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There are ways to reduce your pre-interview anxiety and to be best prepared to make a good impression on a prospective employer.
Implement the following practices to manage your apprehension and nervousness and to boost your confidence before your next interview.
Get adequate sleep the night before and eat a healthy meal
You can’t be at your best if you’ve had a lousy night’s sleep and you’ll be more likely to experience anxiety if you are tired. In addition, you’ll want to avoid food that makes you feel unwell and give yourself a night off from alcohol. It will inhibit you from getting deep, restful sleep. Choose a light, healthy meal that provides you with energy instead of weighing you down.
Work off some anxiety with a brief exercise regimen
Do yoga, get in a quick run, a bike ride, or a simple workout at the gym, but be sure not to overdo it. You don’t want to feel fatigued when you attend the interview, nor do you want to show up with an injury sustained from a morning workout. Some brief exercise will get the blood flowing, boost your energy, and decrease your concern over the interview.
Participate in a meditative practice
This will lower your heart rate, and help get you in the right state of mind, calm your nerves, and enable you to focus on the strengths you bring to the position you’ll be interviewing for.
Interview preparation is key
You can significantly reduce the anxiety you have about a job interview by adequately preparing for it. Your preparation should include the following: understanding the company you’re interviewing with and its main competitors, knowing how to describe the ways your strengths and skills make you a highly qualified candidate, and identifying appropriate questions to help you determine whether the job (and company) is a good fit for you and your interests.
Enhance your mood
Finally, on the way to the interview listen to something that lifts your spirits, encourages you to be at your best, and fills you with confidence. This can be music, a podcast, an audio book, or even a favorite TED talk. Find what works for you.
You can reduce your anxiety about and increase your confidence by implementing these five practices the next time you get that call to come in for a job interview.
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