It's not unusual at all to be a bit nervous before interview, but if you let this nervousness grow and become fear, it could have serious impact on your performance during the interview. Following are some interview tips that you can follow to reduce and overcome the interview fear.
There are two factors that contribute to the interview fear. The first part is the more rational part that arises from a lack of preparation. The other part is mostly psychological and can haunt you even if you have prepared very well.
Let's address the rational part first. Following tips will help you face the rational fears which are mostly due to the lack of preparation.
- Research
You should do some homework and research before interview and prepare for the interview accordingly. Research should include the company you are applying for, the job and its specification and the interview process itself. This will give you a fair idea of what you are going to face during the interview and you can prepare yourself accordingly.
- Prepare
Prepare for expected interview question; personal, behavioral as well as technical. You can find such questions easily on the internet. Going through them will boost your confidence as well as refresh your knowledge.
- Rehearse
Ask a friend to act the part of interviewer and perform mock interviews. Answering the questions aloud for an imaginary interviewer can be helpful as well.
- Keep Note
Keep a note book with important points with you in the interview. You'll find that it is very helpful and you would be less likely to panic and forget important points just knowing that they are in the notebook if you did forget them.
- Resume
The interviewers would ask questions from your resume so memorize the points mentioned in it and be prepared to answer questions about them.
- Take your Time
When answering questions during the interview, take some time and formulate an answer before you start speaking.
Beside lack of preparation there is a purely psychological aspect to the interview fear as well. Following tips will help you deal with them.
- Understanding Fear
The first thing to do is to realize that you are afraid. It's not as easy as it sound. Let me help you; 'why are you reading this article anyway?'
Now that you know that you are afraid, let's see why. You are going for an interview; what is the worst possible thing that can happen? The interviewer is a civilized business professional. It is very unlikely that he'll bite you. The worst that could happen is you won't get selected for the job, in which case there are other, perhaps better, jobs in the market. There is no real reason to panic.
- Two way process
Understand that the interview is a two way process. The job is not a charity. It is for mutual benefit of both you and the company. Just as the interviewer is judging if you are fit for the company you should also examine whether the company is fit for you. Ask interviewer questions and be an active participant in the interview process. Don't freeze like a lamb being taken to slaughter. You should treat the interviewers with respect due a senior but don't let this become fear or awe. Treat them not on a differential but equal level.
- Be Frank
You are not in an interview to steal a job from the interviewer. Have confidence in yourself. Believe that you are the perfect choice for this job and the company would be lucky to have you. All you have to do is help the interviewers realize this. State your strengths and mention points that make you suitable for this job. Admit your weaknesses when confronted about them and state how you are going to compensate for them.
- A Shortcut
When all is said in done, you are afraid before an interview because you care about the job. Here is a simple trick that worked for me once and would almost certainly work for you too.
Think of the interview as a practice and a way to gain experience. Make yourself believe that you are not going to take the job even if you are offered. You'll do your best to succeed in the interview but not for the job, just to see if you can do it. You'll see that your fears are much reduced or gone as the stakes are lowered.
Of course I took the job when it was offered to me and you should too.
Fear is a natural survival mechanism. Unfortunately, it is of no help in an interview at all. Once you realize that you are afraid, realize also that it is your enemy and do everything you can to obliterate it. The tips given above were helpful to me and I hope they would help you too. But in the end the battle is within your mind. Only you can destroy your fears.
