Job interviews can be stressful, but our guide outlines how to overcome nerves in an interview and how to appear more confident in an interview.
How to show you are solution oriented in job interviews
We’ve all been nervous at some point. And each of us (at least that’s what I assume) has been to an interview and was – really – nervous. In a short conversation you try to convince your potential employer of your commitment and motivation, to leave a good impression and to make it clear to the company that you should use the unique opportunity and convince the person of your abilities and worth. All of this happens in a stressful situation. It is no surprise then that applicants get nervous.
We’ve all been nervous at some point. And each of us (at least that’s what I assume) has been to an interview and was – really – nervous.
What actually happens in our body in a situation with stage fright? In a stressful situation, our body pours out massive amounts of adrenaline, the heartbeat accelerates, energy reserves are released and the pupils dilate. With this protective mechanism of the body, humans are able to escape or to defend themselves.
In an interview, however, this protective mechanism of the body is very cumbersome. The situation becomes increasingly uncomfortable, you feel uncomfortable, have difficulty concentrating and are downright afraid of the questions that are asked of you.
Tips for an online job interview
A worst case scenario is that after you play this through in your head it alone can make you nervous. The bad thing is that this can quickly create a vicious circle.
Anyone who has had a bad experience of being nervous in an interview will only feel their fear of the next job interview confirmed even more. So you need to use strategies for how to overcome nerves in an interview — and even how to overcome fear of interviews completely!
Why are you nervous in an interview?
This serious question, which may sound stupid at first, is very important. Self-reflection helps to better understand one’s own behavior and the reaction to the situation in the interview.
The next time you get nervous in an interview, you get that self-reflection and you can appear calmer and more relaxed. If you are like the majority of the applicants, the causes of the nervousness are varied and consist of several aspects.
- High expectations
If you have already been to several interviews, but the acceptance simply did not work out, the expectation is high that this job has to work out now. You want to be perfect and not make a mistake. Added to this is the pressure from outside. What does the HR manager want to see or hear? What do friends and family say if your job doesn’t work out again? - Financial situation
The longer you look for a job and thus unemployment persists, the more difficult it can be for your financial and social situation. Money is becoming scarce and the day is losing more and more of its structure. The greater the need, the greater the nervousness. - Unknown territory
During an interview, even an experienced applicant and job seeker never knows exactly what to expect. This situation leaves much room for speculation and worry. You almost always ask yourself the worst questions, unsympathetic HR managers and absolute blackouts. An effective way to overcome interview nervousness is to change your mindset. See the interview as an opportunity that you can take advantage of. On the other hand, it cannot work either. The world will not end because of this. Talk to those around you and let them know if you feel pressured by someone. Further tips are discussed in the next subsection.
How to overcome nerves in an interview
Preparation
The better you prepare for the interview, the better you can handle your nervousness. Of course, you don’t have to memorize everything, but if you can explain your résumé and your motivation convincingly and answer a few questions well, practically nothing can go wrong.
Those who are prepared do not have to be afraid of being surprised by unpleasant questions or of suddenly finding themselves on the spot. This preparation will also show you how to be more confident in a job interview. See the next strategy below for this.
Self-confidence
In the application process, you were able to assert yourself against other applicants by being invited to an interview. This should calm you down and increase your confidence. You have already made a good impression and now it’s still a matter of getting to know you personally.
Stress questions
Prepare for questions such as “Why did you drop out of your studies?” Or “Are you planning to have children?”. Questions that address weaknesses or that become too personal put applicants under pressure. Prepare specifically for such questions. The recruiter’s strategy is to get you out of your reserve. See this as an opportunity to score.
Body language
You do not communicate only with words. Even when you are silent, your body is still talking. Many applicants play with your hair, chew your lips, or tug on your clothes. All of these gestures make you seem insecure. Become aware of your body language , record a simulated job interview. You can watch your micro-gestures closely and train them off.
Anchor method
This is a technique that will help you cope with the stressful situation. In the so-called stimulus reaction coupling, the thumb and index finger are pressed together. Meanwhile, one instinctively thinks of a positive experience. The beautiful memories are transferred at the touch of a finger.
If you have repeated this exercise often enough, you will feel good just by pressing your fingers together. For this technique to work, it takes some time of practice. You should therefore start setting an appropriate anchor early on.
