Finding Your Zen Before Attending the Interview
Nervous jitters are completely normal when anticipating a job interview. The Wall Street Journal states that "The need for pre-interview stress relievers is rising, as more college students and recent grads apply for serial internships, and more employees interview for internal transfers amid corporate restructuring." With that, the author of the article explores the different types of stress remedies that other professionals use in their pre-interview routines.
Ridiculous Underwear
Emma Valentiner, a content manager and search engine optimization specialist, uses the ridiculous underwear tactic. Valentiner will wear undergarments with funky prints like donuts or koala bears. She explains how she feels as though she is bringing something special to the table and it gives her a boost of confidence as well.
Superman/woman pose
Valentiner also uses the superwoman tactic before an interview. She would go into the bathroom before an interview and stand in a superwoman pose and breathe deeply for a couple of minutes. This gives her added confidence and helps ease nerves.
Breathing exercises
Sam White, a marketing executive, shares how he arrives early for his interview in search of a coffee shop. He will then do breathing exercises as well as create a gratitude list before attending the interview. He does this to remember what is already great in his life as an attempt to relieve built-up stress.
Exercise
Ms Covington, the founder of Women of Denver, shares that exercise helps relieve her anxious energy that is built up. She recommends parking away from the meeting place to take a walk or to take the stairs instead of the elevator. She had once run up six flights of stairs to get to one of her interviews.
Dressing the Part
When attending an interview it is important to make a good first impression and to present yourself professionally. Ceoworld Magazine explains that "You may be a graduate from an amazing University, but if you cannot carry yourself sophisticatedly and professionally during the interview, then there will be issues." This article thoroughly explains what you must not wear to a job interview.
Things to avoid when dressing for an interview…
Flashy Clothing
It is important to distinguish ourselves from one another in our work, although it is possible to stand out too much. Things like intense flashy clothing may distract from you and your work during the interview process.
Too much skin
Refrain from wearing clothing that shows too much skin. Professional attire is often preferred in the interview and work setting. This attire is considered to be more modest, so be sure to avoid wearing clothing that may be too revealing.
Dirty or wrinkled clothing
Make sure your clothing is clean and presentable. If there are visible stains and wrinkles on your clothes, this will come across as careless and unsophisticated.
Send a Post-Interview Note
It is always a good idea to send a "nice to meet you" note after attending an interview. Emily Price from lifehacker.com further tells us, "A few years ago I started sending “Nice to Meet You!” emails to people after they had given me a card at a networking event." From there, she explains the alternative to sending a "Thank you" note after an interview, something she had been told as a college student. She explains how her "thank you" notes could have been the reason she was put above others when being considered for a job. Sure enough, she had read that Jessica Liebman, the executive managing editor of the Business Insider website, won't hire those who do not send a thank-you note.
Originally published Nov 23, 2021
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