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Tips to Calm Nerves Prior to an Interview

It is common to feel nervous prior and during an interview. The best ways to calm nerves is to be prepared in every way possible. Below are steps to guide you on how to prepare for your interview.

Questions to Ask When You Are Called for An Interview:

Before your scheduled job interview, it’s good practice to confirm certain information. You can ensure professionalism from the start by asking the right questions. Please see below for a few commons one to ask that will help you be more prepared.

May I ask, who I’ll be interviewing with and their job titles? If you have the name(s) of the individual(s) who will be interviewing you, do some research online to see If they have a LinkedIn profile. If they do, review their profile and learn about their roles within the company. The more you know, the more confident you’ll be in responding to their questions.
I’d like to confirm the address where the interview is being held. Can you please verify the address? If the interview is being held in a large building or on a campus, also ask for specific directions to the proper location.
Can you share with me how long an interview like this usually takes? This will help me prepare for my interview.
I look forward to learning more about the position during my interview. Is there anything else I should bring other than my resume?

Research the Company/Organization:

Go to their website and learn as much about the about the company or organization as you can. Also check key social media platforms to see if they have a public account. This is a great way to learn more about any events, projects, or key messages they are sharing with the public.
Know what the organization does, what is their mission, their values, what are their goals, who are their clients, customers and/or target audience? When you understand more about the company, you’re better able to customize your responses to their questions so they fit within the company’s missions and value.
Learning more about the company can help your enthusiasm and excitement for the job grow. When you learn more about the company, its goals and mission, you’ll see how your skills can be a good fit. Your excitement for the job opportunity will show in an interview. In this way, your research helps you appear more confident and ready to take on the position, while also showing your excitement to your employer.

Plan Ahead:

Don’t wait until the last minute to print out copies of your resume. If you do, it can create stress for you if your printer jams or the ink runs out.
Ensure your clothes are clean, wrinkle-free, and fit appropriately. You don’t want to put on your clothes right before the interview only to realize it doesn’t fit or has a noticeable stain.
Map your travel route and check the traffic reports. Give yourself enough time to arrive to the interview 15 minutes early. Nothing will get you more anxious than being late which also doesn’t leave a good impression with the interviewer.

Read the Job Description:

Make sure you know the job title and the job responsibilities. Review the job description and write down the skills, traits, and experience you have that are related to what they are seeking in a candidate. Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can use related experience from your school, extracurricular activities or volunteering.
Write out examples and situations that you’ve experienced that demonstrate your value in these areas.

Rehearse:

Just like learning a new sport, hobby, or acquiring a new skill, the more you practice and more exposure you have with it, the more competent you will become at it.

Conduct a practice interview with someone who will provide you with honest feedback. Write down anticipated questions and practice answering them. You can also do this in front of a mirror and pay attention to your posture and facial expressions. Practice interviews will help you become more confident and keep your nerves in check.
Don’t try to memorize answers to possible interview questions. This puts pressure on you and can create nervousness. However, do outline points you want to make and the message you want to convey. Write down the three to five skills/strengths you want the interviewer to know about you before the interview ends so you can tailor your answers appropriately.

Think of the interview as a conversation:

The goal is to get to know one another to see if you will be compatible working together and/or a good fit for the organization.
Remember the interviewer(s) are interested in what you have to say. They are looking for the right fit for their organization and want to know what you will bring to their organization.
It’s not all about them. This is also your opportunity to get a sense if this would be the right job opportunity and organization for you. Make sure to come prepare with some questions you have for interviewer about the job and the organization.

Body Language during the Interview:

Square your shoulders and sit up straight, don’t fidget. In this position, your voice naturally projects better than if you’re hunched over. It also gives you the appearance of confidence, even if you are nervous on the inside.
Make Eye Contact. If there is more than one person interviewing you, make sure to make eye contact with every person on the panel.
Smile. This shows the interviewer you are positive and enthusiastic.

Additional Tips:

Take your time when responding to a question - Make sure to listen to the question before you respond. It’s ok to take time to reflect on what is being asked and formulate your thoughts to provide a well-thought-out response. If you are unsure how to answer a question, you can ask to come back to it.
Remember to Breathe -Being nervous can affect your breathing. When we are nervous, we tend to take rapid and shallow breathes. Taking a deep breath and fully inhaling and then exhaling delivers more oxygen into the blood, which is a natural relaxant. When we are more relaxed, we can think more clearly.
Be Confident -Speak clearly and back up your statements with your real-life experiences. For example, if you tell the interviewer you’re a team player, back it up with an example. In my current job, my shift ended and as I was leaving my co-worker had an emergency and needed to leave right away. I didn’t want to leave the other staff member with 20 kids on their own, so I stayed an additional hour until all the kids were picked up.
Be Positive -Nerves can make us doubt ourselves. Think positive and visualize yourself doing a good job. Reflect on why you are a good fit for the job, your strengths, and what you can contribute.

About the Author: Susan Davidson

Susan Davidson is a Community Service Professional with extensive experience in program management and development, community outreach, and providing leadership to staff, volunteers, and teams. She has a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of youth and young adults and has had the privilege to work with them throughout her career and while volunteering in the community. During her professional tenure she has interviewed, hired, onboarded, coached, and mentored youth for a variety of positions in programs she has managed. She utilized her knowledge and experience to develop a comprehensive workshop and curriculum entailing topics on how to interview successfully and how to be an asset to an employer. She is sharing her information for the YES blog because she knows firsthand the benefits to youth who participate in YES programs and the positive impact the program has on their clients.

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