De-stress your interview

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Even if you do a lot of interviews, they can be a stressful experience.  If you are feeling nervous during the interview you may not perform well and lose your chance at a great opportunity.  There are some steps you can take to be relaxed and prepared for your next interview. Here are some tips for taking the stress out of an interview:

Prepare

The best thing you can do is be prepared for the types of questions you will be asked.  Review the job posting.  Be ready to talk about how your past success and experience is a good fit for the position. Do your research to anticipate the types of questions you will be asked.  If the organization is implementing lean processes, be prepared to talk about quality certifications such as Six Sigma you have and how you have applied the skills.  Write out a list of questions you think you will be asked and questions you want to ask. Have a friend act as an interviewer and go through a mock interview.

Network

Check with your network, friends and family for anyone with a connection to the company. An insider can tell you about important problems or issues in the organization. An insider can put in a good word for you. If you know someone in sales they may have called on the company and may know quite a bit about current personnel and issues. Tap the knowledge of anyone you can as part of your preparation.

Drive-by

If you are not familiar with the interview location do a drive-by a day or two ahead of the interview.  The drive by can alert you to any construction or other delays. It can be really stressful to be stuck in traffic and running late the day of the interview.  Arrive about 5-10 minutes before the start of the interview. If you arrive any earlier wait in the parking lot or take a lap around the block.

Clothing

Lay out your interview outfit including accessories.   Do this a couple of days ahead of time in case anything needs dry cleaning, pressing or repair. Check for missing buttons and loose threads. Shoes should be polished and free of scuffs. Try the outfit on, if you have not worn it for awhile. Check out your appearance in the mirror to be sure you present a professional appearance. You don’t want to be figuring out something to wear at the last minute.

Visualize Success

Take the stress out of the interview by running through the entire experience ahead of time.  Athletes visualize their success before a big event to ensure success.  Close your eyes and run through all the events of the interview.  Start with how great you look in your interview outfit. Picture an event free drive to the company.  See yourself giving a firm handshake to the interviewer.  Imagine yourself using good body language and answering every question with confidence.  See the interview smiling at you and nodding agreement.  See yourself asking questions about the company and having a dialogue about the position. Picture in your mind everything about the interview and make it as real as possible.  Imagine yourself a success and you will be!

Relaxation Techniques

There are a couple of exercises you can do in the car right before you go into the interview.  Any one of these can be a great way to release that pre-interview tension.

• Breathe in very slowly as deep as you can. Hold it for a second or two, then release it slowly all the way out.  Do this three times.  Or you can try this one.

• Picture a favorite person or personal article.  Focus all your attention on the person or article as you inhale and exhale slowly for 2 minutes. Focus on the sensation of breathing and clear your mind.  At the end of the exercise you should feel calmer and more relaxed.

• Start with your feet and work your way to your head, inhale and exhale slowly as you tense each set of muscles. Tense one group of muscles at a time and hold for 20 seconds.  Start with your hands. Clench hands, visualize the muscles contracting while you relax the rest of the body. Relax the muscles slowly, rest for 30 seconds and move on to the next group in the following order: face, shoulders, back, stomach, pelvis, legs, feet and toes. End by shaking out your hands and imagine the tension flowing out of your body.

• Do neck and shoulder rolls.  You can do these in the car.  Swing your head slowly side to side.  Keep the head in the front of the body.  Roll your shoulders backwards several times, then forward  Finally shake out your arms.

It is ok to be a little nervous before the interview. A little tension can keep you sharp and help you perform well. You just need to keep the stress at manageable levels. Try the tips presented here.

Copyright 2008 @ Summit Training Publications

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