| Preparing for a Job Interview: The Mental Preparation | | | | nervous, you will want to focus on your breathing. |
| Let's face it! There is lots of competition out there in | | | | People, who suffer anxiety attacks, have very |
| the job market today. Not only do you need to be | | | | restricted breathing. They breathe at the top of their |
| prepared for the questions you may get asked but | | | | chest in shallow breaths, rather than right down to their |
| you also need to be emotionally prepared. If you are | | | | belly. See if you can open your chest and take a few |
| nervous or lacking confidence, then the interviewer | | | | slow deep breaths and let the air travel right down to |
| may not have a lot of confidence in your either. | | | | your abdomen. Focus on relaxing each part of your |
| Mentally prepare for those questions by rehearsing | | | | body, starting from your feet all the way up to the top |
| your answers beforehand while thinking about how | | | | of your head. By simply bringing your focus to your |
| they may be received by the interviewer and prepare | | | | breath and consciously relaxing your muscles, you will |
| yourself emotionally by doing some relaxation | | | | begin to feel more calm and centered. You might also |
| exercises. Some common questions include, "what do | | | | want to close your eyes (but not if you're driving) and |
| you know about the company?", "what are your | | | | take a few minutes to visualize a successful outcome |
| strengths", "what are your weaknesses?", "why did | | | | to the interview. Imagine yourself as calm and poised |
| you leave your last job?". | | | | during the interview and the interviewer smiling and |
| Preparing for a Job Interview: The Emotional | | | | shaking your hand afterwards telling you what a |
| Preparation | | | | pleasure it was to meet with you. Remember that |
| If you are very nervous going to the interview, it might | | | | practice makes perfect and if you do not succeed at |
| help to realize that everyone has a certain amount of | | | | getting an offer on the first round of interviews, chalk it |
| anxiety about interviewing. A little bit of nervousness is | | | | up to practice and you will eventually be successful. |
| good, it gives you energy! If you are tremendously | | | | |