How to Beat Pre-Interview Stress: 7 Techniques

1. Use visual imagery to reduce stress.

Close your eyes and imagine a scene, place or event (real or imaginary) that is peaceful, happy and beautiful. Try to incorporate all your senses into the image – what you can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. The mind cannot differentiate between real and imaginary so what you feed it is accepted as truth.

2. Persuade yourself with positive, rational thinking.

Observe your thoughts and write down every time you have a negative thought for a few days. Once you are aware of your negative thoughts, take an honest look at them to see if they have any basis in reality. Frequently, when you challenge a negative thought it will lose power or disappear.

3. Reduce the importance of the event in your mind.

Try to compare it to something else in the past that you have done that was as big and important feeling. Instead of viewing it as an all-important interview, think of it as an exciting chance to meet new people and expand your network. You never know what will happen!

4. Reduce uncertainties.

Ask questions when you schedule the interview (how many interviewers, names and titles of the interviewers, for example), and then research to learn all you can to feel more prepared.

5. Listen to music or relaxation tapes to calm yourself.

On your way to the interview or as you sit in the waiting room, listen to music that is calming for you (use only one earbud in the waiting room).

6. Use Progressive Muscular Relaxation.

Squeeze a group of muscles, hold for a few seconds and then relax the muscles as much as possible. This can relieve the tense feeling and is particularly effective when combined with deep breathing and visual imagery.

7. Perform slow, deep breathing.

As you sit in the waiting room, breathe slowly and deeply -- in through your nose and out through your mouth. Concentrate on doing this at least four times.

Source: www.job-hunt.org