Coping With Nerves During An Interview
Nerves, we all have them some a little more than the others. Nerves apply to everything in life, be it on a date, going to the dentist or a new job interview. Nerves are when your body and mind are a bit jittery to experience something that's left them feeling stressed up about the unknown. In that case it would be normal for you to have shaky hands, sweating, faintness, or wanting to go to the rest room. You aren't the only one who could feel nervous when attending a job interview - everyone feel the same way, again some a little more than the others. But if this nervousness spills over onto your interview day then it could easily ruin your chances of landing the job. Fortunately the process of overcoming such nervousness is an easy one ultimately helping you approach the interview in the right frame of mind and with complete energy.
How Can I Control My Nerves?
The best way to go about the process of controlling nervousness is that you convince your brain that there nothing to be worried about. A large section a people believe that an interview is where a tough round of intense questions is put across to the candidate to judge about the candidates suitability for the job. Yes that could well be the objective but why not also think that it is your chance as well to see if you fit the job best or not. Why not look at it this way, if you are in a positive mind frame and want a suitable job then you would not think of the interview as a hurdle rather as a means to get the job. Positive thinking helps bring about calmness and your body feels relaxed. In order to deal with this issue and bring about certain calmness to your mind (thereby reducing your nervousness) it is recommended that you try and address the areas where you fear failure and want to fill up the negative potholes that exist. Here we have a look at some ways to shrug off nerves during an interview:
1. Drinks - During the interview should you drink or not? Completely depends on the situation, if you are on a roll, answering all their question immaculately and think an uncalled for break can ruin your tempo or think that a drink (tea or coffee) is simply not required then don't accept one. In case there is water on offer then you could entertain second thoughts, for no one is going to notice if you did or didn't drink it. When there is a situation where you finding things difficult to answer then sipping on any kind of drink offered could be a welcome pause. Gather yourself, ponder over the question and then give the answer.
2. Awkward Questions - Taking into consideration that you cannot predict the future; you do not what questions are going to be asked at your interview. What you can do is garner all you know about things related to the job and then just put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer and realize that he too is a human and then you should just imagine the interviewer asking you question and you answering them with high degree of ease. The other thing you should give attention to is your CV, and if there is an issue then think of an appropriate answer - but don't ignore it at.
3. Shaky Hands! - Shaky hands or jittery hands are common sign of nervousness. This nervousness sign doesn't have a definitive solution and the only way of having a measure of shaky hands is to hold both hands tightly together on your lap. During the course of the interview upon gain confidence and when you forget about having jittery hands your hands will be at ease and more composed.
4. Dropping Over Your Briefcase Or Handbag - This is the worst possible situation for anyone to be in, just tripling over your briefcase could be an embarrassing situation. Treat the briefcase or handbag as your extension and place it besides you in a manner where it allows you to move freely.
5. Sneezing while in the interview - Well it could happen to anyone, just being prepared insures that you shall be fine throughout. Carry a handkerchief or tissue and keep at an easily accessible place. This way you can reach it easily and won't be in a tangle each time you need it.
Once the interview is over, leave the interview hall as if you have on a personal level achieved success and reflect the same thing on the interviewers by showing a smile and a firm handshake. Thus you are conveying to the interview panel that you are happy with the way the interview has gone for you. Your confidence shall certainly rub off onto them.