Interviews remind us of school days… The nerve wrenching feeling before an exam carries on in our adult life and shows up right before an interview.
You’re nervous about making an impression, getting the job you desired and all these thoughts can make you nervous.
So how to be confident in an interview when there's a whirlpool of nervous thoughts in your head?
Well, I’ve compiled some really practical ways to boost your confidence and I’ve added my secret tip in the mix which has always kept me confident in every interview during my career of 7+ years.
Let’s get cracking!
Take a walk
One of the best things you can do to calm your nerves before an interview is to take a nice walk.
Sitting in a chair before your interview can be nerve-wracking. So, go outside before your interview starts and take a stroll around alone.
Collect your thoughts and do some nice deep breathing.
As trivial as it may sound, but deep breathing can slow down your heart rate and help you calm down. This is the best way to tackle anxiety.
So, fresh oxygen and a couple of deep breaths can help you not be nervous. You can’t feel confident until you stop feeling nervous!
Practice your answers
Another way to boost your confidence for an upcoming interview is by preparing for the interview.
Most people who are nervous for an interview are generally in that mindset because they feel they won’t be able to answer the technical questions.
So, if you’re prepared you will be more confident. Practice your answers, especially to the questions you know will be asked for sure.
Get hold of a friend or a family member and have a mock interview with them.
Your friend or family can tell you how confident you’re doing and that may boost your confidence before you go for the real interview.
Aim for making a connection and not an impression
When it comes to interviews most of us make the mistake of thinking that the end goal of an interview is to make an impression, however, it’s not the case.
If you think of making a connection with the interviewers rather than impressing them, you will be less likely to feel nervous and more confident.
“We often get the idea that confidence is about holding court whereas it’s more to do with putting people at ease. It helps to focus on connecting with people rather than focusing on the performance,” Dr Gary Wood (chartered psychologist) told The Guardian.
Listen to relaxing music
Music is a great way to calm your nerves before an interview. A calm mind is how to be confident in an interview.
According to Harvard research on the effect of music on the brain mentions a study where patients going through surgery needed less medication because they were exposed to calming music.
The study proved that listening to music calms the brain down and also helps in coping with anxiety.
So, to be more confident in your interview, you first need to be calm, composed and collected.
Listening to music is a great way to get your mojo on and present the best of you in the interview.
Don't take it too seriously
One of my mantras that has helped me be confident in an interview is pretty simple - Don’t take it too seriously!
Isn’t it weird that when you don’t care about something it just happens compared to when you desperately want something?
I thought I was the only one who had this feeling but then I read “The subtle art of not giving a f*ck” by Mark Mason and he mentioned the same thing. Great book by the way.
The point I am trying to make is, when you take an interview way too seriously, you’ll overthink and get stuck in a loop which will leave you nervous and all stiff.
But if you don’t take it too seriously, you’re more likely to be relaxed and be yourself.
The more important the interview, the less you should take it seriously. And by that, I don’t mean come off as you don’t care about the interview but tell yourself that this is not the most important thing in your life.
Tell yourself that if you don’t get it right, life doesn’t end it here.
Don’t try to anticipate things, don’t think about what the interviewers will think about you… because it’s not that serious!
Personally, when I don’t take an interview seriously, I am more confident, less nervous and my perfect self.
I think of it as having a conversation about myself with some people rather than an interview.
Concluding, interviews can be a pretty nerve-wracking experience, especially for people who are not experienced or who are big-time introverts.
The above-mentioned tips are bound to help you calm your nerves, represent yourself better and be confident in an interview.
Make sure to take a walk, listen to some music, be prepared and most importantly, not to take it too seriously!
The more calmer you’re, the more likely you'll be confident!
Hope it helps! And Good luck!
