It’s completely natural to be nervous before an interview. No matter how perfect your resume and cover letter are, or how many attractive skills and experiences you have listed, it’s still acceptable to have pre-interview jitters. Team Burkhart has compiled three methods for calming pre-interview jitters to ensure you have the best interview possible.
Come Prepared
For an interview, preparation is the key to success. If you spend about 2 hours preparing, you will be on the road to success. The first thing you should do is make sure that you are fully versed in what the position entails. Be as thorough as possible when researching the company. You should know what philanthropy work they do, what their mission statement is and any other details available to you.
One of the most effective ways to prepare is to write down questions to ask in the interview. Preparing more questions will result in a lower chance of the interviewer answering all of your questions before you have a chance to ask them, and you will have more clarity after the interview.
I would also recommend having a notes sheet where you can keep track of all of the company and job information that you find, and you can write your questions on it. You can then go back to it after the interview and write down the interviewer’s answers to your questions for future reference.
Another great way to ensure you are fully prepared is to conduct a mock interview with a friend or mentor. Practicing questions and responses will make you less nervous while doing the real thing since you already have answers ready for what they might ask you.
Stay Healthy
The worst thing you can do is be sleep-deprived, hungry and/or stressed out during your interview. To combat these things, workout, eat full meals and get 8 hours of sleep. Exercise is a natural stress reliever – it will give you more endorphins and make it easier to concentrate and stay positive during the interview.
Make sure to eat full, healthy meals in advance. Try and eat foods packed with nutrients that will keep you full for a long time. The last thing that you want is your stomach growling to distract you from your interview.
Another tip that many people might be hesitant about is to avoid caffeine. This will help with pre-interview jitters because highly caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, can make people more jittery and nervous on a normal day, let alone before a big interview.
Self-care is extremely important. Take a relaxing bath or shower, drink tea, listen to music, read a book or meditate. Do whatever makes you happy and relaxes you to be as ready as possible to conquer your interview.
Have a “During the Interview” Strategy
No matter how prepared you are, there is still a chance of being nervous during the interview. There are many techniques to combat these nerves. A great way to calm yourself down is to practice breathing techniques and meditations you can use during the interview. If you breathe slowly and are conscious of each breath, it will help slow your heart rate.
Concentrate on being thoughtful with your words. Pause and think about what you are about to say before speaking. Speaking slowly, intentionally and calmly will project confidence. Stay positive and utilize body language to translate your positivity to the employer. If you come prepared and follow the previous advice, you should be full of energy to show off to the employer.
A great way to keep high spirits is to reward yourself after the interview. It will give you something that you can think of to motivate yourself to do your best. Whether it’s a massage, a glass of wine or an episode of your favorite show to binge on, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s something that will give you motivation. If all else fails, try and keep your hands busy, ask for a glass of water or take notes to get your mind off of your nerves.
Team Burkhart values hard work, creativity, resourcefulness, teamwork and respect. Head over to our website to check out the three internship positions we are currently hiring.
