The big day is coming up! After countless hours of hard work and preparation, you are finally ready for an extensive interview at your dream company. You can either make it or break it for your career.
But there is a problem! You are anxious and fearful as you do not know what will happen in the interview. In such time, you are looking for the most effective ways to cope with interview anxiety and overcome the fear and nervousness of a job interview.
If YES, continue reading as this interview guide will take you to the SEVEN most effective and practical ways by which you can eliminate the fear and nervousness of a job interview in a matter of seconds.
But before moving on to the 7 successful ways, know that the feeling of nervousness and anxiousness in the interview is normal. According to a recent survey, 73% of people said they feel nervous about a job interview. So, if you suffer from this, keep your worries calm, as you are not alone. If you truly understand it, half of your fear of job interviews will already be gone.
7 Tips to Overcome Fear and Nervousness of Job Interview
Now, let’s come to our 7-step formula for overcoming the fear and nervousness of Job Interviews.
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Stop Every Negative Thought That Comes to Your Mind
When you are nervous and feeling down, the mind starts generating negative thoughts that can further indulge you in the negativity. The best way to cope with it is to say ‘STOP’ to your mind whenever it gives you a negative thought.
Do not fall prey to indulging in the negative cycle because if you do, it will shake your confidence, and you will succumb too early in the interview, resulting in failure.
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Tell Your Mind You Already Know the Interview Panel
In human psychology, we feel more comfortable with the people we already know and less comfortable with the ones we are first meeting with. So, before your interview starts, try convincing your mind that you already know the persons sitting in the interview panel.
If you can’t convince, try to act and behave like you already know the interview panel. This, too, will give you a sense of confidence for the interview.
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Prepare Your Answers and Examples Before Interview Starts
We always feel less intimidated by things that we have already prepared. So, prepare a list of the most anticipated questions and make sure to recall relevant examples as well.
For example, a common question in the corporate sector is to tell your experience when faced with a difficult situation. For this question, you must have prepared one or two examples to ensure you do not have to recall them on the spot.
You can get a list of predictable questions from this link.
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Give an Honest Self Talk
Honest self-talk can boost your motivation level many folds. You can do this by finding a quiet place and talking loudly or talking in your head. In your self-talk, remind yourself that you are smart, you are more prepared, more qualified, and probably more enthusiastic for this position. Also, count all your traits and positive points that make you a more competitive and deserving candidate than all the others in the competition.
This self-affirmation will not only give a boost to your confidence but also generate positive energy in your body that will take you motivated in the interview room.
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Keep a Meaningful Smile on Your Face
This may sound similar to many, but a smile is an anti-stresser in the body. When you smile, your whole body muscles relax and release positive energy. This is why a smile is often linked to better health.
Smiling also makes you more confident, even when you are faking it. And if you maintain it during your interview, it keeps your nerves calm and composed. A smile is also the best tool to leave a good impression on the hiring manager. So, make sure you have a smiling face in your important interview.
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Give Leading Answers to Interview Questions
Remember that you cannot answer every question that is being asked. Some questions are asked to check how you react when you do not know the answer to a question. But the problem arises when you do not know the answer to a couple of consecutive questions. If this happens, you will lose your confidence no matter how much you have practiced.
To avoid this, always give leading answers – answers that lead the interview panel to your favorite topics. For instance, if you are interested in talking about leadership, lead your answers to leadership, so the next questions are asked about it. This way, you can make the interview easier – just like you wanted.
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Visualize Yourself in the Interview Room
Visualization can take you anywhere you’ve always wanted to land. This time, make the interview room your destination and think about your interview process going smoothly.
Try to map in your mind how the questions are being asked and how you are answering them in a more convincing and friendly tone. This will bring the power of positive thinking into play, and your mind will be convinced of the positive results. Once it is convinced, your fear and nervousness will fall apart.
These seven steps on overcoming the fear and nervousness of a job interview, if applied right, can make your interview experience the most memorable and effective one. But make sure you are prepared enough and have the required knowledge and skills for the job. If you do not have the job knowledge and relevant experience, no interview can help you secure your interview.
Conclusion
Treat your interview as a normal conversation; do not let it occupy your brain. If it does, you will already fail before the interview starts. Just keep things regular and keep preparing for them with these seven steps. Remember to do this in front of a mirror or in private before appearing for the actual interview – only if you want maximum results.
If you take these seven steps right, you will ace your interview anyway!