Interviews weed out the bad to keep the few. Afterward, the few often turn into one, with the best individual for the job given the company's open position. With a new job on the line, it's natural to feel nervous about an interview, especially if you've never been part of one before. You may notice yourself begin to sweat, your heart rate increase and your hands quiver. To avoid these symptoms of nervousness, you must take actions to calm yourself, prepare yourself and execute your plan of success when it comes time for the interview.
Instructions
1. Sleep seven to nine hours for at least three consecutive nights before your interview. Mayo Clinic states that seven to nine hours of sleep is ideal for adults. Good sleep promotes concentration and well-being, helping you feel confident that you'll ace the interview.
2. Prepare for the interview. A lack of preparation can cause excessive worry over your performance during the interview. Spend a sufficient amount of time studying the position and company to which you're interviewing. Prepare the questions you plan to ask at the end of the interview and go over a list of potential questions the interviewer will ask you.
3. Practice talking while maintaining eye contact. During the interview, you must maintain frequent eye contact with the interviewer. Doing so can seem awkward if you're not used to the interview process. Practice maintaining eye contact by talking to a friend or family member or yourself in front of a mirror.
4. Eat breakfast. Breakfast offers numerous benefits throughout the day, including added energy and concentration to help you focus on the interview with vigor.
5. Slow down your heart rate by breathing slower. When you arrive at the interview, you'll likely feel your heart rate immediately increase, due to abnormal breathing. Control your breathing by making a conscious effort to breathe slower.
6. Map out your answer mentally before speaking. When an interviewer asks you something, you may feel an urge to immediately answer his question by starting with "Um" or "Well" and then fumble with your answer because you weren't prepared to answer instantly. Take a moment to think of your answer before speaking. Avoid extended silence, such as more than 10 seconds.
