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4 Tips to De-stress Your Pre-Interview Jitters
Job Seeker
You’ve
studied all the most common interview questions, researched the company
through and through, been awaiting and practicing for the moment to
interview for this company and now it’s finally here. Except, now the
anxiety also starts to creep in. It’s no fault of anyone, interviews can
be a stressful situation. Here are 4 things you can try to calm your
pre-interview nerves:
Avoid negative thinking and focus on success.
Stress
around your interview is typically influenced by assumptions, and the
thoughts we tell ourselves about the process. Identifying these thoughts
and countering them can help lower levels of anxiety. Some negative
thoughts might include “I have to land this job, or I will be unemployed forever,” “there’s no way I’m qualified for this job,” or “If I mess up one question I’m toast and will never be hired.” Many
athletic and job coaches believe that visualizing images of success can
improve performance and ultimately alleviate anxiety.
Eat a good breakfast (or lunch).
A
great interview starts with a great meal. For most, this means going
the healthy route with a meal that will boost their energy. For others,
it might be indulging in a favorite comfort food. There’s no wrong
answer, just be sure you’ll stay satisfied and your stomach won’t be
growling while trying to give solid interview answers.
Go for a walk and/or listen to a motivational playlist.
Fresh
air does everyone a bit of good. Getting outside physically will help
get outside of your own head. Movement and music are great ways to
instantly get you into a place of confidence. Pick a favorite song that
will connect you to your best self, experience power in the moment, and
walk into your interview with a confidant attitude.
Plan something for afterwards.
You
might not be looking forward to having a stressful two-hour
conversation with a stranger, but plan something nice for after that
will help you power through. It could be a relaxing massage, a date with
a friend, or maybe just a trip to the park with your dog. Whatever it
is, have it prepared for when you are done and allow yourself to focus
on something joyful.
The
most important thing to remember is if you don’t land the job, there
will be another one. It just wasn’t meant to be. Consider it a learning
experience and move forward to the next opportunity.