• Update Availability
  • Contact
  • Login
  • español
  • Login
  • Update Availability
  • Contact
  • español
  • Why Choose QPS?
  • Divisions
  • Locations
  • About
  • Join Our Internal Team
  • The Break Room
  • Events
  • Job Seekers
  • Employers
  • Professional
QPS Now Hiring Logo
  • Career Assistance
  • Locations
  • About
    • Our History
    • Executives
    • Awards
    • Community Involvement
    • Affiliations
    • Press Room
    • Join Our Internal Team
    • Beliefs
    • Video Gallery
    • Mark Immekus - In Memoriam
    • Top Candidates
    • Coronavirus Action Plan
    • Referral
    • Attendance
  • The Break Room
  • Events
  • Job Seekers
    • Why Choose QPS?
    • Divisions
    • Job Seeker FAQ
    • Student Workers FAQ
    • Associate Employee Benefits
  • Employers
    • Working With QPS
    • Divisions
    • QPS Plus
    • Safety Training
    • Employer FAQ
  • Professional
  • Update Availability
  • Contact
  • Login
  • español
  • Career Assistance
  • Locations
  • About
    • Our History
    • Executives
    • Awards
    • Community Involvement
    • Affiliations
    • Press Room
    • Join Our Internal Team
    • Beliefs
    • Video Gallery
    • Mark Immekus - In Memoriam
    • Top Candidates
    • Coronavirus Action Plan
    • Referral
    • Attendance
  • The Break Room
  • Events
help desk software
  • Login
  • Update Availability
  • Contact
  • español
  • Why Choose QPS?
  • Divisions
  • Locations
  • About
  • The Break Room
  • Events
  • Job Seekers
  • Employers
  • Professional
QPS_NOW HIRING lockup_green
  • Job Seekers
    • Why Choose QPS?
    • Divisions
    • Job Seeker FAQ
    • Student Workers FAQ
    • Associate Employee Benefits
  • Employers
    • Working With QPS
    • Divisions
    • QPS Plus
    • Safety Training
    • Employer FAQ
  • Professional
job-seekers-banner-small

Looking for Work?

Apply Now
Interview-Anxiety_web

Coping with Job Interview Anxiety

Feb 23, 2016

Feeling anxious about a job interview is normal and interviewers will understand if you show a little nervousness. They are not looking for perfection, however they will want to see how flexible and resilient you can be. It is up to you to prove that you are capable of forging ahead despite your stress and anxiety. Here’s what you can do to feel and look more confident for a job interview.

Prepare with research.

Do your homework. If you haven’t already, research the company you will be interviewing for and organize the notes. Find out what they do, who the staff are and also identify their competitors. Tailor your answers to incorporate the company values. Knowing as much as you can about your prospective employer can help you better respond to the interview questions. Make a list of questions to ask, write them down and take them along to the interview. Review your notes again the day before.

Conduct a practice interview.

List common questions and draft your responses to them. Don't memorize exact answers. Instead outline points which will make your answers more flexible to fit questions that deviate during the interview. Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself. Observe your posture, facial expressions, gestures and how you maintain eye contact. Practicing before the interview can help you discover your strengths and weaknesses, both in your body language and your rehearsed responses.

Plan ahead.

Eliminate what you don’t know by contacting the company’s Human Resources department. Alleviate a bit of the stress by planning ahead so you will have less details to fuss over on the day of your interview. Consider the location of the interview site, the travel time, what you will wear, what you should bring with you and print your resume ahead of time. Make plans to decrease the risk of something going wrong.

Set time aside to relax.

Everyone has a different approach to relax. Set time aside to be comfortable in your own skin whether that is through meditation, stretches, a hot bath or shower, strenuous exercise, music, yoga or having a good laugh. Easing your mind and body will help you manage your stress level, boost your mood and most importantly improve your concentration during the interview.

Get enough rest.

Fatigue will show in your body language and face. Just one night of sleep loss can lead to problems that you don’t need. You want to avoid accidents that may occur from a lapse because you are sleep deprived. Sleep well so you can stay sharp and focused throughout the day and during your interview. Adequate rest also improves your memory, your mood and lowers your stress.

Eat a healthy breakfast.

A healthy breakfast can prevent fatigue and help you stay alert. Naturally, a good breakfast will provide you with energy, stop you from feeling hunger before lunch and prevent you from going through a mid-morning slump. Also, decrease your caffeine and sugar intake in the morning. Caffeine may increase your heart rate and lead you to feeling jittery which you want to avoid.

Dress professionally and comfortably.

You can look sharp and be comfortable at the same time. Wear clothing and shoes that are not too restrictive. You will feel more confident when you dress right and have less to worry about with your appearance.

Arrive early and think reassuring thoughts.

Give yourself time to relax in your car and breathe. Rather than review or obsessively try to recall your answers, use the extra time to calm down. Gather your thoughts and remind yourself that everyone has gone through an interview, your interviewers included. Remember that pauses are okay and you’re allowed to think before answering. Mistakes can happen and are inevitable. Imagine the interview as a conversation. Think positive thoughts.

Smile.

Give your best, genuine smile. Smiling not only sends a positive message to your interviewer and make you more relatable, it can reduce your stressful feelings, improve your mood and make you more comfortable as well. An authentic smile can be contagious.

To completely soothe our nerves may be impossible, but we can try to not let it hinder us during a job interview. For more tips on how to relax before and during an interview, read here.

Leave a comment Newest on top Oldest on top
Load more comments
avatar
New code

Search Posts

Filter Posts

Job Seekers

  • Complete Guide to Mastering the Virtual Interview
  • How to Find a Job in a New City
  • Multitasking at Work
  • How to Ask for a Raise
  • How to Boost Your Productivity
  • How to Handle a Counter Offer
  • Making a gig work
  • How to Leave Your Current Role Without Burning Bridges
  • 4 Ways to Create Your Own Career Success
  • How to Discuss Your Previous Experience in a Job Interview
  • How to Answer Tough Interview Questions
  • Benefits of a side gig
  • National Skilled Trades Day
  • The Benefits of Job Research & Where to Start
  • Going from a passive to active job search
  • Energy Boosting Meals for Work Week Productivity
  • 3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Cancel a Job Interview
  • Reconnecting with your network
  • 4 Ways You’re Scaring Recruiters Away
  • How to Negotiate Your Next Job Offer

Employers

  • May’s Job Report: Rate Remains at 3.6%
  • April’s Job Report: Rate Remains at 3.6%
  • March’s Job Report: Rate Declines to 3.6%
  • February's Job Report: Rate Drops to 3.8%
  • January's Job Report: Rate Rises to 4.0%
  • December's Job Report: Rate Decreases to 3.9%
  • November's Job Report: Rate Drops to 4.2%
  • October's Job Report: Rate Drops to 4.6%
  • The Demographic Drought
  • September's Job Report: Rate Drops to 4.8%
  • August's Job Report: Rate Drops to 5.2%
  • July's Job Report: Rate Drops to 5.4%
  • June's Job Report: Rate Rises to 5.9%
  • May's Job Report: Rate Declines to 5.8%
  • April's Job Report: Rate Rises to 6.1%
  • March's Job Report: Rate Drops to 6.0%
  • February's Job Report: Rate Drops to 6.2%
  • January's Job Report: Rate Drops to 6.3%
  • December's Job Report: Rate Remains at 6.7%
  • November's Job Report: Rate Drops to 6.7%

Archive

  • 2022 June
  • 2022 May
  • 2022 April
  • 2022 March
  • 2022 February
  • 2022 January
  • 2021 December
  • 2021 November
  • 2021 October
  • 2021 September
  • 2021 August
  • 2021 July
  • 2021 June
  • 2021 May
  • 2021 April
  • 2021 March
  • 2021 February
  • 2021 January
  • 2020 December
  • 2020 November
  • 2020 October
  • 2020 September
  • 2020 August
  • 2020 July
  • 2020 June
  • 2020 May
  • 2020 April
  • 2020 March
  • 2020 February
  • 2020 January
  • 2019 December
  • 2019 November
  • 2019 October
  • 2019 September
  • 2019 August
  • 2019 July
  • 2019 June
  • 2019 May
  • 2019 April
  • 2019 March
  • 2019 February
  • 2019 January
  • 2018 December
  • 2018 November
  • 2018 October
  • 2018 September
  • 2018 August
  • 2018 July
  • 2018 June
  • 2018 May
  • 2018 April
  • 2018 March
  • 2018 February
  • 2018 January
  • 2017 December
  • 2017 November
  • 2017 October
  • 2017 September
  • 2017 August
  • 2017 July
  • 2017 June
  • 2017 May
  • 2017 April
  • 2017 March
  • 2017 February
  • 2017 January
  • 2016 December
  • 2016 November
  • 2016 October
  • 2016 September
  • 2016 August
  • 2016 July
  • 2016 June
  • 2016 May
  • 2016 April
  • 2016 March
  • 2016 February
  • 2016 January
  • 2015 December
  • 2015 November
  • 2015 October
  • 2015 September
  • 2015 August
  • 2015 July
  • 2015 June
  • 2015 May
  • 2015 April
  • 2015 March
  • 2015 February
  • 2015 January

Contact QPS

We're Here to Help

Contact

Join Our Internal Team

We're Looking for Talent

Join

Connect With Us

Let's Keep in Touch

  • linkedin
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • google
  • youtube
  • Job Seekers
  • Employers
  • Professional
  • Locations
  • About
  • español
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
footer-logo© 2015 QPS Employment Group. All Rights Reserved