How to manage your stress before and during a job interview
In this article on how to prepare for a job interview, I share with you tips that will help you feel more comfortable before and during your job interviews.
By reading this article, you will understand that you have the opportunity to better control your emotions and maximize your chances of finding a truly satisfying job faster and with less stress.
Now, I invite you to discover my 5 tips
1 – Understand what’s stressing you out and take back control of the situation
The first step is to identify the source of your stress.
Are you afraid of something?
Do you need to be more prepared?
Is it a job that you feel strongly about?
Is it a job that is not right for you?
Do you need to build up your self-confidence?
These are just a few questions that may help you identify the source of your stress.
Most of the time, stress is related to some form of fear. For example, you may have applied for a job because you are interested in it, but once you are called for the interview, you doubt your decision because you are afraid that this new position could generate problems in your private life, for example in your relationship.
This is just one example of the many situations that can become a source of stress before a job interview.
Then, once you have understood what is stressing you, you can prepare an action plan to better deal with the situation.
For example, taking the previous example, you can reduce your stress by talking with your wife or husband and asking if he or she is okay with you accepting a position with more responsibility that may make you less available for your family.
You can also start thinking about solutions you can implement to maintain a good work-life balance.
In summary, you first identify what is stressing you out and then think of solutions to manage the situation in advance.
Now I suggest we move on to the next tip which is to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
2 – Identify your strengths and weaknesses
Your goal is to identify your strengths and weaknesses in relation to the interview.
I am not asking you to think about all your strengths and weaknesses.
Limit yourself to understand what your strengths and weaknesses are in relation to the interview.
For example, a weakness could be that you applied for the position without having clarified beforehand your motivations for the job and for joining the company.
In this case, you will need to understand why you have doubts about your application. You may be doubting because you are not really interested in the position and you sent your resume because you have experience in the field, but in reality, your only motivation is to get a paycheck.
Working with a career coach will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can find a job that is consistent with your innate talents and acquired skills.
It is also important to highlight your strengths in your cover letter and resume.
Ideally, it is best to prepare a customized cover letter and resume for each of your applications.
If this is not possible, prepare at least one resume for each type of job you are applying for.
Start with the job description, then identify your strengths and finally justify your statements with one or more significant experiences or results.
By knowing your strengths and weaknesses you will develop a greater understanding of your value in the job market.
As a result, you will become more confident before and during your job interview. If you want to go deeper into this topic, I suggest you read my article on how to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
3 – Learn about the company and the position
As you may have realized, taking enough time to prepare for the interview will significantly reduce your stress.
One of the most effective ways to prepare is to learn about the company and the position you are applying for.
By understanding the company’s values and culture you will be able to show that you are truly motivated for the position and that you are not there by chance.
To do this, you can find information either directly on the company’s website or on websites that offer anonymous testimonials from former employees.
You can also use professional networks such as LinkedIn or Xing to contact previous employees of the company and better understand if the company offers a good working environment for their employees.
It is also important to learn about the position. Start with the job description, responsibilities, and requirements of the position, and then question the recruiter before and during the interview to get even more information.
This will allow you to understand what the company is looking for in the position, the key skills, the qualities required to succeed in the position, and the negative aspects of the job.
Knowing the company and the position will also allow you to effectively prepare for questions that may be raised during the interview.
But to answer these questions effectively, it is essential that you have identified your motivations for the position and your professional objectives beforehand.
All these elements will help you become more confident during your job interviews.
In conclusion, learning about the company and the position can be a key element in minimizing stress during a job interview. It can build confidence, help prepare for questions, and show the employer that you are serious and committed to obtaining the position.
If you want to maximize your effectiveness during interviews, you can hire a career coach.
Now, I suggest we move on to the next tip which is to practice for the interview.
4 – Practice your job interview
Now you have a better understanding of yourself and the company.
It is time to put this information into practice in your job search.
Start practicing with a friend or a career coach to do simulated interviews.
If you don’t have anyone to practice with, you can prepare a few questions in advance and record yourself answering them.
Doing this will help you understand what you need to improve in terms of your speech, non-verbal and verbal communication.
Regularly modify the questions you ask yourself or your interviewer in order to identify questions that could challenge you more during the job interview.
Then, take the time to prepare a convincing answer for each of these difficult questions.
Doing this will help you to know yourself better and to be calmer when facing recruiters.
Also, take care of your personal appearance and dress during these simulations as you would do in a regular interview.
Mentally place yourself in the interview situation with all the materials you will need on the big day.
Also, plan your journey to the company and always arrive 20-30 minutes before the meeting time as this will allow you to deal with any transportation problems.
As you can see, the more prepared you are, the more relaxed and comfortable you will be during your interview.
Now, I suggest we move on to the next tip, which is to strengthen your mental preparation.
5 – Prepare yourself mentally
You can complete your preparation by mentally preparing yourself for your interview.
To do this, you can use visualization techniques that consist, for example, of seeing yourself performing several times during the day as you would like to face the recruiters.
These visualization tools help build confidence and reduce stress as you help your brain become more familiar with a given situation.
When a situation becomes habitual, it generates fewer unpleasant emotions and more pleasant feelings.
You can also use meditation to reduce stress, sleep better, and be more relaxed during interviews.
You can also combine meditation with visualization for even more results.
Then, you can learn different deep breathing techniques to relax even more just before meeting the recruiter.
Then, you can hire a coach to change the meaning you give to the job interviews.
If you associate something negative with the interview, you will not be effective.
By changing the meaning you give to the interview experience, you will increase your self-confidence and find a satisfying job faster.
Conclusion on how to feel comfortable before and during your job interviews
In this article, I shared with you 5 tips that will help you feel more comfortable before and during your job interviews.
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