Published: 31 March 2022
So, you have an offer to interview. Congratulations. Over the last days and weeks, you’ve been practising your answers, reading up on the company and picturing yourself in that room.
Now what? Possibly the most nerve-wracking time in the job search process are those few hours before you meet the hiring team.
That’s because you’ve done all the preparation you can meaning everything feels a little out of your hands.
But there is something you should be doing right before an interview. Relaxing. The question is, how do you go about that?
Eat
One of the most commonly reported things applicants report feeling before an interview is a lack of appetite.
That’s because anxiety often leads to stomach pains and, of course, your mind is on other things.
But eating something, even a light meal, before an interview is really important. It’ll give you the energy you need to look responsive to questions, which means you’re not low on blood sugar and boost your brain's thinking power.
Try something easy and plain like toast or some fruit. You’ll find that just filling your stomach takes away a little of the stress.
Meditate
Now we’ve sorted your body’s needs, it’s time to think about your mind.
It will likely be racing all over the place, from your pre-prepared answers to facts about the company and probably a bit of general worry too.
While these types of thoughts are very natural in times of stress, you can do something about them - meditate.
Try sitting down on the floor or in a comfortable chair, closing your eyes and breathing slowly in through your nose and out with your mouth.
At first, the intrusive thoughts will seem louder than ever. When that happens, notice them without judgement and push them aside.
If you picture your mind as a sky and the clouds as worries, you’re looking to focus on creating a clear and sunny day.
Try videos like this to get started.
Prepare
We’re not talking about studying up on the company, though doing this in the days before the interview will help a lot with the nerves.
Right now, focus on getting everything you need ready, giving yourself the time to dress, brush your hair and pack your bag.
Work out your route to the interview aiming to get there well in advance so you’re not rushing and are combating things like bad traffic and cancelled trains.
And finally, picture the interview in your head. Think about the best possible outcome, answering each question confidently, having a great rapport with the panel and receiving that phone call saying you’ve got the job.
Putting yourself in a positive mindset is a great way of combating the negative thoughts that come with nerves.
Be rational
Fear, of any kind, is more often than not based on creating worst-case scenarios in your head.
While that’s not helpful, it does give you a clue on how to combat the nerves.
Notice when you start to worry about the upcoming interview and ask yourself why you’re concerned specifically.
Try to go beyond the feeling itself and think through the reasoning. Is it fear of failure?
If so, remind yourself you are prepared, that you’ll have plenty of job opportunities in the future and this is just one and nothing bad can happen to you if you don’t get the offer.
Putting those fears aside will give you the best opportunity to feel confident going into the room. Confidence, after all, is one of the most important factors behind interview success.
Whatever you decide to do in the future, the University of Sunderland in London Careers and Employability Service is here to help.
To have a one-to-one chat with them, book a meeting through Compass or email them at careers-london@sunderland.ac.uk. Find out more by following #WeAreSunLon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.