The stress that comes along with being unemployed can be unbearable. Even worse, the more important it is to land a job, the more stressful the job interview can be. Here are a few tips to help you deal with stress during a job interview.
Practice makes perfect:
If you haven’t gone a job interview in a while, then spend some time practicing with friends or family members. Have several different people give you mock interviews. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be with the process.
Research the company you are applying to work for. Having some knowledge about the company will help you determine what they are looking for in a job candidate. If the company prides itself on professionalism and quality, highlight how you are a perfectionist, and how seriously you take your work. If they promise excellent value for their services, then highlight how you are adept at working quickly and efficiently, and are able to complete tasks on time and under budget. The more you know about the company, the better your chances at giving the answers that they are looking for.
After the interview, go over it with friends and family to determine what went right and what went wrong. If you do not get offered the position, follow up with them to find out if there was anything you could have done better, or if there was something else you could have done or said to improve your chances to get the job. While it may have already missed out on this position, it can certainly help you be better prepared for your next interview if you find out what you did wrong the last time.
Eliminate Stress During the Job Interview:
The most important way to eliminate stress during an interview is to be prepared. Ensure that you have everything that you need for the interview ready the night before. If you need directions, print them out or input the address into your GPS the night before your interview so that you don’t spend time scrambling to find them the day of. Likewise, choose what you are going to wear and make sure that you have enough time to have everything cleaned and pressed days in advance. Lay your clothes out the evening before your interview, so that you are ready to go when you wake up. Make sure to arrive at your interview early. Planning to arrive on time usually leads to being late in case something goes wrong, which will lead to stress. Ideally, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your interview, so that you have time to cool down, and plenty of time to prepare yourself.
Always dress appropriately. Even if the dress code for the job is business casual, or even casual, if you walk into an office dressed casually and all of the other candidates are dressed in business clothes and suits, you will not only stand out, but you will definitely be stressed about standing out. Alternatively, if you walk into an interview dressed in business attire and all of the other candidates are dressed casually, you will still stand out, but you will stand out as the candidate that is most determined to get the job, and the one who takes the job most seriously, which is definitely a better place to be.
If you start to feel stressed during an interview, take a deep breath. Slow, deep breathing can dramatically reduce stress. Practice the technique before the interview, so that you are prepared when the time comes.