Preparing for a job interview can be an anxiety-provoking experience, but wondering if you’re good enough for the job and lamenting over the what-ifs will get you nowhere. Instead of fixating on hypotheticals, give yourself a break and focus on what you can control.
Here is everything that you need to know about prepping for a job interview without obsessing about it in the process!
Go Over Your Responses
Have someone you trust prep you for your interview by asking you interview questions. This is an opportunity for you to practice everything you plan to say and reveal your true self during the interview. Keep your response in the back of your mind for the interview.
Keep a mental log of any important things you’ll need to reference during the interview. For instance, if you were previously paid a bank teller salary and you’re applying for a job in the same field, this is information you may want to relay to your potential employer so that you are justly compensated. Employers often ask about previous work experience, so it is good to discuss your lived experience related to the position.
Prepare Your Materials
Suppose you’ve been called in for a job interview. Congratulations! You’ve clearly impressed your potential employer with your resume or your social media pages, or else they wouldn’t have invited you to the next step of the hiring process. Knowing that you have your foot in the door, take a moment to relax and give yourself some credit for what you’ve already accomplished.
Once you’ve given yourself a confidence boost, move on to preparing your materials for the actual interview. You’ll need to have your resume, references, work portfolio, and contacts all compiled neatly into an envelope for your potential employer to review. If you plan to send over your materials electronically for a video job interview, compile everything into an easy-to-read share file for them to read at their own pace.
Decide What to Wear
The last thing you need is to obsess over what you’ll wear to your job interview. The night before, lay out your clothes so they’re ready to go. Think ahead of time about the best outfit for the interview.
If you are being considered for a position at a formal establishment, you might wear black dress pants and a formal shirt. If the environment is casual, find your most flattering pair of jeans and a graphic-free shirt. You want to look like you’ll fit in with everyone else, so dress for the part.
Practice Grounding Techniques
Even if you are super nervous about your interview, there are ways to appear composed during moments of anxiety. Focus on your breathing and the feeling of your feet planted on the floor.
The sensations of the breath and the feeling of your feet against the floor are two things that you can rely on during your interview.
Take comfort in these consistencies to ground yourself and get rid of some of your nerves. You can also keep a trinket in your pocket that you feel gives you good luck or wear some essential oils on your wrist to stay cool throughout the interview.
Let Go of the Outcome
After you have compiled everything you need, determined your outfit, and rehearsed your responses, all that is left to do is let go of the outcome. You know you have prepared to the best of your ability, and now, the rest is out of your control.
Worrying does not accomplish anything, so be proud of your efforts in preparing for the interview process and wait to see what happens. Good luck, and don’t sweat the small stuff!
