| tion is the key to minimizing job interview nervousness. | | | | company. Try to get a sense of the company's |
| If you prepare everything possible at least the day | | | | priorities and, if possible, try to understand what, |
| before the interview, you'll be able to focus on the | | | | exactly, the company is looking for in new staff |
| answering interview questions well and avoid worrying | | | | members. |
| about anything else on that day. | | | | 5. Practice answering interview questions. |
| 1. Collect all of your job search documents. | | | | Require yourself to come up with good answers for |
| Gather together and make several copies of any job | | | | the questions that you find most difficult. Sit with a |
| search documents you want to bring to the job | | | | supportive friend or family member and run through a |
| interview. This may include your resume, cover letter, | | | | mock interview so you can practice saying your |
| reference pages, performance reviews, reference | | | | answers to tough job interview questions out loud. |
| letters, diplomas and anything other documents the | | | | 6. Set aside plenty of time for the interview. |
| employer may ask to see. | | | | If the receptionist told you that the interview would be |
| 2. Gather together and try on all of the clothes that | | | | approximately 30 minutes, set aside at least 60 minute |
| you'll wear to the interview. | | | | for the interview. Avoid scheduling any important |
| Ensure that your job interview attire fits well and is in | | | | meetings immediately after the interview. If a job |
| good condition. Discovering a stain on your best pair of | | | | interview goes long, that's a good sign. You don't want |
| pants on the day of the interview is a source of stress | | | | to be worried about picking up a child from school or |
| that is completely avoidable. Trying on all of your | | | | getting to an appointment on time while you are in the |
| clothes well in advance so you'll have time to fix any | | | | middle of your interview. |
| problems before the day of the interview will eliminate | | | | 7. Keep things in perspective. |
| a potential source of job itnerview stress. | | | | Remember, the employer wants to get this position |
| 3. Go to the location where the interview will be held, | | | | filled, and he or she is hoping that you will be the right |
| particularly if you have never been there. | | | | person for the job. You are not going there begging |
| Use whatever transportation you will use to get to the | | | | for a job, you are going there help them solve a |
| interview and try to go at about the same time of day | | | | problem for the employer. That is, if the company is |
| as your job interview is scheduled. If you do this, you'll | | | | hiring, that means there is an important role that is not |
| know what traffic is like at that time of day, how long it | | | | currently filled; you are going there to show them that |
| will take to get there, where to park, whether you | | | | you have all of the skills and experience required to |
| need money for parking meters if you're driving, or | | | | meet their needs. |
| which, if any transfers you'll have to make if you are | | | | You will probably never completely eliminate |
| taking public transportation. You don't want to worry | | | | nervousness before a job interview, and that's fine. |
| about those things on the day of the interview, so | | | | Employers expect a certain amount of nervousness. |
| work all of that out before your interview. | | | | However, if you prepare everything you can in |
| 4. Research the company. | | | | advance, you will avoid plenty of distractions and |
| Have a look at the company website or promotional | | | | common sources of job interview stress and minimize |
| materials, or, better yet, if you know someone who | | | | your feelings of nervousness. |
| works there already, ask that person about the | | | | |