It’s pretty much the norm to feel nervous before a job interview. Even the most confident amongst us will at one time or another have been faced with a few nervous twinges at the thought of an interview. The important thing though is to ensure that you don’t let any such nerves affect your interview ‘performance’. Controlling that anxiety is essential if you are to truly impress a prospective employer. Here are 5 Ways to Overcome Interview Nerves which should help you do just that.

Do your Prep

If you go into an interview and haven’t researched the company or the job role or even the types of questions you may be asked, you are doing yourself no favours. Like everything else in life, the more knowledge and preparation you have done, the more comfortable you will be. Walking into an interview and knowing that you have spent time researching and preparing will go a long way towards boosting your confidence and consequently combatting any nerves.

Role Play

It might seem a little awkward to act out an interview with a friend or family member in advance of the real thing. Yes, it’s a little embarrassing and not always the easiest thing to do. However, it can actually really help. If you can get that friend to provide you with constructive criticism and feedback about your answers, your body language, all the better. The more practice interviews or role plays that you undertake before the real thing, the better.

Try to Relax

Easier said than done perhaps but it’s still something that you should get into the habit of doing before an interview. We all have our own methods and ways of relaxing – for some of us a good walk is the secret, for others, a nice relaxing bath. Do whatever works best for you. Getting into a calmer mindset before the interview is essential. It’s also important never to underestimate how much of an impact a decent night’s sleep the night before or a healthy breakfast on the day itself can have. Basic advice but true nonetheless!

Plan your journey

Getting to the interview can potentially be one of the most stressful things of all. Traffic jams, flat tyres or train delays can all happen and in turn can impact considerably on how we feel. It’s best to always try and account for these things. Give yourself plenty of time so that if anything untoward does occur, you will still be able to get to your destination – the interview , in sufficient time. Don’t leave the planning of your route to the last minute and make sure that you know exactly where you are going. Calling an interviewer to say you’re lost en route, would hardly give a good impression.

Believe in yourself

If you’ve reached the interview stage, it’s because you have already impressed the employer. They have seen your CV or application form and felt that you are potentially a good match for their vacancy. They think you have the skills and experience that they need – otherwise they would not have invited you to interview. Make sure therefore that you focus on this fact. Be confident in your abilities and in what you can offer them. They have a requirement – a job vacancy which you can help them fill. The more you believe that you can do this, the more likely you are to minimise any feelings of nerves or apprehension.

We hope that you have found 5 Ways to Overcome Interview Nerves as providing some useful advice. Got any other tips you’d like to share? Do let us know via the comments section below.