5 Simple Ways To Stay Calm In a Job Interview

Job Interview Tips on How To Stay Calm in a Job Interview

By Elizabeth Benu,
Your palms are sweaty, your voice is almost inaudible and you cannot seem to stop your heart from beating so fast. If this is what happens to you when you attend any job interview, then read on:

“Being unemployed or having little experience with interviews makes it hard for candidates to concentrate. There is usually a lot at stake. The candidate already analyses both outcomes of the interview. On one side there is the joy of finally having a job and on the other there is worries of bills to be paid and staying unemployed for longer. This usually causes the nervousness,” confirms Melody Mwendwa, an Interview Coach at Corporate Staffing Services.

Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Be prepared
“Prepare for an interview well. Have your clothes and documents ready the previous day. Ensure that you have already done ample research about the company, its products, competitors or anything else,” Ms. Mwendwa adds.

You should also go through your CV just to be sure nothing is left out and have a good night’s sleep of between 6-8 hours

2. Arrive early and relax
Arrive 15 minutes early for the interview. This allows you to be familiar with the environment, breathe and reassure yourself that things will be fine

Relaxing will also allow you to listen better and stay focused on how to best respond to questions.

3. Be confident in yourself
If you have shaky hands, trembling voice or feel butterflies in your stomach, take long deep breaths. This eases up the anxiety.

Remember that being called for an interview is a huge step and it means that someone was impressed with your CV and they feel you would be a great candidate.Walk into the interview room feeling confident and it will naturally flush away any nervousness you may feel.

4. Avoid these foods
What you eat might have an impact on your performance. If you want to keep calm, avoid the following foods: Caffeine, Onions, Garlic, and Spicy Aromatic Foods (for their strong smell;) , Beans, Greasy and sugary foods, too much water and chewing gum.

5. Watch out for these signs
These are the visible signs that the employer sees in you when you are nervous:

• Touching your face and hair which can be remedied by taking control of your gestures and keeping your hands visible or placing them on your laps.
• Sweaty palms which can be remedied by having a wipe cloth to wipe off hands.
• Voice trembling which is easy to get rid off by taking a deep breath.
• Stumbling over words. Keep calm and answer the questions slowly. Take your time.
• Shyness and facing down. If you cannot keep eye contact, look at the interviewers forehead.

Remember that even if you fail to get the job, there are more job opportunities out there and successful or not an interview is a good experience.