong> Both wreck the deep sleep you actually need. Drink water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Set two alarms.<\/strong> One on your phone, one on something else \u2014 a clock, a smart speaker, a partner. Knowing you can&#8217;t oversleep helps you actually sleep.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wind down deliberately.<\/strong> A shower, light reading, and a walk. Avoid your phone for the last 30 minutes if you can. The comparison spiral isn&#8217;t your friend tonight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Morning of<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eat something with protein. Empty-stomach adrenaline is rough.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skip the third cup of coffee. Caffeine and cortisol stack badly. One cup is fine; three turns you into a vibrating tuning fork.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Move your body for at least ten minutes \u2014 a walk, push-ups, or stretching. Movement burns off cortisol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Re-read your own resume and the three or four stories you plan to tell. Don&#8217;t add new ones today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 60 Minutes Before Your Interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the high-leverage window. What you do here matters more than what you did last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In the parking lot or outside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Arrive 15 minutes early to the location, but don&#8217;t walk in until 5\u201310 minutes before your slot. Showing up 30 minutes early is awkward and adds to your wait time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use those extra minutes in your car or on a bench. Do <strong>4-7-8 breathing<\/strong>: inhale through your nose for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale through your mouth for 8. Repeat four times. This technique, popularised by Dr Andrew Weil, lengthens your exhale, which activates your parasympathetic nervous system and physically slows your heart rate. It works in under two minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stand tall with your shoulders back for two minutes. The hormonal research on &#8220;power posing&#8221; is contested, but the way you <em>feel<\/em> walking in does change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reframe the adrenaline. Research from Harvard&#8217;s Alison Wood Brooks found that telling yourself &#8220;I&#8217;m excited&#8221; rather than &#8220;I&#8217;m nervous&#8221; \u2014 out loud \u2014 improves performance in evaluative situations. Same physical sensation, different label.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In the waiting area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The waiting room is where anxiety often peaks, because there&#8217;s nothing to do except notice your heartbeat. Give yourself a task:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Read something light on your phone. Not work email.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Re-read your top three stories silently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Observe the office \u2014 what&#8217;s on the walls, how people interact, what the vibe is. You&#8217;re gathering data, not just sitting there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sip water. Slowly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plant both feet flat on the floor. The grounding cue actually works.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9 Ways to Calm Interview Anxiety in the Moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the interviewer walks in, or when you feel a spike mid-conversation, these are the moves that work in real time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Slow your speech by 20%.<\/strong> Anxiety speeds you up. Deliberately slowing down sounds confident and gives your brain time to catch up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drop your shoulders.<\/strong> They&#8217;ve crept up to your ears. Releasing them resets your nervous system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plant both feet.<\/strong> Crossed legs and shifting weight read as fidgety. Grounded feet feel \u2014 and look \u2014 composed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use the water glass.<\/strong> A sip is a legal three-second pause to think. No one ever lost an offer because they sipped water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Breathe in through your nose.<\/strong> Mouth-breathing under stress amplifies the panic loop. Nasal breathing engages a different physiological pathway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Repeat the question back.<\/strong> &#8220;So you&#8217;re asking about a time I dealt with a difficult stakeholder?&#8221; Buys you five seconds and confirms you heard correctly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anchor to a specific story.<\/strong> Vague answers come from vague thinking. Pick one real example and stay there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smile briefly when you greet them.<\/strong> It releases a small dose of feel-good neurochemistry and immediately changes how the interviewer reads you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reframe in your head.<\/strong> &#8220;I&#8217;m being evaluated&#8221; becomes &#8220;We&#8217;re figuring out if this is a fit.&#8221; It&#8217;s a conversation, not a trial.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Do If Your Mind Goes Blank Mid-Answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the moment everyone fears. You&#8217;re halfway through an answer and your brain just\u2026 stops. Here&#8217;s what to do, in this exact order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t apologise.<\/strong> Saying &#8220;sorry, I&#8217;m blanking&#8221; makes it your problem instead of a normal pause. Interviewers don&#8217;t notice four-second silences nearly as much as candidates think.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Take a slow breath in through your nose.<\/strong> One full breath. The room won&#8217;t catch fire.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Buy time honestly.<\/strong> &#8220;Let me take a second to think about that&#8221; is a complete sentence. So is &#8220;That&#8217;s a great question \u2014 can I come back to it after I think for a moment?&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use a structural anchor.<\/strong> If it&#8217;s a behavioural question, mentally reach for <strong>Situation, Task, Action, Result<\/strong> and start with &#8220;The situation was\u2026&#8221; The structure pulls the memory out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you still can&#8217;t recover the original answer,<\/strong> offer a related example: &#8220;I don&#8217;t have a perfect example of X, but a close one is\u2026&#8221; Honesty plus a real story beats fumbling for a fake-fit memory.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interviewers aren&#8217;t looking for someone who never pauses. They&#8217;re looking for someone who handles pressure with composure. A clean recovery is more impressive than a flawless answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Preparation Cuts Interview Anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most interview anxiety is uncertainty in disguise. You&#8217;re not actually scared of the conversation. You&#8217;re scared of the things you haven&#8217;t thought through. Preparation closes those gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Focus on four areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Know yourself.<\/strong> Re-read your own resume out loud. Have 5\u20137 concrete stories ready, each tied to a strength: leadership, conflict, failure, technical chops, impact. If you have gaps in your employment history, prepare one honest sentence for each.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Know the role.<\/strong> Re-read the job description. For every bullet in &#8220;requirements,&#8221; have a real example from your past that maps to it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Know the company.<\/strong> Their product, their recent news, their mission, and one specific reason you want to work there beyond the salary. Skim recent earnings calls or press if they&#8217;re public.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Know the interviewer.<\/strong> A quick LinkedIn check tells you their background, tenure, and whether you share any connections. Don&#8217;t bring it up unprompted. But if it comes up naturally, you&#8217;ve already done the homework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Body Language and What Hiring Managers Notice First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ve probably seen the claim that &#8220;70% of communication is non-verbal.&#8221; That number is a misreading of Albert Mehrabian&#8217;s 1960s research, which was specifically about communicating emotions, not all communication. So don&#8217;t let it scare you. Your words still matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, body language genuinely matters in the first 30 seconds. Hiring managers form initial impressions early, and research from the University of Toledo has shown that those quick impressions correlate surprisingly well with final hiring decisions. So make the opening count:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A firm handshake or a confident greeting on video.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eye contact, but not a stare. Look at the bridge of their nose if direct eye contact unnerves you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An open posture \u2014 uncrossed arms, slight forward lean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A small smile when you sit down. Warmth disarms tension on both sides.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mock Interviews: The Most Underused Fix<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost every candidate underuses this. A mock interview with a friend, a former colleague, or a coach turns abstract dread into concrete reps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t need a polished setup. Five questions, asked aloud, answered aloud, with honest feedback. Record yourself if you can stand it. The first time you hear yourself, you&#8217;ll cringe. By the third time, you&#8217;ll be noticeably better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For senior roles, do at least one mock with someone who&#8217;ll push back hard. Easy mocks build false confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Interview Anxiety Crosses Into Something Bigger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most pre-interview nerves are normal and pass within a day or two. But if your anxiety is preventing you from applying to jobs in the first place, causing panic attacks, or wrecking your sleep for weeks at a time, that&#8217;s worth taking seriously. A therapist \u2014 particularly one trained in cognitive-behavioural therapy \u2014 can help with performance anxiety in a few sessions. Reaching out for support is a strength move, not a weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ: Interview Anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it normal to feel anxious before an interview?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. The overwhelming majority of job seekers report some level of interview anxiety, regardless of seniority or experience. Senior leaders feel it too. They&#8217;ve just had more practice masking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I stop shaking during an interview?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shaking is adrenaline looking for somewhere to go. Discharge it before you walk in: take a brisk two-minute walk, do ten push-ups in a bathroom stall, or shake out your hands and shoulders deliberately. Once you&#8217;re in the room, plant your feet, press your fingertips gently together in your lap, and slow your breath. The shake usually fades within the first 90 seconds of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I tell the interviewer I&#8217;m nervous?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can \u2014 briefly and once. A simple &#8220;I&#8217;ll admit I&#8217;m a little nervous, this role really matters to me&#8221; can humanise you. But don&#8217;t keep returning to it, and don&#8217;t use it as a hedge before every answer. Mention it, move on, perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does interview anxiety last?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most people, it spikes 24\u201348 hours before the interview, peaks in the 30 minutes before, and fades within the first 5\u201310 minutes of the actual conversation, once your brain registers the situation is survivable. Post-interview rumination (the &#8220;I should have said\u2026&#8221; loop) can last a few days. That&#8217;s normal too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can interview anxiety cost me the job?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can if it stops you from communicating clearly, or if it reads as a lack of confidence in your own qualifications. It rarely costs you the job on its own. Interviewers expect candidates to be nervous. What loses jobs is unprepared answers, not visible nerves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s the single best last-minute calming technique?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4-7-8 breathing, done four times in your car before you walk in. It&#8217;s free, takes under two minutes, and has a measurable effect on your heart rate. If you only do one thing from this article, do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Last Word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ve worked hard to get this interview. Your resume opened the door. Your experience is real. The room you&#8217;re walking into isn&#8217;t a courtroom \u2014 it&#8217;s a conversation between two adults trying to figure out if you should work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interview anxiety is part of caring. Channel it into preparation, breathe through the spikes, and remember that the interviewer wants you to do well. They have a role to fill, and the easiest outcome for them is for you to be the right person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Show up early, breathe slow, plant your feet, and tell the truth about your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ve got this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interview Anxiety &#8211; Know How to get your nerves under control<\/p>\n<p>This article is going to cover several strategies on how to get your interview anxiety under control. It will also provide you with a step by step plan on how to stop worrying and start sleeping better so you show up in your best condition on the day of your interview.<\/p>\n<p>Most people get nervous before an interview.<\/p>\n<p>Most people get nervous before interviews, but it&#8217;s a good thing. First, it means you care enough to be prepared. You&#8217;ve done your homework and can talk intelligently about the position because you&#8217;re interested in it. Finally, it shows that you&#8217;re excited to be part of the team and want to do an excellent job for the company.<\/p>\n<p>Being nervous helps you think clearly, which is why many people will tell you not to worry so much during an interview. But in reality, being nervous is a sign that you&#8217;re preparing for the interview well and are ready for what&#8217;s next.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone is different, and so is how we can handle anxiety and fear.<\/p>\n<p>We all have different levels of anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to learn what we can do to control our anxiety levels and make the most out of it.<\/p>\n<p>Some people are more anxious than others by nature. Conversely, some people are naturally calmer than others, and yet for some people, their level of anxiety might depend on other factors.<\/p>\n<p>For example, some could be very confident public speakers but get very anxious when talking to their superiors\/bosses.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial to understand how your level of anxiety affects your performance and what you can do about it for you to perform at an optimal level.<\/p>\n<p>Some anxiety before an interview can be good.<\/p>\n<p>A little anxiety before your interview can be a good thing. A little anxiety can help you stay focused and alert, which is good during an interview. The key here is to keep your anxiety at a manageable level. Too much anxiety can be detrimental (as discussed later in this article), so it&#8217;s essential to keep it in check by focusing on the positive. If you feel anxious about your upcoming interview, try to think of things that have gone right for you recently or things you have done well to get into this situation. This will help you feel more confident and less anxious as the big day approaches.<\/p>\n<p>When trying to meet a deadline or finish a task in time, your body responds by pumping more adrenaline through the system to have the energy and focus on meeting the challenge at hand.<\/p>\n<p>However, if your anxiety is severe or causing you to panic rather than motivate, there are things you can do to control it.<\/p>\n<p>Take a deep breath &#8211; It sounds simple enough, but it&#8217;s tough to do when you\u2019re feeling anxious. Anxiety causes rapid breathing, and taking a deep breath helps slow that down and calm you. It may help to try breathing in through your nose for four counts and out through your mouth for eight counts. You can also concentrate on slowing down the pace of your breaths as much as possible. This will help calm down both your mind and body.<\/p>\n<p>Think about what you have achieved so far. If you have graduated with good grades or have an impressive resume, then this shows that you must be doing something right! Reminding yourself of all the good things in your life will make those nerves seem insignificant by comparison.<\/p>\n<p>Take your time answering questions &#8211; Don\u2019t let the interviewer rush you into responding too quickly. This isn\u2019t a game show where speed wins, so make sure they know there are no time limits! Ask them to repeat the question if necessary, or ask them if they wouldn&#8217;t mind clarifying their question before answering (and don&#8217;t worry about sounding dense for asking for clarification).<\/p>\n<p>It may help take some practice interviews with friends or family members who won\u2019t mind helping out by asking questions similar to those that might come up in an actual interview situation since this will get you more used to being under pressure and able to cope with it better.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Speak slowly and clearly.<\/p>\n<p>When you are nervous, you may tend to babble. This can be a real problem if the interviewer cannot understand what you are saying. Speak slowly and clearly. Don\u2019t be afraid to pause and take a breath between phrases and sentences. If you get stuck or don\u2019t know how to answer a question, it is better to pause than to overfill the silence with verbal filler (e.g., Uhm, well, so\u2026).<\/p>\n<p>Breathe!<\/p>\n<p>As you become more aware of your breathing and learn to regulate it, you&#8217;re sure to notice your physical symptoms dissipating. This will help you feel calmer, which can help make you appear calm and composed to your interviewer. Other techniques for calming yourself down include keeping your voice level and steady, avoiding fidgeting with your hands or tapping on the desk, keeping your feet planted squarely on the floor, and taking care not to slouch in your chair.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget that practice makes perfect! As you do more interviews, these tips will become second nature\u2014so take a moment before every interview session to check in with yourself and get ready for a good conversation!<\/p>\n<p>Find a way to relax when everyone else seems busy doing other important things.<\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s one thing that\u2019s guaranteed to make you feel more nervous before an interview, it\u2019s hanging around in a room full of other people waiting for interviews. But, of course, that doesn\u2019t mean you should get up and leave; if you do, your interviewer will assume that you were too anxious to stay and wait outside instead.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, try doing something calming while you wait. For example,  listen to music with headphones on (not so loud as to disturb others but loud enough so that it drowns out their conversations). If you don\u2019t have a way of playing music on your phone, bring a book or crossword puzzle. Or grab some paper and draw, it shows you are creative.<\/p>\n<p>You can also meditate, write in a journal, walk (if the building allows), or do some  stretches. Observe your surroundings. Repeat until the interviewer comes out looking for you. Just remember not to fall asleep!<\/p>\n<p>Know the job description<\/p>\n<p>Knowing the job description is essential for many reasons. First, you can ensure that you are genuinely qualified. Next, you will determine if this is the right job for you by knowing the requirements and how they fit into your skillset. Finally, understanding what the interviewer is looking for in an employee will help you ace your interview with limited anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>You should study and understand your target company&#8217;s needs and objectives to match them with your qualifications during your interview.<\/p>\n<p>Know your resume<\/p>\n<p>Many people have trouble keeping track of their resumes and their contents. When you are under pressure, it can be difficult to remember some things that should be included in your resume.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some problems you might face:<\/p>\n<p>First, you do not remember all the duties you performed at your job.<\/p>\n<p>Second, you have more than one version of your resume and do not know which is correct or up-to-date.<\/p>\n<p>Third, you cannot remember if specific jobs or experiences are on your current resume.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, you have a gap in your employment history that you do not know how to explain (this is especially important).<\/p>\n<p>The best way to deal with interview anxiety is by solving these issues before going into an interview. Here&#8217;s what you can do:<\/p>\n<p>If there is a possibility that you have an old version of your resume somewhere, take the time to update it so that it will match the new one. If there are things on the old version that aren&#8217;t on the new one, add them; if there are things on the new version that isn&#8217;t on the old one, add those too. Make sure everything matches up with what&#8217;s in your head! To avoid this problem altogether, use only one copy of your resume for everything and keep track of what has been changed and updated to make sure it changes everywhere else as well!<\/p>\n<p>Study about the company<\/p>\n<p>Before your interview, it is imperative to study the company you will work for.<\/p>\n<p>Take time to go through the company&#8217;s website thoroughly and read about their products and services.<\/p>\n<p>Check out their latest news on the home page and the About Us section so that you can be up-to-date with whatever is happening in that organisation.<\/p>\n<p>Also, have a look at their mission statement. This will help you understand what they stand for and let you know if you agree with it.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also a good idea to do a Google search for the company and see what other people are saying about them (good or bad).<\/p>\n<p>In addition, check out their social media pages &#8211; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. These would give you information about how they interact with people outside of the organisation.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, if possible, review any financial reports or economic outlooks on which your business model relies to be prepared for an in-depth conversation about this subject matter during your interview.<\/p>\n<p>Research about the interviewer<\/p>\n<p>One of the best ways to get to know your interviewer is to find out about them and their professional background. You can do this by:<\/p>\n<p>Googling their name or company<\/p>\n<p>Searching for them on LinkedIn (if you have access)<\/p>\n<p>Reviewing any part of their resume that was shared with you<\/p>\n<p>Practice and prepare yourself<\/p>\n<p>There is a lot you can do to prepare yourself for an interview, so take the time to make sure your body, mind and soul are ready.<\/p>\n<p>Expect questions like &#8220;Tell me about yourself&#8221;, &#8220;What&#8217;s your greatest weakness?&#8221; or &#8220;Where do you see yourself in 5 years?&#8221; These questions are classic and, therefore, easy to prepare for. Practice giving answers aloud that describe who you are and what you want to get out of this position. You can also practice answering more random questions with no correct answer per se. For example, if they ask you something like, &#8220;If you were a fruit, what kind would you be?&#8221; take some time thinking it through! Of course, you wouldn&#8217;t expect a question like that in an interview, but thinking on your feet is an important skill.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure to practice your body language as well. As much as 70% of communication is non-verbal, so it makes sense that practising proper posture, eye contact, and handshakes will help convince them more than just saying the right words. Most people tend to lean forward when excited about something; if leaning back indicates boredom and lack of interest, don&#8217;t be afraid to let them know how enthusiastic you are about this opportunity!<\/p>\n<p>Prepare a list of questions for the interviewer.<\/p>\n<p>Interview anxiety is a common phenomenon among people of all ages. Asking for extra time for the interview is one of the ways to deal with your anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer about the company, position and responsibilities. Begin with general questions about the company, such as information about its products or services, size or location and any other fact you found by researching their website. Then, when you move on to ask specific questions related to that position, ask specific questions. Generally speaking, it makes sense not to ask &#8220;Who are your main competitors?&#8221; because this information can be easily retrieved online; instead, try to make sure that your interviewer knows if you have an interest in the industry by asking detailed questions regarding how they work in comparison with other companies.<\/p>\n<p>Dress according to the interview<\/p>\n<p>For the most part, when you&#8217;re interviewing for a new position at a company, you should stick to the basics. A tailored suit is almost always appropriate for interviews. Wearing a suit will immediately impact your interviewer and show them that you are serious about wanting to join their company and take your job seriously. Wearing a professional outfit will also help you feel more confident in yourself. If wearing a suit doesn&#8217;t seem like something that would be common at the company where you&#8217;re interviewing, opt for business casual attire instead. Depending on the season, that generally means dress pants or khakis, paired with either a button-down shirt or polo shirt worn under a sweater or blazer.<\/p>\n<p>Go prepared with a pen, notepad, copies of your resume and other documents you may need during the interview.<\/p>\n<p>An interview is a formal meeting where the interviewer will be looking at how well you present yourself. This means that you need to dress appropriately, carry a pen and notepad, and have copies of your resume, certificates, and portfolio ready. The pen should be black or blue, not red, as this shows that you are prepared and ready for the interview.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to your resume, don&#8217;t forget to read through it carefully before the interview. You should know all your achievements by heart because you may need to cite them during the interview. In addition, if the employer asks what kind of experience or skill sets you have, you will be able to answer confidently if you have reviewed them in advance.<\/p>\n<p>Get plenty of sleep the night before your interview (but not so much that you oversleep.)<\/p>\n<p>Before your interview, note the time you have to be there. Estimate how long it will take you to get ready in the morning, and then set your alarm for an hour or so before that (aim for a generous buffer). If you\u2019re nervous about oversleeping, ask a friend or family member to call you when you need to wake up.<\/p>\n<p>Try to get a whole night\u2019s sleep (but not so much that you oversleep)\u2014a restless night will only increase your stress and anxiety levels. If possible, avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening\u2014both can interrupt sleep patterns.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s a morning interview, don\u2019t rush yourself. Get up early enough that you have time to shower and get ready without feeling hurried or stressed. Use this extra time to relax\u2014do some deep breathing exercises or listen to calming music as part of your morning routine.<\/p>\n<p>Stay hydrated on the day of your interview.<\/p>\n<p>Drink a glass of water before you start. Do not hesitate to ask for water if needed during the interview.<\/p>\n<p>Avoid coffee, tea and energy drinks on the day of your interview.<\/p>\n<p>Avoid alcohol on the day of your interview.<\/p>\n<p>Avoid sugary drinks like cola and fizzy drinks before an interview.<\/p>\n<p>Get there early, so you have time to settle in before the actual interview starts.<\/p>\n<p>Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the interview location. First, allow plenty of time to find the building. If you&#8217;re unsure where the building is, use a GPS or call the company and ask for specific directions. It&#8217;s also essential to give yourself enough time to find parking and then go to the bathroom before your interview starts. You&#8217;ll want to do this as rushing increases feelings of anxiety and nervousness.<\/p>\n<p>With proper preparation, interview nerves shouldn&#8217;t bother you too much<\/p>\n<p>To put yourself at ease, do your research about the company and the job. A few examples:<\/p>\n<p>What makes this company unique?<\/p>\n<p>What is the job description? Why was it posted in the first place? How will you make a difference in this role, and why?<\/p>\n<p>Practice a mock interview where you speak aloud to answer common interview questions. There are many resources online that provide sample responses to commonly asked questions. In addition, watch videos on YouTube of hiring managers interviewing people for jobs. This will give you a sense of what happens during an interview and what is expected of you as an interviewer. You may want to practice with a friend or family member.<\/p>\n<p>A well-prepared candidate is a confident candidate.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll be asked, &#8220;What do you know about our company?&#8221; So prepare by reading through the employer&#8217;s website and press coverage about the company to get a feel for its goals, culture and challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Bring a notebook and pen to take notes during your interview. This is a sign of professionalism, but it will also help you stay focused on what is being said instead of trying to remember key points from the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Arrive early to fill out any necessary paperwork, relax and collect your thoughts before meeting with the interviewer. Missing an interview because of traffic or other transportation issues would be unfortunate, mainly due to poor planning.<\/p>\n<p>It may seem obvious but arrive at your interview dressed appropriately (and freshly showered) according to industry standards for the role you seek.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ve worked hard to land this interview, so take the time to plan out any last-minute details! The more prepared you are going into an interview\u2014especially if it&#8217;s your first\u2014the more confident and relaxed you will be when meeting with hiring managers.<\/p>\n<p>Conclusion: If you have interview anxiety, the best thing to do is try your best to avoid negative thinking. It may help to talk about your problem with someone that you trust, and even seeking professional guidance can help if it&#8217;s offered, but ultimately you&#8217;re the one in control of your thoughts. You can think positively or negatively, no one else can do that for you. Just remember the old saying: &#8220;fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>If you think you did something wrong, then ask yourself: what&#8217;s my purpose statement here? What can I take away from this experience? While it is okay to be nervous, we always get what we focus on &#8211; so don&#8217;t focus on nerves, focus on your performance, presentation and above all else, be yourself!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,10],"tags":[176,187,195,220,223,265],"class_list":["post-2893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interview-preparation","category-interview-tips","tag-how-to-control-anxiety-during-an-interview","tag-how-to-get-interview-anxiety-under-control","tag-how-to-relax-before-an-interview","tag-interview-anxiety","tag-interview-preparation","tag-nervous-during-an-interview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}