Guys, I’m going to be real with you for a minute. I am a very anxious person. I don’t know if there is really a way that you could discern that just by reading my writing, but if you know me, it wouldn’t take you long to figure it out. I’ve been able to ease my worry in many scenarios by remembering that a lot of the people that have negative opinions about you can’t do anything to negatively impact your life. This isn’t to say I don’t still try to be a sociable guy, but not everyone is going to like you. That’s just a sad truth that eventually you’re going to learn in life.
This solution doesn’t exactly work for interviews, however. In an interview setting, the opinion of a person you are meeting for the first time is pretty much the deciding factor in whether or not you get a job. First impressions are always important, but I know that some of my friends are people who I did not like the first time I met them. When you don’t make a great first impression in social settings, people’s impression of you can change and get better by spending more time with you. With someone conducting your interview, you have a short window of time to make a good impression on someone that can change the next 10 years of your life. If you are a person who gets anxious, this can definitely be something that spikes your worry.
I want to share with you some of the methods I use to reduce my anxiety when getting ready for an important interview. Starting with remembering that companies who are hiring are looking for reasons to hire you not working against you trying to keep you from getting hired. The people interviewing you were in your shoes at one point and went through countless interviews themselves. I also make sure to stay rational. Not getting a job is a sucky feeling, but it’s not the end of the world.
I remind myself of all of these things as I’m getting ready for the interview. This helps to keep the interview in perspective of what it really is. Your portfolio is going to pull a lot of the weight for you if you do good work. All you have to do is be personable, so the interviewer doesn’t have anything negative to say about you. Answering the questions well and being easy to talk to will go a long way.
You can better prepare yourself for the interview by researching the company. Learn their mission statement and some background of the company’s history. This will make you seem knowledgeable and come across as a better fit for the company. Prepare questions for the interviewer. When they ask if you have any, you won’t have to stop and think, you will be prepared with questions in hand.
If you remind yourself that the interview isn’t life or death and prepare yourself appropriately, your nerves during interviews should begin to subside. If you’re still nervous remember to take deep breaths and think positive thoughts. What are some techniques you use to reduce stress?
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