Dealing with the stress of job interviews
Job interviews are stressful. There's no denying that. Interviewing for a job puts you on the spot and forces you into a situation where you are dependant on someone else. It can be extremely nerve-racking for job seekers little to no interviewing experience in interviewing. Even seasoned professionals with years of interview practice can feel anxious or overwhelmed while preparing for or during an interview. Understanding that stress is a normal part of the process is the first step to overcoming it.
Have you ever heard the expression "It's easier to get a job when you already have a job"? Every wonder why that is? Well there are a lot of reasons but most simply put, it is because the job seeker is more relaxed. They have less to lose and know that even if the job they are interviewing for doesn't work out, they still have a source of income. This breeds a sense of comfort and reduces the stress allowing you to present your best self.
"The sea is endless when you are in a rowboat."
-Adolfo Bioy Casares, The Invention of Morel
If you are in need of a new job, there are still ways to control your interview anxiety. One way is to prepare. How can you prepare for a new job interview?
Thoroughly analyze the position. Having a good understanding of what the job demands reduces some of the uncertainty that comes with the interview process.
Do your research. Research the company. Look at their core values and mission statements. These can easily be found in the "About Us" section of their website. Research their competitors and clients. Understanding their business and challenges will make you stand out when they are evaluating candidates.
Practice! The worst thing you can do in an interview is "wing it". Practice what you will say and be prepared for what they will ask. Fear of the unknown is real. Luckily, there are patterns in pretty much every interview, regardless of the company or industry and if you identify those patterns, you can be more prepared and be caught less off guard.
Now you are asking what the patterns are. Well for one thing, there are very common questions that are asked in nearly every interview. They may sometimes be worded differently, but they are almost always there. Preparing ahead of time and practicing your responses will help make you less nervous when the time comes.
Tell me about yourself.
This question is asked at nearly every interview and almost everyone gets it wrong. The interviewer doesn't care how many cats or dogs you have, what your favorite color is, or that your favorite thing to do in your free time is curl up in footy pajamas binge watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls. What they want to know is how you fit with organization and what you have to offer. This is where your research come in handy. You want to summarize your expereince and education and demonstrate how that expereince will benefit what they are looking for. Practice developing your personal brand and working on your elevator pitch.
What are you salary expectations?
No one enjoys this part. How to do you figure out what the right dollar amount is that won't leave money on the table but also won't immediately eliminate you from consideration? Well, again, proper preparation can help with this. Reseaching the role and what the avrerage income is can help you manage your expectations. Look at typical pay range for similar roles in the industry and in your region. Also look up the company's salary range for the position. All of this information can easily be found online if you take the time to look. My advice is to research what is a typical range and then be honest. There is nothing wrong with asking for what you are worth. If you see the pay range for a position and know that your expereince and value is worth the high end of that range, then ask for the high end or even a little above. You will NEVER get what you don't ask for. If you are have less experience, asking for the highest end of the pay range will probably not get you a call back. Self awareness goes a long way.
What do you know about our company?
Your answer to this question should never be "nothing". As I said before, you should have already done some reasearch about who they are, what their values are, who their competitors and clients are, etc. You don't have to know everything.What they want to know is that you took the time to find out anything about them that would lead you to feel you would be a good fit. They will certainly fill in the details.
For help in learning how to answer these and other common interview questions contact me. I offer career coaching that covers everything from resume/cover letter development, how to use social media, interview preperation, and personal brand development.
