Tips for Interview Success
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Preparing for the Interview
One of the best ways to reduce interview stress is to be properly prepared for your interview. Make sure you have thought about and practiced your answers to common job interview questions, prepared good questions to ask the interviewer and worked out how you will handle any difficult topics that may come up.
Before the job interview think about the things that stress you and put some coping mechanisms in place. If you are anxious about finding the company make sure you have the correct directions and have worked out your route beforehand. If you are concerned, make a practice run.
Making lists of what needs to be done helps reduce stress. Prepare a list of what you need to do to be ready for the job interview and check the items off as you complete them.
This way you can go to bed the night before the job interview knowing you have prepared everything and get a good night's sleep.
Stress and anxiety that occurs during the interview can also be managed. Use these stress-management techniques and tips for interview success to keep calm when it counts!
Arrive at the Right Time
You should plan to arrive about 10 minutes before your interview time. Arriving too early means you have too much time to sit and worry before the interview, having to rush and arriving late causes unnecessary stress.
Use Visualization
Before your job interview you can use visualization techniques to help you relax. This involves closing your eyes, breathing deeply and picturing yourself confidently and calmly greeting the interviewer, answering the interviewer's questions fluently and establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Remind yourself that the interview is not an interrogation, the interviewer wants to see you succeed.
Physically Relax
On the way to the interview and while you wait practice smiling! Smiling releases endorphines which the body uses to reduce stress. Take a deep breath, slowly breathe out and smile!
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To reduce stress during the interview breathe deeply and regularly. Keep your posture straight, with your legs crossed at the ankles or feet flat on the floor. This ensures you come across as relaxed and composed. Hunching in your chair or crossing your arms or legs makes you look nervous. Practice sitting in a position that you feel comfortable and confident in with your hands held loosely in a relaxed fashion. Be aware of signs of anxiety and stress during the interview such as jaw clenching or face rubbing and correct these. |
Acting and looking confident by sending the right message with your body language, even if you are not feeling confident, helps you to feel in control. Your posture, what you do with your hands, looking directly at the interviewer and maintaining eye contact will affect your mindset and how you perform in the job interview.
Voice Delivery
One of the best tips for interview success and a good technique to manage stress is simply to pause before answering questions. This gives you a chance to breathe and organize your thoughts. Speak slowly and calmly.
If you feel yourself starting to panic, pause and take a deep breath. Regain your focus and continue. Usually the interviewer will not notice a quick 10 second pause and this way you get your anxiety under control before it gets worse.
Overcoming stress and anxiety is a key factor in making the right impression during your job interview. These tips for interview success will increase your confidence and reduce your nervousness, helping you come across as the winning job candidate!
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