A Fool Proof Guide To Interview Prep
I would like to think that I get ‘so nervous’ before an interview, because it. is. the. one. Surely? It has to be a sign from the stars that I am supposed to get this job that makes the nerves palpable.
For some, nerves can motivate and create that rush of adrenalin, think ‘His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy’ vibe. For me, nerves make me seriously underperform and are a little less cool. I totally forget to make eye-contact (something that helps you build trust in an interview), I forget what the question was- half way through answering it and I get debilitating mental-block- so much so that ‘So, tell me about yourself’ becomes an impossible question to answer.
Why do we get nervous before an interview?
…even after we’ve told ourselves ‘Remember, you’re the one interviewing them”
“Journalling your thoughts and feelings can efficiently track how your nerves develop and help you discover your trigger points”
Rare environment
The nervous system’s response is built to respond to stressful stimuli and it’s likely that the set-up of an ‘interview’ triggers this adrenaline-release. Have you been in that room before? Have you spoken to that person before? How often do you openly chat about one’s greatest strengths? All of these new environments are something your body is taking in, so it makes total sense that your heart’s racing and you don’t quite feel your best self. Humans are inherently social, so as long as the company you’re applying for are genuinely great people too, you should start to feel a reduction in this chemical release after a few minutes.
Social Evaluation
The same areas of our brain become activated when we experience rejection as when we experience physical pain- that’s why we can fear rejection so much, of course you’d fear someone potentially going to punch you. With this fact, perhaps it’s more niche to not be nervous before an interview. Heightened emotions and focus on the outcome (i.e will I get the job?) can make us seriously internalise that the person on the opposite side is judging us, our life and who we are. On a side note- they’re not.
Imposter Syndrome
Negative self-talk during an interview process can manifest itself as imposter syndrome and this can start from as early as the job search, to the interview prep and then onto your face-to-face conversation. Imposter syndrome lends itself to the ‘fight-flight’ response, where our body freezes and can present itself as a mental block.
I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons that can cause any individual to feel nerves, but those appear to be the top three that prevent people from performing at their best.
A step-by-step guide to work through those nerves
Interview prep- what does that look like?
Research the company. Research the Job specification. There are plenty of websites out there that will give you the Top 10 most asked questions for your career path. Practice answering them out loud, to a friend and by all means to your pet.
Write your answers down, especially case-studies, this will keep them closer to your working-memory and less hard to forget during the interview.
Mentally check-in with yourself
How are these people making me feel?
Is a question I repeat to myself even when I’m not in a nerve-wracking interview. This can help put the onus on the interviewer.. Yes I am going back to the infamous- ‘you’re interviewing them’ hack. Hopefully, you’ve applied for the job because you believe you’ll do a cracking job and have all the relevant experience. They have seen your CV and are starting to think the same. Whilst you’re in the interview, if it does start to feel too much, internally ask yourself; ‘How are these people making me feel?’, it stops you thinking about you and instead puts the attention on the other person/persons.
Stack your prep
Will preparing for my interview soften my nerves? Yep.
Will exercise deliver me endorphins to soften my nerves? Yep.
Will solitude offer me space to soften my nerves? Yep.
Will a nutritious diet affect my microbiome and soften my nerves? Yep.
Hacking your nervous system to feel confident does not come from a one-stop shop. The key is to stack all of the habits that enable us to be our best self. This is not presenting yourself in a false-way to the employer. We can under-perform in an interview so having things boost ourselves up can actually enable us to present ourselves more authentically.
It’s all over
Once the interview has finished, write down 3 things that went well and 3 things that you could improve on next time. This advice is for after the interview, but knowing in advance that you’ll be using the Interview to help yourself can put less pressure on the final outcome.
And finally, the moment I say ‘what is meant for you, won’t pass you by’- the brilliant phrase used to help us with opportunities in work, relationships, the sold-out dress and not getting Glastonbury tickets.
I have a 50/50 view on this approach. If you are in the position to apply for a job and have been lucky enough to be selected for an interview, it is important that you put in the work and prep. If you aren’t successful, you can look back and sincerely know that it wasn’t right for you. This is a brilliant way to focus your energy when your nerves are *wreaking havoc with your focus. All of the pre-prep is a gift to your future self that you know whether a job is for you or not- it is not just for you to be able to land the job.
These are my personal and researched tips for managing nerves- but if you have any that work for you please comment below! This is also a shout-out to read the comment section- as maybe there’ll be a great idea that works perfectly for you.
