Nervousness is a natural human response when a lot seems at stake ; however, it is a fact that the human brain functions best when at a slightly anxious state. When someone is anxious their blood pumps faster and they are able to readily access important information quicker. By thoroughly preparing for an interview, you are mentally preparing yourself. Many people find that following the preparation steps outlined in « top 10 tips to prepare for a job interview » helps them cope with their anxiety. If excessive nervousness about the interview persists despite the mental preparation steps already taken, you can try to do the following :

• Interviews are just purposeful conversations, not interrogations. Interviews are conversations between two professionals, not one-sided examinations. To candidates it may seem to be an interrogation if they perceive the employer as having an edge over them. In truth, they are equals. Both parties will be asking and answering questions. The interviewer wants to learn more about them, and they want to learn about the interviewer and the company. Both participants have a stake in ensuring that the other party is excited about what they are offering.
• What is the worst thing that could happen ? You will probably be thinking that the worst thing that could happen is that you will not get the job. That probably seems pretty bad, but considering that the average interview-to-offer ratio is 4 to 1, most people will not get every job they interview for. In fact they will not get 3 out of 4 jobs for which they interview. If you cannot let go on the fear, you need to think about what is behind that fear. Perhaps you have been out of work for some time and are concerned about paying your bills this month. Or maybe your self-esteem or credibility is on the line. You should write down your fears on a piece of paper and write a corresponding reassuring phrase for each.
• Always keep in mind that there are certain things outside of your control and that all you can do is prepare the best you can. The rest will take care of itself.

Relaxation tips :

If you are experiencing a distressing level of anxiety befor ethe interview, try the following tips :

• Become experienced at using breathing exercises to slow down the heart rate. You will need to start this exercise at least one week before the interview. To do the exercise, you should inhale through your nose to the count of five, hold for five seconds, and exhale through your mouth for five seconds, repeating as needed. This is a terrific exercise for people to calm yourself down quickly. Tip : when practicing this technique, you should have a mint. The body will sart to associate the taste of mint with relaxation, and gradually, you will be able to get to a relaxed state faster when you pop a mint into your mouth before the interview.
• Avoid having more caffeine than normal the day of the interview. Caffeine « jitters », caused by excessive caffeine, can induce nervousness and make you become unnecessarily anxious.
• Utilize positive imagery to replace negative thoughts. If you find yourself imagining a worst-case scenario, you should try to replace that image with one of them being successful. During your visualization you need to notice what behaviors you are exhibiting, what you are saying, and how you are presenting yourself.
• For further information you can check the following useful links:

– for guided imagery:  use guided imagery for relaxation

–  for mindfulness and meditation: how to manage stress with mindfulness and meditation

– a meditation app: https://www.headspace.com/ 

– watch the YouTube video about relaxation techniques: deep breathing  and positive imagery as well as reduce stress through progressive muscle relaxation