Interview anxiety is real. Here are a few tips for overcoming it.
1. What the heck do I wear to this thing?
Is a business suit too dressy? Great, these pants have shrunk since freshmen year. Now my hair went flat. Great, just great.
2. How early is too early?
Is 15 minutes too early? What if I get lost? What if I run out of fuel? What if my brakes go out and I end up driving all the way to Nebraska before my car stops?
3. What do I even do when I get there?
Will they meet me at the door when I get there, waiting with open arms to welcome me to their business? Or will it be like a hospital waiting room?
4. Is my handshake too firm?
What if my hands are all sweaty? I can’t do this. I want to retire.
5. Do I even want this job?
I don’t really need money. It’d mess up my whole schedule. I’m really too busy with, you know, important stuff. Stuff like my plants. I can’t leave my plants alone for eight hours a day.
At this point, you’re ready to email your perspective boss the best excuse of your life than prepare yourself for an interview. But the truth is, you can do it. Yes, it might make your stomach flip at the mere thought of walking into a room willingly exposing yourself to the harshest of judgments.
But the thing is, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Just the experience of the interview will prepare you for your next interview and the one after that and even the one after that, and each time you’ll get better and less nervous. In the mean time…
1. Dress for the job.
Dress like you work there, but one step higher. Whatever it may be, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
2. Never too early.
If you’re worried about being late, leave a generous amount of time to get there. If you end up being there an hour early, sit in your car and practice some interview questions, listen to music and get your thoughts together.
3. Expect the unexpected.
Don’t assume that they’ll be there right away if you’re 10-15 minutes early, but be prepared if they are. Act professional as soon as you pull into the parking lot, receptionists and customers around you could have an impact on the decision making process.
4. Practice makes perfect.
Have a friend randomly shake your hand, in the car, at dinner or when passing each other on the street.
5. Give it a shot.
There are a lot of jobs out there, so maybe this one really isn’t for you. But if you were good enough on paper to get the interview, you might as well see what you have to offer the company, and also see what the company has to offer you. This is the time to ask those questions that you were worried about earlier.
You've got this.
