Despite the confidence you know you should have because you are a graduate of the RAPP school, you know that you are going to feel nervous waiting for that interviewer's door to open. YOU may feel like your mind is a blank, your deodorant is not working, and you have forgotten how to speak. Never fear. What follows are five very simple strategies for dealing with the jitters even as you wait to be interviewed.
Tip #1: Take a deep breath
Sounds too simple to work, right? Try it. Take a deep breath. Hold k. Then consciously release your breath. Do this at least five times. By then you will feel that you are more in control of your breathing.
When your breathing is nice and regular, the pounding in your heart that tells you that you are really nervous takes comfort and calms down. When you concentrate on your breathing, you forget about some of the details that clutter your mind and shake your spirit.
Tip #2: Smile
You remember the old song, "Whenever I feel afraid. ..." You will not be able to whistle a happy song in the interviewer's reception area or office, but you can smile. Medical research indicates that when you smile you exercise the muscles in your face, which actually helps you relax.
If you have never looked at yourself when you smile, go to that mirror again. Smile into the mirror. Smile until it feels natural and not artificial - not a goofy smile but a simple, pleasant smile. The worry lines in your forehead automatically go into hiding when you smile.
When you smile you elicit a more positive response from the person you're interacting with. Smile while you wait. Greet the receptionist and the interviewer with a smile. You and they will feel better about you.
Tip #3: Stretch
I'm not talking about a major workout here - just some simple things you can do in your chair while you wait for the interview to begin. All of them can be done unobtrusively while you sit in the reception area.
- Close your eyes and rotate your neck in a full circle if possible. Do this clockwise twice and then counterclockwise.
- Press the palms of your hands together to feel isometric pressure. Hold the pressure for five seconds and release. Do it again until you feel more relaxed.
- Pull in your abdomen muscles while you practice deep breathing. Hold your abdomen tight while you inhale deeply. Hold that breath for two or three seconds before exhaling. Relax your abdomen. Begin again.
- Fold your arms across your chest and stretch your shoulder and neck muscles by pulling them outward and rotating them to the extent that you can do so unobtrusively
Tip #4: Recognize the power of affirmations
Remember the story of the Little Engine That Could? He tackled a very difficult task and kept repeating the words "I think I can, I think I can" to help motivate himself and get his rhythm.
You too can send a positive message to yourself when you remember the story of that Little Engine. Repeat the words "I know I can, I know I can" until you find your rhythm and you believe what you are telling yourself.
YOU have every reason to believe that you will do well in this interview. And even if this interview does not result in this particular job, the skills and practice you gain here are a bonus for the next time.
Tip #5: Stay in touch
I remember going to a seminar, and the presenter made the comment that even if no one in the audience liked him or appreciated his remarks, he would still be loved and respected by his wife and that gave him the courage to continue.
Within those remarks lurks a lesson for everyone. You may feel nervous and alone waking for that interview. Understandably, you do not want to disappoint yourself or your family or friends by messing up an interview. But the very people or person you do not want to disappoint is a great source of strength for you.
Go to your heart and touch base with a person who loves and respects you. That person has confidence in you. When you feel afraid or inadequate, you can connect with the energy and confidence of the person who supports you. Just say that person's name to yourself. You will feel calmed and more confident.
Being Realistic
One sure way to be nervous about an interview is to build it up into a monumental experience that would take a superhero to conquer. Do not make an interview a life or death kind of experience no matter how much you think you want a particular job, or how long you have been unemployed, or how desperate you feel.
Setting realistic goals for yourself and for this first interview are important to putting things in perspective. Your goals can include any of the following: Certainly you want to make a good impression on the interviewer, you want to get additional information about the particular job and the company, you want to be invited back for a second interview, and you would like to get some feedback about your status as a job candidate. (You may want to add your own goals to this list as well.)
If you accomplish these goals, your first interview will have been a success. You will have plenty of reason to feel good about yourself, your ability to handle the jitters, and your interviewing skills.
Making a good impression
Your entrance and your exit for the interview are probably the most important impressions you will make. Look at the following checklist and try to predict how the interviewer would evaluate you.
- Appearance. How did you look? Did you appear confident, healthy, and informed?
- Body language. Do your posture and gestures communicate self-assurance and ease with other people? Do you have annoying gestures or nervous habits? How's your handshake and smile?
- Mannerisms. What do you do with your hands and feet when you are nervous? Are you aware of repeated gestures or facial expressions that might be annoying?
- Expressions. What cliches do you often repeat as fillers or transitions? How often do you use them? Do you use "ah" and "uh" or "you know"?
- Personal skills. How did you do with names? How will you try to remember people in the company? Did you come across as warm, competent, and comfortable with others?