Some people say it. Others won’t admit it. But for sure, most all of us experience some level of anxiety going into an interview. Frequently I’ve seen candidates nervously bounce their leg during the whole conversation or with face flushed talk non-stop without answering the question. At the close of an interview one person shook the interviewers hand at the elevator and pushed the up arrow to go down to the lobby. That person was me!
While fear is often a natural response to doing something new or risky, it’s not predetermined. What causes fear in you might be exciting for me. What cause complete anxiety for me, might be thrilling for you. Remember, fear is an internal experience and therefore within our own control. Here are three ways to allay your fears the next time you walk into an interview feeling your heart race, hands sweat and cheeks flush.
1. Re-think fear. One positive aspect of fear is that it generates energy. And we need energy to take action. Racing heart, sweating hands and flushed cheeks can also be signs of excitement. The difference between fear and excitement is one word: willingness. Next time you feel your fear overcome you, rename it. Experience it as excitement and add a dash of willingness. Then, instead of closing in on your own internal anxious experience, you’ll open up to participate and get into the game – whether it’s the interview, your job search effort, or a networking event.
2. Prevent fear. Minimize the fear factor of an interview with laser preparation. First, take the time to research the company, the job and the person interviewing. The more you know the better you can anticipate what will be thrown your way. Then, take time to prepare your message and responses. Shooting from the hip rarely works. Second, picture in your mind’s eye the entire interview from your arrival to your departure. Play out a realistic script and the successful outcome you want. Include in your mental movie a segment of you experiencing, and then surmounting, the bubbling feeling of anxiety. By practicing overcoming fear from the comfort of your home and own imagination, you’ll be more capable when it really happens. Finally, arrive at the interview feeling great. Do the stuff mothers say but we often neglect. Get a good nice sleep, hydrate, eat a healthy breakfast, go for an energizing morning walk and slow down on the caffeine. It amplifies the sensations of anxiety.
3. Overcome it when it comes. When you feel the creeping physical sensation of fear, notice it but give it no any more attention than that. If you do, you start to move away from the dynamic of the conversation with the interviewer and toward your own internal thoughts. It’s not the feeling of fear that is the problem rather the inward obsession and resulting connection break with the interviewer that begins the downward spiral. So, take a long exhale and keep your attention on the interviewer. Stay focused on what she is wanting in that moment. Your focus on the other person, even if your cheeks are flushed, will pull you out of your own anxiety and put you back in the game.
Time and again you’ll encounter fear in your life, so start now getting better at rethinking, preventing and overcoming it. For individualized support in preparing for an interview, contact CoAction Interview Coaching at http://coactioncoaching.com
