| Your heart is beating faster than usual, your hands | | | | anxiety. |
| feel clammy, your mouth is so dry it feels like you | | | | Preparation before the interview |
| have cotton inside – and your supposed to feel | | | | These are competitive times and you should steel |
| confident. Are you going to an interview or a torture | | | | yourself to expect some rejection. Think about it this |
| session? The answer is – "it's all in your | | | | way, "Did you get a marriage proposal after every |
| perspective." | | | | date?" Well, you probably aren't going to get a job |
| Ideally you would sit poised thumbing through a | | | | offer after every interview. |
| magazine, feeling relaxed as you wait your turn to | | | | For every job you apply for there are more than |
| have a conversation with the interviewer for the | | | | likely three to four equally qualified candidates in line |
| company. Think about it - what do you have to lose | | | | for the same job. Whether you stand out from "the |
| here? What's the worst thing that can happen? What | | | | crowd" will depend on your preparation and ability to |
| if you don't get this job - is the world going to stop | | | | show confidence in yourself – believing that you |
| turning? I realize of course, that bills must be paid, | | | | are the "best candidate for this job." How can you |
| but you are taking the wrong approach if you are | | | | possibly sell anyone anything if you don't believe in it |
| going to come across as desperate – "Please, | | | | yourself? |
| please, hire me." Interviewers smell fear. | | | | Preparation will make you feel more confident and |
| A change in thinking | | | | less anxious. Can you imagine giving a performance |
| The first, and most important step is to change the | | | | without some practice and preparation? "Winging" the |
| way that you view the interview. This is not an | | | | interview in today's market is a big mistake. |
| appointment with the dentist who may inflict pain. It | | | | Fear of Rejection |
| is a conversation with another person. What is the | | | | You may have had a number of interviews with no |
| worst thing that can happen as a result of the | | | | offer. You may be feeling defeated, and it's beginning |
| interview? You won't get the job, which may not | | | | to affect your-self esteem. |
| have been the right job for you anyway. | | | | This would be true of anyone. But it is a mistake to |
| Secondly, this is a conversation - a two-way process. | | | | take it personally. There are so many factors that |
| You will be interviewing them as much as they are | | | | could be affecting the offer that it is impossible to |
| interviewing you. Is there a good fit here – both | | | | say what is happening. There may be internal |
| ways? What looks good on paper may not be what | | | | candidates, relatives promised jobs, a competitor |
| it appears – for either party. It will be part of | | | | who is a perfect match for the job, a lack of |
| your job during the interview to investigate whether | | | | chemistry between you and the new boss, a |
| this a good place for you, and whether you want to | | | | mismatch in salary needs, etc., etc. |
| invest a significant part of your life here. When you | | | | Let it go |
| are not checking them out and what they have to | | | | Give yourself credit for getting an interview – |
| offer you are missing an opportunity that you may | | | | only a small percentage of people get this far in the |
| regret later. | | | | process. Give yourself credit for going out there and |
| Calming techniques | | | | putting yourself on the line, even though it is painful |
| One of the best techniques to handle stress is | | | | for you. Give yourself permission to not get job |
| through breathing. Take deliberate, shallow breaths. | | | | offers. Believe that an offer will come through when |
| Take air in through the nostrils and exhale quietly | | | | it is the right offer – the right fit for the |
| through your mouth. This is a technique that should | | | | company and for you. Take the control back and |
| be practiced as a relaxation technique before the | | | | reject the feeling of fear. |
| interview so that your body gets used to slowing | | | | When you have done everything to prepare for the |
| down the breathing process and relaxing. | | | | interview, and you are satisfied that you can present |
| Relaxation techniques such as yoga, and meditation | | | | yourself in the best light possible, the next step is for |
| classes, are recommended for anyone who has an | | | | you to let it go. You can learn something from each |
| extreme case of "interview fright." The interview can | | | | interview. Learn to enjoy meeting new people and |
| cause panic attacks if the fear is strong enough. | | | | having new experiences. Who knows you may even |
| Pre-conditioning will do wonders for this type of | | | | grow to like interviewing. |