How to Deal With Stress During a Job Interview

The stress of being unemployed is a heavy burden to bear. But the stress of a job interview can be just as hard to deal with. Here are a few steps to help you deal with stress during a job interview.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Practice Makes Perfect

1. Allot several hours to practice mock interviews with family or friends so that actual interviews won't make you so nervous.
2. Know your resume. Practice answering questions regarding your education, work experience and skill level without consulting your resume. When you can do this, you are ready for the interview.
3. Use past interviews as a reference point. Examine what went wrong so that you can avoid repeating the same mistakes. This will help relieve stress in future interview situations.

Eliminate Stress During the Interview

4. Avoid stress during an interview by eliminating worry. Trust your confidence and do your best in every situation, and you will have nothing to stress about.
5. Focus on the task at hand. If you have numerous outside influences adding stress to your life, try to ignore them during your interview so that you won't seem distracted.
6. Reschedule an interview if you are feeling too much stress. Otherwise, you could jeopardize your chances with potential employers.
7. Dress appropriately for the position. Usually, corporate jobs require formal attire. This includes a suit for men or women, dressy footwear and minimal jewelry. More casual environments allow you to wear slacks or jeans. Your clothing should always be clean and neat.
8. Take a deep breath. Breathing deeply and slowly can dramatically reduce stress. Practice deep breathing right before your interview and slow breathing during the interview.

Stop Post-Interview Stress

9. Ask your interviewer for his or her overall impression of you at the end of your meeting. This way, you won't have to stress over what he or she thought of you, and you can approach your next meeting with confidence.
10. Send a thank-you note within three days of your interview. Explain how much you enjoyed speaking during the meeting and include a reminder of how you could benefit the company.

Tips & Warnings

• Online job-search sites often have helpful articles on stresses related to job interviews, rejection and the nature of seeking employment in today's market.
• Keep in mind that, according to U.S. federal law, it is discriminatory to ask potential job candidates about their race, religion, marital status, sexual orientation and/or age.

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