How to Overcome Fear and Be Prepared for Job Interviews

Fear is the number one emotion people feel before a job interview. No matter how hard you might try, if you are feeling fear when you walk into an interview, most experienced interviewers will know it.

If you are like most people and feel nervous before an interview don’t be too hard on yourself. There are few worse feelings than being caught off guard by an interview question. If the question is about a time period of employment or other statement from your resume and you are unsure of what you wrote, you might even appear dishonest. One mistake can shake your self confidence and blow an interview.

The number one way to build confidence for job interviews is to be prepared. Getting ready for an interview means different things to different people, but there are a number of proven methods to ensure you will be able to handle most of whatever is thrown your way.

Research the industry and when possible the company. What are the key drivers in the market for this firm? Who are the main clients and what drives purchasing? Be able to talk coherently about the core products made or sold by the firm. Understand how the company makes money, and what your role in the overall structure will be.

Research and know the types of interview questions. Discover how to recognize the different types of interview questions and learn how to answer them. Make a list and rehearse possible answers. Prepare your main short stories for the behavioral based questions and rehearse your personal statements. Work with a friend or coach to get used to the flow and pace of a questioning session. Keep all of your answers to three sentences or less. Rehearse in a mirror while wearing your interview attire. Can you maintain good eye contact? What is your body language saying? Are there any distracting movements you need to control?

Know your personal motivation for the job. Ask yourself why you would want to work for the employer or company. This will help you develop your list of questions to ask at the interview.

Get a solid night of sleep before your interview. You need to look fresh and be alert enough to frame intelligent responses to your future employer’s job interview questions. A full night of sleep will help calm your nerves and keep your brain functioning at full speed.

By Teacherwriters

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