What do you do if interview jitters and nervousness are overwhelming you?

Feeling interview jitters? Here's how to stay calm and confident: 1. Prepare Thoroughly: Research the company and practice answers to common questions ??. 2. Visualize Success: Imagine a positive outcome to boost confidence ??. 3. Breathing Exercises: Use deep breathing to reduce anxiety and focus your mind ??♂?. 4. Mock Interviews: Practice with friends or mentors to gain comfort and feedback ??. 5. Positive Self-talk: Remind yourself of your skills and past successes ??. 6. Arrive Early: Give yourself plenty of time to relax and get acclimated ?. Turn nervous energy into interview success! #JobInterview #Confidence #CareerTips #Mindfulness

Breathing is good but you need to understand the WHY of why breathing is good. Many people before any interview or task will feel nervous - the body will tell you if you are (clammy hands, short breath, dizzy, increased body heat etc). What happens next if this rise of the sympathetic nervous system isn’t stopped is that we go out of our ‘window of tolerance’ and into ‘fight flight’ and REACTIVITY rather than RESPONSE. Breathing helps us ground ourselves to the ‘here and now’. It encourages the Parasympathetic to kick in and the body to return to balance (or homeostasis) and thus calm, and back into our window. BUT this needs to be practiced, because as Nietzsche said ‘What you practice you become!’ Response is better than reactivity!

One of my favorite breath exercises is the extended box breath. It activates the vagus nerve to assist in getting out of the fight, flight response and into the parasympathetic response (relaxation response). You begin by slowly exhaling. Then inhale through the nose for a count of four. Allow your belly and lungs to fill with air. Hold for a count of four. Then exhale through your nose. Then hold again for a count of four. Repeat this process. The number of times to do is uniquely your own. Your goal is to feel somewhat relaxed and your heart rhythm is in a calmer rhythmic pattern.

Another grounded technique is called the mindful mountain. With the eyes open or closed, encourage yourself to embody the qualities of either a mountain who have visited or an imaginary mountain. Mountains represent strength, stability, solidity and majesty. Through the changing weather patterns and seasons the mountain remains its intrinsic self. We can adopt these characteristics for our own during the interview process. Encountering the present moment with stability, dignity. Choosing to see the experience with a sense " I can weather whatever the present moment brings."

Grounding can be done in all of the traditional ways but also it’s about getting you into the Present Moment of the here and now. As you go for an interview the mind will try and hijack your thoughts - the what ifs, it will be, etc. Try pushing your thumb and index finger together whilst breathing in and out slowly. At the same time think of a safe place or a place of happiness and hold the finger and thumb together for 10 seconds. Let go and breath normally. Repeat for 5 or six times. This is conditioning the mind and with practice you will then be able to do the action without thinking and ground yourself. Highly effective before interviews and public speaking for some! (Not all!)

Gratitude and Compassion are key in all walks of life. However it starts with Self- Compassion. Dont beat yourself up with the outcome which to a large degree is outwith your control. However prepare yourself for success or non-success (not failure) by going through the scenarios of success and non-success - this will lead to a better prepared and more enjoyable interview!

To manage interview jitters, practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or visualization. Prepare thoroughly by researching the company and rehearsing common interview questions. Engage in mock interviews with a friend or mentor to build confidence. Focus on your qualifications and positive experiences. Arrive early, dress appropriately, and remember to smile and maintain eye contact during the interview. Lastly, remind yourself that nervousness is normal and can even enhance performance.