ifg blog

How to Calm Your Nerves Before Your Interview With These Tips

No matter how much experience you have with job interviews, you may still be prone to pre-interview jitters. It is a high-pressure situation since the impression you leave with the hiring manager can determine if you land the job. However, there are steps you can take to keep your anxiety under control so you can focus on communicating your qualifications effectively. Learn more about how to calm your nerves before your interview with these tips:

Slow Down

When you are nervous, you may experience physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, shallow breathing, sweating, or shakiness, making it difficult to focus mentally on your interview responses. Reduce your body’s anxiety symptoms and relax by slowing down and observing. Take deep, slow breaths and pause before you speak to calm your mind and be more in control.

Visualize Your Success

It will likely occur if you resign to the notion that you will be a bundle of nerves during the interview. It would be best to recognize that a positive outcome is genuinely possible. Visualize your success to calm your nerves – imagine in detail your interview from start to finish playing out in an ideal way to train your mind that you have a reason to be confident you will achieve your interview goal.

Practice Motivational Self-Talk

Rather than contemplating how worried you are that you will mess up, work on getting yourself into a positive mental state. Practice motivational self-talk, such as saying, “I am confident in myself and my qualifications,” or “I am excited about this interview and will make the most of this opportunity.”

Rehearse Your Key Points

Sometimes during an interview, your nerves can make it challenging to think quickly and communicate effectively when you answer questions. Rehearse the key points you want to include in your responses so they are ingrained in your memory. This can ensure you are presenting yourself intentionally rather than inadvertently rambling or not giving a compelling answer out of nervousness.

Focus on Making a Connection

Anxiety before a job interview is generally due to putting pressure on yourself to be perfect and say all the right things. However, it is just a conversation with fellow human beings. Focus on making a connection and treat it in your mind like any other interaction. Listen intently, provide your insight thoughtfully, and ask questions to build rapport rather than give a performance.

Achieve Your Goals

Are you ready to explore new professional opportunities? Team up with IFG for your job search. As a premier accounting and finance employment agency, our mission is to match job seekers like you with the opportunities that best fit your qualifications and professional goals. Contact us to learn how we can help with your job search.