Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when you don't know what to expect. But there are proven strategies that can help you stay calm and confident during the process as well as help with any anxiety that you may experience. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, with this year’s theme being around ‘anxiety’ and how to manage it.
With this in mind, here at BT6 we’re sharing five tips that will help you prepare for a job interview and ensure that you know how to manage your anxiety before the big day. From creating a checklist of things to bring to the interview, to practicing mindfulness, these strategies will give you the confidence boost you need to ace your job interview!
Create a checklist of things you'll need to bring to the interview.
Nervous about an upcoming job interview and wondering how to manage anxiety? Don't panic! Having a checklist of items to bring can help you stay organised, prepared and keep your head clearer. From a copy of your CV, to making a note of what you’re going to wear, your checklist of the ‘on-the-day’ essentials can ensure you don't forget anything important, and can focus on showing off your best self in the interview.
Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the potential employer.
Before your interview, you'll want to make sure you have some key questions in mind that will help you determine whether the job is right for you, or if it's even worth the opportunity. From what kind of culture they're looking for in their employee, to how many hours they expect per week, these are just a few examples of what might come up during your conversation with the potential employer – and each question could lead to another thoughtful discussion as well! By having some questions ready yourself, you can feel more in control and lessen any potential anxiety.
Practice what you’ll say
Thorough interview preparation in key to helping with anxiety in job interviews. Read the job description again and again. See how you can apply what you have done in a previous role. Sometimes employers list the skills and experiences they're looking for as: 'essential', things you need to have and then 'desirable', things it would be good to have.
You'll need to give examples that show you have relevant skills and experience. These can include:
- things you did in school, college or university
- any work, internships or volunteering experiences you've had
- any training, workshops or courses you've done
- things you've learned outside work
Practice Mindfulness
Be aware of the physical cues in your body when you are feeling anxious. Do you get sweaty palms before an interview? They can serve as a reminder to ground yourself in the present moment by calming your body. If you feel a knot in your stomach, tension in your body or a racing heart, use that as a reminder to bring your mind’s attention back to the here and now, and focus on the interview.
Visualise success
It's useful to visualise succeeding in the interview and how you’ll feel afterwards once it’s finished. This visualisation can give you the ability to see the interview as an exercise and relax and answer questions with confidence. Picture yourself answering questions successfully and feeling comfortable in the situation and in the interview room. It's so easy to visualise failure when you suffer from anxiety, so training yourself to be more positive is really helpful when it comes to managing it.
Consider writing down your worries in a journal or simply on a piece of paper to clear them from your mind and choose to listen to relaxing music or an audiobook whist traveling to the interview.
You've got this!
Read some more of our tips, news and industry advice, over on the BT6 blog