How to Relax at Job Interviews
Are you one of the many people that get the jitters when you go to a job interview? Chances are that you become nervous just as most of us do. Of course this is a normal and expected reaction. No matter how extensive your list of qualifications are, a lack of self-confidence will be apparent to a prospective employer which may undermine your chances of getting hired.
If you've lacked self-esteem your entire life you certainly aren't going to become confident overnight but you can present yourself in the most positive manner possible. So what can you do to help yourself relax?
First and most importantly, be yourself. Those two words can't be stressed enough. Just take a deep breath, smile and be you.
Be honest. Don't inflate your level of expertise. Don't claim to have knowledge or experience that you don't have. You may fear that your chances of being hired won't be as good if you admit to a lack of experience in a particular area but if you do get hired, your knowledge level will show in your job performance.
Be friendly and professional. We've all been taught to be professional at a job interview which is very good advice but don't forget to be friendly too. Employers may want to get a sense of how you will interact with other employees so try to walk the path of professionalism but be warm and personable as well.
Ask questions. By asking questions you show the employer that you are genuinely interested in the position. While you should never interrupt or talk over the employer, you should not leave the person feeling as if he or she is talking to a wall. People often feel uncomfortable initiating conversation or asking questions but the employer expects you to ask questions and may interpret your silence as a lack of interest.
People that are nervous usually do one of two things at an interview. They may tend to clam up, only speaking when they are spoken to or they may tend to talk too much, rattling on incessantly. Try to find a middle ground in the area of conversation. Try to be comfortable and make eye contact. Let the person know that you are interested in what he or she is saying and that you are paying attention. Once again we are brought back to the first rule of thumb: be yourself.
