Interviews can scare even the most seasoned job seekers. If you don't have a lot of experience in job seeking, it's natural to feel mild jitters or even strong fright at the thought of facing a potential employer. Tej Kohli advices that you don't have to let emotions turn that important career break into a horror show. In this article, Tej Kohli offers several tips so as to keep anxiety from ruining your chances of getting the job.
1. Imagine yourself at the interviewer's place
Interviewers are not here to make your life miserable. And that's true! In fact, they look at you as if you are "the one." They need to fill the job with the best person, and if they don't succeed their jobs could be on the line. Just keeping that in perspective can help calm your jitters.
2. Prepare well : How well you prepare determines the 90 percent of success in job interviews. It's always better to do some role-playing with a friend before the interview and anticipating the questions you'll likely face. Tej Kohli enlists some of the most frequently asked interview questions:
* Why are you the best person for the job?
* Tell me about yourself.
* What are your best/worst traits?
* Why do you want to work here?
* What did you learn in school (or at an internship) that prepares you for this job?
Always know in advance what the company does.
3. Plan your day around the interview
Be on time, and keep yourself stress free. Avoid haste by mapping out the directions to the interview location and giving yourself more time than you think you'll need. Keep buffer time for traffic jams, parking snafus, bad weather, road closures or perhaps losing your way. Be sure you budget enough time off from your current job, so you don't feel like you have to run out of the interview if it runs longer than you anticipated. Hiring managers can sometimes keep you waiting for long hours.
4. Avoid stress before the interview
Tej Kohli suggests that after you check in with the receptionist try some relaxation exercises. This could be as simple as closing your eyes, meditating or doing a few deep breathing exercises. However, if your idea of relaxation is kick-boxing or a yoga routine, do those at home. And don't even dare taking a drink or using substances to calm down.
5. Listen, think, and speak
Whether your interview is in person or over the phone, it is important to listen to what the interviewer has to say, and then take some time to think before responding. Always take a few seconds to understand the question, and then think up a quality answer before simply blurting out something less intelligent.
6. Prepare your own questions
So, the interview is almost over and the interviewer asks whether you have any questions about the job or the company. Never reply in "no," tho this. Rather, use this opportunity to solidify the good impression you've made, suggests Tej Kohli. By asking well-thought-out questions, you leave an impression that you are genuinely interested in the company and the job. Wait until the interviewer has finished asking about you and your background before launching into your own questions.
The day after the interview, send a thank you note to the interviewer.
