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Nerves & Habits

Here we are outside the interview room and next in the "Q". Be confident, you have prepared for this interview and you are in control. Remember, you are the expert on you and interviewers want you to do a good interview and be successful. Usually, they have to make choices between candidates that are difficult. A good interviewer (and we all have our failings) will bring out the best in you, will put you at ease and will encourage you to excel. It is not in an interviewers interest to do otherwise. So everything is in your favour from the beginning, you just have to be in control and to keep everything on track. You and you alone can do this, be confident that you can.

Now for those nerves & habits, the butterflies that suddenly appear from within and those responses that come from nowhere. What can we do to keep them flying in formation and to put this internal energy to use positively. Lots! However, we must say that it starts with preparation long before the interview. Read the section on interview preparation. We only deal with the last few nerves here.

Here are some key techniques for controlling pre-interview nerves that we have found useful (the londonHiring.com team get to see the best jobs, as will you, and have used these to quench nerves before interviews. Seems they have suggestions for afterwards too….!)

  • Be fully prepared on the day of the interview; arrive ahead of time dressed for the occasion. Don't forget anything.
  • Make sure you have had a breakfast or lunch to keep the rumbles at bay
  • Think positively, you are an expert on you. You can handle any questions that are thrown at you.
  • Relax, breath normally and look around you for information on the company. What is the place like, do you like it?
  • Have a look at a paper or magazine
During the interview you should ensure that you send positive messages.
  • Don't slouch on a chair. Sit up attentively and look interested. Be alert and feel energetic, ready for any question. Be positive.
  • Use gestures that are positive, nod in agreement or use your arms to add to your expressions
  • Maintain eye contact with the interviewer,
  • Try to avoid those nervous habits that bewitch us all at times
    • Try not to fix your tie, clothing etc or otherwise touch yourself like clean your ears etc.
    • Do not fidget
    • Do not cross your arms to create a barrier
    • Do not get up and walk around or move anything on the interviewers desk
  • Feel positive, leave the 'post mortem' until after, do not try to second guess the interviewer or debate an answer with yourself mentally
  • Move on, feel good, look enthusiastic, get involved in the interview, interact, smile……..relax, be natural…be you!