If you’ve been looking for work for a long time, you may very well be feeling quite anxious right about now. And when you do get an interview, chances are good that that anxiety comes out, putting you in something of a catch-22: you really need a job but you can’t land a job because you really need one.
Today’s tips won’t solve all your problems, but I hope they will give you some tips for navigating the interview process when you’re downright desperate for work.
First off—and this is the same for everyone, no matter what stage of the job-search you are in—do your research on the employer. Learn as much as you can about the role, the organization, upcoming events, all that good stuff. And take notes so you can remind yourself about what you learned. You are absolutely welcome to have notes in front of you during the interview, but if the interview is virtual, let them know that you’re checking your notes so they know why you’re looking away.
Next, review your accomplishments and skills. Yes, this sounds a little silly, but reminding yourself that you have done some pretty fabulous things will boost your confidence a bit, and reminding yourself of the particulars of what you’ve done will let you speak to those things in the interview. Make notes about things you really want to say in the interview, including particularly impactful phrases and some examples of your strengths. Outline some stories to tell, too, being sure you use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) format. Your results don’t all need to be positive, either. I encourage my clients to throw in some examples of times they mis-stepped but learned something valuable in the process. Be sure you’re outlining actual stories instead of talking in generalities, too: this one time, this thing happened, I did this, and here’s what happened.
When it comes time for the interview itself, as cheesy as it sounds, start by taking a couple of slow, deep breaths before you turn on your camera or enter the room. You can return to deep breaths as needed during the interview, and you can also check in with your body to re-orient you to the here and now. Feel your feet on the floor, your buns in the seat, your hands on the table. These are small things but can help you reduce your anxiety at least a little.
As you talk to your interviewers, roll out those things you learned about them, your accomplishments, and those stories. You have them all prepped in your notes! Make use of them. If your interview is virtual, you can even make some sticky notes and put them on your monitor for ease of access.
And if you start feeling really nervous, smile. Smiling actually cues your limbic system to calm down, and even triggers a nice little reward from your brain. Bonus: other humans will respond to your smile. This simple gesture will make you more trustworthy and approachable in the eyes of your interviewers. I often tell people to draw eyes and place those on either side of the camera lens and then draw a big grin under that so when you make “eye contact” with the camera, it reminds you to smile.
When you’re answering the questions, don’t be afraid to give them some thought. I know that the situation often feels like you need to answer quickly, but most interviewers would really rather you come up with a thoughtful answer than a fast one, so take some time to think. You can buy yourself a little thinking time by saying things like, “That’s a really good question,” or by simply repeating the question thoughtfully. If you’re on the phone, be sure to make some “thinking” noises (“hmm”), and if you’re on camera, make some small motions like nodding or putting up a thoughtful hand. These things will demonstrate to your audience that you’re pondering, and keep them from wondering if the call has dropped.
Finally, try to be positive through the process. I know that that’s frustrating advice when you’re already frustrated, but it really does matter. Humans are good at reading other humans, so you want to present the best, most capable version of yourself. You can give yourself a little boost before the interview by standing like Wonder Woman, and during the interview, glance over your notes on your accomplishments to remind yourself that you really are awesome.
Is this advice all cheese-tastic? Absolutely. But it really does work, so try it and see for yourself! And if you’re feeling like you just can’t do this on your own, find a career professional. You aren’t alone in this, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!
