Nothing more in Life holds us back from tapping into our full potential and becoming the best version of ourself, than Fear does. Fear makes us question our dreams, prevents us from achieving major breakthroughs and living our best life. In fact, most of us live in the self-made prisons of our own fears. It’s the made-up story in our mind that steals our happiness, peace of mind and the ability to unleash an unlimited amount of potential into the world.
Fear itself, of course, is normal. When you set out to pursue your dreams and your desires, it’s completely natural for fear to creep in and scare you from time to time. Whether this fear bogs us down or catapults us to new heights, all depends on our reaction and response to the fear.
Be it Relationship Fear, Career Fear or something as simple a facing an interviewer to land that Big job – You can’t delete your fears, and some feelings of nervousness may be inevitable. But with just with a little preparation in a rigorous and holistic way, you are good to go.
The Anxiety of Landing into that Perfect Job
A job interview is unlike any other situation you typically find yourself in. Yes, facing an interviewer can be daunting to a few of us. However, managing the nervousness, and building on your Confidence can help you channel your nervous energy into a positive force. Here a few tips to get over the anxiety and the Interview Fear Syndrome.
- Preparation Can Lead to Perfection
Even the most confident and qualified of candidates need to practice before stepping in front of a hiring manager. A little research about the concerned organization can go a long way.
Practice responses to standard interview questions by creating a list of common interview questions and answer each question out. In other words, have a mock interview session before the “big day” comes. The more you practice, the more confident you will be to respond during an actual job interview, without any fear. - Remove Self Doubt
Most of us have a concocted perception of an interview. We believe that the interviewer is going to grill us and have a constant worry at the back of your mind. This can hamper your body language and create a negative impact during the interview.
How you feel about yourself makes an impact in your brain knowingly or subconsciously. So, strive and have complete control over all of the thoughts and have confidence in what you have read and what you know. - Dress Appropriately
Obviously, first impression is the best impression. How you dress for the interview will create a visual impact on the interviewer even before you utter a single word. The first judgement an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. So make sure you dress professionally and groom yourself well, so that you cast an impression on the interviewer at the very first glance. Also, when you dressed professionally, it will automatically help to boost your own spirits. - Practice Interview Etiquette
The more positive an impression you make, the better you’ll do during the job interview. Proper interview etiquette is extremely important. It would speak volumes about you and your personality. Practice simple gestures like:
Greeting the interviewer politely, yet enthusiastically.
Watch your body language.
Shake hands firmly.
Make eye contact with the interviewer.
Be attentive and look interested. - Be Yourself
Inevitably, the interviewer will ask a question to which you don’t have an immediate answer. Accept if you don’t know the answer instead of beating about the bush.
Also, don’t feel conscious about pausing. Interviewers expect you to pause and think before answering complex questions. If your pause starts to feel awkward, it’s okay to say something like, “That’s a great question. I just need a moment to decide on the best example to share.” If you race to fill every silence too quickly, you’re likely to blurt out something you dint intend.
If you’re fixated on your accent or other fears, your focus turns inward and weakens the connection. No matter what the situation is, remember to be yourself without projecting a version you are not. Most often, interviewers appreciate those who are genuine, not necessarily intelligent. - Be Reasonable with Your Own Self
Lastly, do not over expect from yourself. Go with a clear mind, have faith in your abilities. Focus on projecting confidence and putting all of that preparation to use. You can’t control the employer’s decision-making process, but you can control how you present yourself in the interview.
View the interview as a chance for you to work on yourself. Yes, you want to impress and get the job, but if don’t get that particular job, you still will continue job searching. Walk your mind through what will happen if you don’t get the job, and realize that it’s not the end of the world. This will help you beat the bush and help you stay calm and mindful.
The next time you’re up for a new job and have a big interview coming up, consider these tips, go prepared and Be Brave. Because after all, you need to remember that – “Fortune Favors the Brave.”
— Henry Maris
CEO | TeachSub