5 ways to reduce your interview anxiety

Preparing for an interview can rapidly turn into a daunting task, especially if it is for a job you have been clamouring to get. Many prospective employees feel stressed when they step inside the manager’s office.

There is nothing wrong with having your nerves on the edge. It signifies that you care about obtaining the job. Fortunately, there are strategies you can employ to prepare yourself for the interview and help ease your anxiety.

Research

It is critical that you need to have a game plan going into the interview room. Research the hiring company. Do your values align with their corporate objectives? Are you familiar with what products or services the company provides? What are their employees saying about their organisation online?
All of these factors are crucial for how you’re going to go into the interview. These bits of information will allow you to evaluate if this is an interview worth pursuing. It’ll also allow you to circle back and highlight any relevant experience you may have on your resume when going through their process.
The main goal is to show why you’re a good fit for the company. You also want to vet if they’re a good fit for you as an employer.

STAR Method

Many interview questions are behavioural in their scope. They often ask you to name a time or describe a situation. Quite a few people flounder at this approach. STAR is an acronym that stands for situation, task, action and result.
Describe a situation, explain the task you were assigned, articulate the action you utilised and then affirm the result. Generally, you’ll want to focus on positive results and not talk negatively of your previous employer.
You can find examples of the STAR method here. By employing this template, you’ll have a strategy for easing your anxiety.

Positive Thinking and Body Language

Say to yourself that you will succeed. Visualise in your head how you will get the position the employer is hiring for and how you can be a benefit to them. Think about the accomplishments you’ve achieved over the years.
You can succeed: It’s all centered in the attitude you bring into the interview office. A positive mindset will allow you to exude more confidence in your tone. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s chair. If you had to choose someone, would you not consider their affability and tone as key factors in your decision?
They do. Employers also examine body language in the interview phase. Your posture needs to be confident and assertive. These attributes go hand-in-hand with the positive thinking.

Pace Yourself

Talking too fast can cause you to stumble over your words. Take a deep breath and go at the questions one word at a time. Articulate yourself and don’t rush through your answers. This approach is critical to being understood. This slower approach can also give you time to regulate your emotions if you’re feeling any stress in the interview.

Breathe

Take a deep breath before you step foot inside the interview room. This link will give you several breathing strategies to utilise. We recommend equal breathing where you close your eyes, inhale and count to four. Upon reaching four, exhale and start counting to four again.
This approach will curb your anxiety and will help place your mind at ease for the interview.

Conclusion

By relying on these five strategies, you will improve your odds in acing the interview. The key is to know what you’re walking into, have a strategy, be positive, pace yourself and remember to breathe. These things will help eliminate your anxiety and prep yourself for success