How To Deal With Job Interview Stress

2 years ago

Sweaty hands, a lump in my stomach… Who has never felt these signs of stage fright before an interview? An apprehension that can spoil your meeting.

Among the most frequent forms of stress, we find the fear of doing badly, of losing one's means, of not making a good impression, of being less good than other candidates, or of having to talk about holes in one's CV. these fears all refer to the problem of personal identity and the way in which the person has been constructed. Those who have been comfortable in their studies and in exam situations are generally at ease in a job interview. Those with more flaws may be more impacted by stage fright if they don't prepare properly. But in any case, it works!

Prepare Your Interview Properly

Reread your application, the job offer, do some research on the company, its news ... Adjust your knowledge according to the position you want and prioritize your research: external growth, communication, values ...

Preparing for your interview saves you a good dose of stress on the big day. This helps to avoid big surprises and to arrive at the meeting more confidently. Among the basics: review frequently asked questions in interviews, find out about the company, its sector of activity, and the position. And on the practical side: bring several CVs and a pen, have in mind the name and position of the interlocutor you meet, have correctly estimated their travel time so as not to arrive late, or sweat.

Visualize Your Success

It is a concept that speaks perhaps more to the Anglo-Saxons than to us French, but let us try: the visualization of the success, to avoid the failure. The principle is simple: like in a car or a bicycle, you are generally heading, consciously or not, towards what you are looking towards. In the same way that we will avoid looking at a wall while driving, we will therefore avoid visualizing failure in maintenance or at the start of a 100m in the final of the Olympic Games. At least if you want to go to the end. Positive thinking will allow you to project yourself further, beyond the interview. Imagine leaving your interlocutor after a productive and balanced discussion. Mentally project yourself a step further in order to bring relevance to your answers and your interventions during the exchange.

Make A "Logistics" Point The Day Before

Checking the address and time of your appointment is a good way to avoid making mistakes and arriving late. Also, prepare the outfit you plan to put on, it will save you wasting time figuring out what to put on, especially if your interview takes place early in the morning. Check the transport time if it's a route you don't know much about and make sure you can deal with the unexpected, with a plan B.

Stay Focused During The Interview

So as not to lose the thread. Speak in turn with the person you are talking to. Stressed, the candidate may indeed have a tendency to monopolize the word for fear of "silences" in the conversation. Take notes if necessary, this can help you clarify some points later.

Be Active, Not Passive

Your stress is not caused by the recruiter, but by yourself and your perception of their judgment. Be yourself, as sincere as possible, and highlight what positive you can bring to the company. Doesn't this one need you? Do not hesitate to ask him why during the refusal in order to fully understand your possible weak points and work on them for the next interview.

Make Way For "Good Stress"

While too much stress can be harmful, be careful not to deny stage fright. Arriving dilettante, whistling, or with your hands in your pockets is far from desirable. Unlike paralyzing stress, “positive stress” or “average stress” corresponds to this adrenaline rush that gives us energy and makes us more motivated and convincing when we express ourselves. Dose knowingly, your stage fright can ultimately work in your favor ...

Adopt Letting Go

To relax before your job interview, you can turn to let go. Tell yourself that you are going to do your best, that your performance probably won't be perfect, and that's okay.

Letting go is accepting that you are not in control of everything and that the decision to recruit you or not to recruit you will be the responsibility of the employer you are going to meet, and not yours.

On your side, focus on what you can do ( pass your interview ), and don't waste your energy tormenting yourself. If you work at it right, you will eventually find a new job, and you have no control over how long it will take or what circumstances will arise, so don't panic unnecessarily!

Manage Your Stress With Relaxing Practices

Here are some practices you can use to relax before a job interview, but also in the office or at home if you are prone to stress.

Mindful breathing helps relieve tension: breath in through your nose deeply for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 3 seconds, then exhale all the accumulated air taking as much time as possible. Repeat this breathing exercise several times to take a break or before an important moment.

Practice meditation: set aside time for daily meditations. How to meditate? It's easy, try not to think of anything, force yourself to push away any ideas that come to you, and focus on your breathing.

Try muscle relaxation: do slow, gentle stretches by breathing deeply and thinking nothing else, and work on your posture by keeping your back straight several times a day).

Another idea: escape for a few minutes with the help of anti-stress mandala-type coloring. It will fix your attention on a simple action and help you relax.