Ten Tips for Reducing Interview Stress and Increasing Success

An interview can be the best or worst part of the job application process: on the one hand complete strangers are judging you on your appearance, your personality and your every word… On the other hand, it presents an opportunity to justify your CV and argue your case in person with much more control over the outcome.

Whether you like them or loathe them, everybody can use a few secret weapons to get them through the process so here they are: ten tips for doing well at interview, gleaned from the combined experience of people who know what they’re talking about.

Before the Interview:

1. Actually DO your Research

This is extremely important but all too often falls by the way- usually because you receive an interview date just far enough away that researching the company gets pushed to the bottom of your to-do list only to be remembered at the last minute.

Think of an interview as an oral exam- among the things they are testing you on is your knowledge of the company and the industry. A thorough understanding of the organisation could well give you the edge on the competition.

2. DON’T eat curry the night before

 Or Mexican or Chinese…you get the idea. Whether you’ve got a delicate constitution or an iron stomach you don’t want to risk intestinal distress the day of an interview or be worrying about the location of nearby toilets. Stick to solid, unspicy foods and carb load as much as possible as you may be too nervous to eat the next morning.

3. DO drink lots of water

 People tend to avoid doing this out of a fear of needing to visit the toilet an excessive number of times on the day but being well lubricated can really make a difference in an interview. Nerves will make your mouth and throat dry anyway and adding dehydration to that can make talking at length not only difficult but also uncomfortable, detracting from your overall performance.

4. DO make good use of your appearance but DON’T dress like a slut

 There is a psychological study known as ‘The Halo Effect’ which indicates that people subconsciously associate an attractive appearance with other positive traits such as intelligence and competence. This means it is wise to look your best- looking smart is a must anyway, but makeup and perfume or cologne wouldn’t go amiss.

However, don’t overdo it- subconscious effects are easily overridden by conscious thought and interviewers are not stupid. Overt sexuality will get you nowhere.

5. DO take the lift

 Whether you’re fit or unfit, risking turning up panting and sweaty won’t do much for your presentation or your peace of mind. So forget being healthy for one day and stay pristine. Also be aware that there may not be a working lift so leave enough time that you can ascend the stairs in a leisurely manner rather than having to hurtle up them to be on time.

In the Interview:

6. DO be positive about everything

 From the moment you enter the building everything you say should be positive and enthusiastic. Whether you’re talking to the receptionist, other candidates or the interviewer do not whine about trains, stress about personal problems or complain about your work. You never know who’s listening or who might be consulted in the decision making process so keep it positive and you won’t get into trouble.

7. DO enjoy the first few questions

 This might sound crazy, but consider this: the first few questions are almost always the easy ones, easing you into the interview format. They are also when you make your first impression. So be confident and engaging, expand your answers and act like you’re enjoying being there. This will not only help your confidence overall but means you still leave a positive first impression if it all goes wrong later on.

8. DON’T waffle

 Clearly one word answers will get you nowhere but remember most interviewers will be familiar with the technique of trying to hide a lack of actual knowledge with excess verbosity. Be concise and relevant as much as possible and only refer to relevant topics (if you’ve followed number 1 this should be easy anyway). Finally try to avoid excessive hyperbole- the company is unlikely to be perfect and considered criticism will often outweigh uninformed flattery.

9. DON’T lie but DON’T be too honest

 Lying in an interview is stupid. For a start you’ll already be nervous and so you’ll be unlikely to keep track of what you’ve made up but also THEY WILL KNOW. Consider how many people they’ve interviewed over the years- you are not going to win this psychological warfare. That being said, I was recently told a story of a guy applying to work in banking who when asked, disavowed any knowledge of- or interest in- the industry. Clearly true but also clearly a bad idea. Tweaking is all well and good and part of the process, lying isn’t.

10. DO have relevant questions

 At the end of the interview you will almost certainly be asked if you have any questions. Have some. Come up with them beforehand if necessary but make sure they are intelligent and relevant to the job and the rest of the interview. Also make sure to remember the answers- they are keeping notes and repetition of the same queries will not look impressive if you’re asked back.

So there you are: ten ways to polish your interview technique. I’ve not done all these dos and done all the don’ts and I can assure you that doing it this way round is infinitely more comfortable. I can’t promise it will get you a job but I can assure you that it will make the whole experience a little more bearable.

Let us know if you have successfully used any of the above or if you have tips of your own to share in the comments below.

(picture by twicepix via flickr)