3 Ways to calm yourself and ace that interview

Everyone is nervous at job interviews: some can handle the stress extremely well, but many struggle to perform their best. You may be a manager with decades of experience, an ambitious career starter, or a career changer, most are terrified just by the thought of a job interview. According to experts, nervousness in such situations is not unfounded at all, and it is particularly disturbing because it affects one of our most basic triggers, our fear of rejection. Stress levels, however, can be reduced consciously.

As recruiters, our job includes making sure that candidates are prepared for each interview opportunity they get. Our team members have multiple interviews a day, so it’s safe to say we have come across many candidates with anxiety, and developed foolproof solutions to ease it a bit. The list below summarises some of our best (not-that-obvious) tips:

1. Use your social network to your advantage!

If you know us here at IseeQ , you know that we love and value our network, so it’s no surprise our first tip is networking-related. We are social beings by nature, and constantly monitor the reactions of those around us. This is an effective way to learn about dangers and opportunities, determined by our genes for centuries. But how does this affect the job search process? Sixty-five percent of employees interview for companies others recommended to them, and in most of the cases, candidates are recommended to the company by current employees. The mere fact that someone recommended you is social feedback to the interviewer. It shows that someone already working in the company appreciates you and thinks you’re a great fit.

If we conclude that starting without connections is a huge disadvantage in a job interview we are making a huge mistake. You can build social confirmation of our values ​​for ourselves during the job interview. There are two ways to do this: On the one hand, you can talk about how we worked with our superiors, key decision makers, and clients in your work. You don’t necessarily have to mention names, but it’s good to make it clear to the interviewer that your staff and bosses appreciated our efforts.

On the other hand, once you get to the job interview, take the opportunity and give the interviewer a letter of recommendation from your previous boss, mentor, even a former teacher, or the leader of your volunteer organization. Make sure the name is well known, or the letter details our abilities and motivation.

2. Imagine yourself crushing that interview beforehand!

The visualization technique is regularly used in the world of sports and in the world of acting or media. The method is simple: prepare yourself to achieve the goal by imagining it. Try to be as specific as possible, visualizing every detail, questions and answers.

Find a quiet, peaceful place to relax and then imagine the interview situation. Who will surround you? Who will be the questioner? How do we answer a difficult question? How do we calm ourselves down when we start to get tense? The sharper we can imagine, the more successful the technique is. In reality, visualization is nothing more than preparation: we imagine the challenges we will face, and then our minds find creative solutions to overcome them. Research has shown that mental exercise is just as effective as physical training, and the two together help us best to achieve our best potential.

3. Talk to yourself in a positive, uplifting tone.

Yeah, we know. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true: Researchers have shown that the best way to predict success or failure is to observe one’s style of “conversation” with oneself, that is, whether one’s thoughts are negative or positive in tone. The connection is clear: how we look at our circumstances affects how we feel, and this ultimately affects our performance.

When we think of a job interview, you should emphasize the opportunity in the offer in your thoughts and look forward to the future with hope and joy. Think about how many new opportunities your next job will offer and what gates it may be able to open up for you. If you are a career starter, try not to see your lack of experience, but the fact that learning the secrets of your profession is ahead of you, and it holds a lot of happy moments and success stories.

We are aware of how important and stressful the process can be, and understand that it’s not easy to relax. Nevertheless, practice makes perfect! We promise you that you will be able to overcome your fears in no time and will be able to handle interviews like a pro! IseeQ wishes you lots of luck and successful interviews!