It’s important to be confident in an interview. If you’re anxious and lacking confidence, you can’t perform at your best. It’s easier said than done because it’s natural to feel trepidatious. There are things you can do though and here are some ways to boost you’re your confidence before an interview.
One of the best things you can do to boost your confidence before an interview is to make sure that you have researched every inch of the job that your are applying for. If you know the job description from top to bottom, then nothing during the interview will come as a surprise and you will be able to impress the employers with your in-depth knowledge of the role before you have even been offered the position.
Show the interviewers that you are really listening and taking it all in by making a few notes every now and then. Be sure to jot down all of the important points that arise during the interview, but be mindful not to spend the whole time with your head down in a notebook. It’s all about striking a fine balance between making a connection with the interviewer and writing down information that you might need later on.
Get a friend or family member to take you through a practice run of the interview, covering all of the topics that you think will come up so that you can prepare answers. The last thing you want to happen is for you to be caught cold and struggling for an answer, so get in as much practice as you can beforehand.
It might be hard with the interview weighing on your mind, but you really need to try to get a good night’s sleep the night before the big day. Only getting three or four hours of shut eye is going to lead to you not only looking tired in front of the interviewers but you will find it harder to concentrate and focus, and could end up messing up the interview because you couldn’t provide sufficient answers to simple questions.
Treat yourself to something nice on the morning of the interview. It will put you in a good mood and relax you in preparation for the potentially nerve-wracking experience. Whether it’s cooking your favorite breakfast or popping in to Starbucks for a cup of your favorite coffee, do something nice for yourself and it will make you feel much better about what is about to happen.
You would be surprised just how much a particular outfit can improve your confidence in any given situation. If you dress the part for the interview, you will find that walking in to the office and sitting down with the employers won’t seem so daunting and different. It also shows the interviewers that you already have an understanding of the work environment and will help them to picture you as part of the team.
Always arrive a little early to the interview. It will give you a little bit of time to get used to the surroundings instead of turning up thirty seconds beforehand and being whisked straight in to an office room for questioning! If you get there early, you can sit down, collect your thoughts and focus your mind on what you have to do to impress them.
Take some deep breaths and do your best. That’s the best you can do.
Good luck!