Christianity tips

Give Them Some Space

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] Don’t go all stalker-like obsessive on them. After following up and still not receiving an answer, just consider it a loss and move on. How much follow up is too much? Find out: Following Up on a Job Interview: Full How-to Guide

Show Your Appreciation

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐] Send a thank you note after the interview within 24 hours. Not only is this a cordial gesture, but it also serves to remind them that you are waiting for their response. Craft your perfect letter of thanks—express appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position. Read more here: How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview (+10 Examples)

Just Breathe

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐] When all else fails, and you still feel nervous, try deep breathing. Taking slow, deep lungfuls of air often helps reduce nervousness and stress, whether you are interviewing or in another anxiety-inducing situation. Try this 4-Square technique:

  • Breathe in slowly while counting to 4
  • Hold that breath in while counting to 4
  • Release slowly, counting to 4
  • Count to 4 with lungs deflated before repeating Navy Seals use some version of this breathing technique, and it’s worked quite well for me, as well. It’s one of my favorite last-minute interview tips out there. Hey! Where do you think you’re going? Just because you’ve made it through the interview doesn’t mean the fun has ended. Don’t worry—our interview tips don’t stop there either. This is what you need to do after the interview:

Focus on One

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] If you’re already dreading your interview, facing a group interview may feel like more than you can handle. First, keep your focus on one person of the group, and tell yourself that it is just you and they. Later on, you should feel more comfortable, so switch your focus to the other(s). Don’t leave anyone out not to offend your future colleagues and seniors!

Get More Interviews!

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] At first, this may sound counterintuitive—how would being given more stressful situations help lower your anxiety? Well, interviews are stressful not just because it’s a formal meeting where you’re in the spotlight, but also because it plays a life-changing role. If you have more interviews lined up, at least you’ll reduce the stress which comes from feeling like you only have one shot to get it right.

Skip the Alcohol

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐] Yes, interviewers are mean, scary monsters, but don’t take a shot of vodka right before to help steel your nerves—potential employers will smell it on your breath, most likely, and that could ruin any chances you may have had. If you really fear a panic attack at your upcoming interview, consider consulting your doctor about taking a prescription such as Xanax.

Avoid Coffee

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐] You’ll likely be nervous and jittery enough as it is, and that’s before arriving at your interview. Don’t let your daily caffeine ritual cause you more suffering. Skip the coffee until after the interview. However, if you need it to feel alert, or if, like me, you need it to avoid a withdrawal migraine, opt for a tea. Tea has a lower caffeine content (usually), and a cuppa has even been shown to reduce stress after consumption.

Speak Clearly

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] In a phone interview or a Skype interview, your voice is going to be weighed much more heavily, since your appearance and other aspects don’t have to be. Have a glass of water handy to keep your throat from getting dry. Enunciate to be sure that your answers are clearly understood. Learn great Skype & phone interview tips from this guide: Top 20+ Phone Interview Questions & Answers [Best Examples & Tips] Sweaty palms. Weak knees. Panic. Interviews can be terrifying events for even the most confident among us. And if you’re prone to anxiety and nervousness anyway, awaiting the interview feels like having an imminent execution date. But relax a bit. Here are some helpful interviewing tips for anxiety and nervousness that will see you through your big day with confidence and calm.

Prepare for Maximum Bandwidth

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] You don’t want your computer or internet connection to give out in the middle of a video interview, or a telephone interview, for that matter (if you’re on a VoIP call). Close all your other programs. Sit next to your wifi connection. Block all other sounds in your environment by locking your cats in a closet, turning off the house phone ringer, and dosing your children with sleeping aids. Well, not really, but you get what I mean.

Know Where to Look

Importance: [⭐⭐⭐] One of my favorite Skype interview tips is to make sure that you look at your laptop’s camera, not the screen. Sure, you can look down every now and again as you’re listening, but be sure to look into the camera when you are speaking. This way, you’ll look like you’re looking into their eyes on their end, rather than gazing down below eye level; though it may not be as important for these webcam interviews, 67% of hiring managers name failure to make eye contact as the top interview mistake.