We’ve all been there – the night before the interview you lie awake, going over your prepared examples and skills not able to switch off and get some sleep. Then the nerves kick in. ‘I won’t get this job anyway, so what’s the point?’ ‘I’m too old, I don’t have enough experience, I won’t fit in with the team, what’s the point?’ We’ve all let those negative thoughts swirl around our heads, but how do we deal with them so they don’t sabotage the interview altogether?
It’s a numbers game. You might not get this job, but you have an opportunity to hone your interview skills, prepare your answers and discuss your skills. There was likely a lot of people applying for this role, and only a few selected for interview, but you were one of those people. Something in your application spoke to them and now you have the chance to tailor your interview responses. If you don’t get the role, think about what answers you gave and the experiences you used. Is there something that didn’t land the way you wanted it to? Think about that and use that experience for the next interview. You will find the right role and you will love it. Then, all of these experiences will make sense.
Think about your interviewer – maybe it’s their first time interviewing. Did they have a strong handshake or do they seem nervous too? Think about how you can make the interview process easier – it takes the focus off yourself and can help to keep you calmer.
Breathe! Seems like a simple thing, but if you’re getting nervous and stressed, your heart rate is likely rising, maybe those palms are getting sweaty. Then your voice seems to crack a bit and then you think the interviewer is losing interest in what you’re saying. Oh great, now I’m boring them! Before you know it, you’ve lost the plot of what you’re trying to convey. Try and focus on your breathing throughout the interview. When you feel the heart rate rise a bit, make sure to take some breaths and gain control again. Take a few deep breaths and regain that control. Then you can focus on what you’re saying rather than worrying.
Don’t over analyse. Most interviewers are taking notes as you talk. There will be points in the interview where they are furiously scribbling away after you have finished speaking – this isn’t a test or an expectation that you continue rambling about anything to fill the void. Don’t analyse every silence as meaning something. It doesn’t. You’ve done your prep, you’ve given your answer. If you worry about every word the interviewer says, you’ll spend so much energy focussed on that rather than giving your answers, you’ll likely fumble over your answers.
Remind yourself how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned from other interviews and visualise yourself walking in there confidently and handling the interview brilliantly.
How can The Wage Shop help?
After all this, you’ve survived the interview. Congratulations! Even better when you get the job. Don’t forget how The Wage Shop can help you in your new role – we make sure your tax and National Insurance needs are taken care of, that you get paid correctly and on time, so you can spend your energy focussed on your new job.
We also auto-enrol you into our company pension scheme, so you can be planning for your future without even thinking about it. With our Payment Advance service, we can also advance you some of your wages so you can make sure your new work wardrobe is updated so you can be confident in your new venture. Head over to the website for more details or Contact Us to register.