Interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially if you are a small business owner looking for new opportunities, clients, or partners. You want to make a good impression, showcase your skills, and stand out from the competition. But how can you calm your nerves before an interview and perform at your best? Here are some tips to help you prepare, relax, and ace your interview.
One of the best ways to reduce your anxiety before an interview is to plan ahead. Research the company, the role, and the interviewer. Prepare your answers to common questions, as well as some questions to ask them. Practice your pitch, your body language, and your voice. Make sure you have everything you need for the interview, such as your resume, portfolio, references, and contact details. Confirm the date, time, and location of the interview, and plan your route and transportation.
Taking a few deep breaths and focusing on positive affirmations can be effective in calming nerves before an interview. Additionally, thorough preparation and reminding oneself of one's qualifications can boost confidence.
Being organised is key. Get prepared. Remember that interviews are for the employer to decide if they want to hire you, and for you to decide if you want to work for that company in the role they have available. It's just as much for you as it is for them. Think about what you want from the role. How much support, how much flexibility, how much autonomy. Learn to love interviews. They can be lots of fun. Challenge yourself to try to guess what you will be asked. Get your friends to help you to play out different scenarios at interview. Practice makes perfect as they say.
Some preparation I have found helpful include researching the company, specifically their values. I will look for the one I connect to the most and write that down with the reasoning. I also review a timeline & overall summary to ensure I have a good understanding of the mission of the company! Additionally, writing out scenarios and notes to refer to during the interview. This is the most helpful in my opinion, as I will tell my interviewers I have notes I will be referring to. I also write out 3-4 fun questions that have nothing to do with the role itself but the person that I am speaking with. I will have it be my last question so it's memorable. My favorite: what's the best career advice you've ever received?
Another effective technique to calm your nerves before an interview is to breathe deeply. Deep breathing can lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. It can also help you focus, clear your mind, and boost your confidence. You can practice deep breathing anytime, anywhere, but especially before the interview. Try to inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and exhale for four seconds. Repeat this cycle for a few minutes until you feel more calm and centered.
Connect to yourself. You can do it while breathing with awareness and slowing down to feel the calm within, connecting to your inner strength. It takes a few minutes or even seconds once you have learnt to do it. So it's key to practice in advance, possibly daily, to be well prepared when the situation requires.
A third tip to calm your nerves before an interview is to visualize success. Visualization is a powerful tool that can help you create positive outcomes in your mind and in reality. By imagining yourself doing well in the interview, you can increase your self-esteem, motivation, and optimism. You can also reduce your fear of failure, rejection, and criticism. To visualize success, close your eyes and picture yourself in the interview setting. See yourself answering the questions with ease, showing your personality, and connecting with the interviewer. Feel the emotions of satisfaction, happiness, and gratitude.
The biggest obstacle is usually our belief. We by habit look for negative thoughts first. It has been extremely helpful to me in my career to visualize success before doing anything, including interviews.
A fourth suggestion to calm your nerves before an interview is to listen to music. Music can have a soothing effect on your mood, emotions, and nerves. It can also distract you from negative thoughts, worries, and doubts. You can choose any music that makes you feel relaxed, happy, or energized. You can listen to music while you are getting ready, on your way to the interview, or in the waiting room. Just make sure you turn it off before the interview starts and avoid any music that might distract you or make you sleepy.
A fifth idea to calm your nerves before an interview is to talk to someone. Talking to someone can help you vent your feelings, get some support, and gain some perspective. You can talk to a friend, a family member, a mentor, or a coach. You can share your concerns, expectations, and goals for the interview. You can also ask for some feedback, advice, or encouragement. Talking to someone can make you feel less alone, more confident, and more prepared.
A final tip to calm your nerves before an interview is to be yourself. Remember that you are not only there to impress the interviewer, but also to find out if the opportunity is right for you. You have something valuable to offer, and you deserve to be respected and appreciated. Don't try to be someone you are not, or pretend to know something you don't. Be honest, authentic, and respectful. Show your personality, your passion, and your potential. Be yourself, and you will do great.
Showing up as yourself is incredibly important. You also have a point of view that's important. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you-when you show up as yourself, whatever the outcome, you can be sure you are being true to who you are and no surprises will show up later when you start!
Put your hands on your hips like you're a boss making an important decision, and walk around prior to the interaction. This helps build confidence when youre in the room afterwards.