A lot of things bank on the success (or failure) of a single 45-minute job interview. So it’s not surprising that a lot of people experience jitters when faced with a life-changing interview with someone they’ve never met before. While some are able to shake off the nerves, not everybody can, and interview anxiety can have a huge implications on job prospects and their overall career.
What is interview anxiety?
Interview anxiety is a more extreme version of interview jitters, and it is experienced by over 93% of job candidates, according to a recent survey by JDP. Aside from having sweaty palms, heart palpitations, and shallow breaths, people who suffer from interview anxiety also deal with speech problems, uncontrollable fidgeting, and excessive sweating.
At times, they even go through moments of panic, fear, and extreme nervousness. This can lead them to having trouble concentrating, impairing their ability to answer the interviewers’ questions. To some people, everything about interviews can serve as triggers for social anxiety. Meeting strangers who are in a position of authority, talking about yourself, and being judged based on your appearance, demeanor, and ability to sell yourself can all be causes of extreme anxiety.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways job seekers can manage interview anxiety. And here are some of them:
Do your research
The most straightforward way you can make yourself more comfortable during interviews is by doing your research. Through ample research, you will not only be able to anticipate the questions that could come your way, but you'll also get a better grasp of what your recruiter — and by extension, your prospective employer — might be looking for. When doing your research, it's best to start with the job posting.
Human resource managers might have included specific clues in the job description for you to note in your prep. After all, these managers hold one of the most crucial roles in business, as it is their job to oversee an organization’s talent pool. As you review the job posting, take note of what skills you can highlight based on what they’re looking for. This way, you’ll be able to showcase that you’re a good fit for the job.
Embrace the stress
As odd as it may seem, learning how to embrace the stress and anxiety you are feeling before interviews is a lot more important than knowing how to reduce them. As emphasized by Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, these feelings aren’t always harmful.
Once you learn how to appreciate them and view them in a different light, they can actually help make it easier for you to face new challenges. They can also encourage you to invest in yourself more in the activities and relationships that matter to you — like the one you are trying to build with your recruiter.
Take better care of your body
Mood disorders such as anxiety are just as physiological as they are psychological. So if you want to be better at managing them, you have to pay close attention to your physical health as well. Get plenty of sleep the night before your interview and make sure to eat a nutritious and hearty breakfast. Skip the cup of coffee and watch the sugar and carbs you intake.
This way, you will be able to stay away from caffeine-induced anxiety and energy crashes. In addition, it would be in your best interests to take note of the way your body reacts to anxiety. By increasing your awareness of the physiological cues your body shows when you are anxious, you will be able to tell when it’s time for you to ground yourself.
At the end of the day, anxiety is one of the most common conditions out there. So if you ever find yourself getting overwhelmed, don't beat yourself up. Instead, use that anxiety-induced energy to do your research, embrace stress, and take better care of your body. If, after all these precautionary measures, you still feel like anxiety will engulf you at any moment, then it's a good idea to call in a professional who can help.
Written by Joanne Nealy for persuasiveinterview.com