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Job interviews are stressful: with all the uncertainty and insecurity surrounding it, sometimes it can feel dizzying, never knowing where to start, and how to prepare for it.

Especially if you struggle with mental health: it can exacerbate these feelings and make the situation all the more overwhelming.

I've compiled this list to help people who find interviews more stressful than others, with some tips to help calm your nerves, and best prepare yourself for the day.

1. Research, Research, Research

There is no such thing as too much research: don’t just research the company and the job but also look up: the person who’s interviewing you, the company website, their social media.

Research and look over your CV: cross-reference it with the job description and come up with possible questions related to it.

For example, questions related to your previous related job experience, your qualification and training.

Google and LinkedIn are your new best friends: check if there are any connections: any people you know that are employed in the company, or if any people from your University are currently employed there.

Employers value diligence and foresight: when you research, it shows the employer that you’re ahead of the curve, and willing to put in the work.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

Whilst you can’t predict what your prospective employer will ask during the interview, there are a set of procedural, and standard interview questions that’ll help you prepare.

If you find it difficult to speak on the fly, it might be worth practicing these questions, either by yourself, with a friend or a family member. These questions range from the personal, such as:

- Tell Me About Yourself?

- Why Do You Think You Would Make a Good Fit for the Role?

To situational and behavioural:

- Give an Example of a Time You Acted like a Leader?

- When Have You Demonstrated Perseverance or Resilience in the Workplace?

Whilst these standard questions are not guaranteed: they are good placeholders, you can practice answering these questions, so when the real interview comes about you are more confident in your ability.

3. Methods to Madness

Some people prefer interviews to be straight-forward and clear, for some, the stress and anxiety comes about as a result of the unpredictability and chaotic nature of the interview. There are certain methods and techniques that seek to alleviate this stress: for example:

- STAR Method (or Situation Task Action Result): a common practice used by many interviewees— it is a technique that can be moulded to the situational question. The aim is to link back your previous experience: whether personal or professional and relate it to your strengths as a prospective employee.

- ABC Technique (or Acknowledge Bridge Control): a technique used for public speaking, the key focus is bridging the question to the answer and controlling the response to your benefit.

4. Prepare Questions

Typically, at the end of an interview, the recruiter will ask if you have any questions for them: whilst, it is completely normal to not ask anything, asking questions shows the interviewee you are a keen and enthusiastic person, someone who goes beyond the grain.

If you are stuck on what questions to prepare, link it back to the research you’ve conducted.

Or, if you’re still unsure what to ask, ask general questions: ask questions the interviewer didn’t explain.

For example: What hours would you work? Are there hybrid opportunities? What are the job benefits?

If there’s more than one person interviewing you make sure to ask questions to both of them: if one of the people has the same job you are applying for, ask them how they’re enjoying it, or what a typical day at work is like?

It is equally important to show your passion and personality, as well as your professionalism and work ethic: employees typically look for someone with strong elements of both.

5. Plan Ahead

As someone with anxiety I try to avoid any uncertainty. Before an interview, I like to have everything planned for the next day.

I’ll plan my outfit: make sure it looks professional and proper, I’ll organise my bag, and check that it has everything I need for an interview.

If your interview is in-person, it’s a good idea to plan your route a couple days before. If you get travel anxiety, it’s worth it to travel to the location beforehand, especially if it’s a close/commutable distance, therefore, you know your way around more.

Interviews cause enough stress already, without the added factor of travelling somewhere you’re unfamiliar with, if you travel to the location earlier you can acquaint yourself both with the location and travel journey, that way when you’re travelling, the interview is your only focus and concern.

6. Prioritise Yourself.

Whilst it’s easy to say you’ll prioritise yourself and wellbeing, it’s another thing to talk the talk.

Interviews are very similar to exams: you can study all you like, and consume all the information all you need to, but if you do not look after yourself the night before, the nerves will more than likely get the better of you.

The best thing you can do, for peace of mind and to calm your nerves is sleep.

Tiredness is the enemy of anxiety and will enhance even the basest fears. It is so important to get a good night’s rest: especially, if you are an anxious person.

7. Presentation

First impressions count! Whether it’s an in-person or online interview: the recruiter will want to see what you bring to the table, are you organised, are you thorough, are you on time or are you late?

It’s a good idea to arrive early for interviews, especially if you’re commuting, you never know if there’ll be delays. Try and aim to get to the interview location 15 minutes beforehand.

If you’re too early, you can just walk around, get yourself a coffee or tea. If you’re running late: it will not only make you stressed, but it will make the recruiter think you’re the type of person to always be late.

During the interview: practice active listening, look attentive, and interested, if you want, you can bring a notepad, and take notes of the information the recruiter lists off, it’ll show you’re eager to learn about the company and the job.

8. Personalise

Everyone reacts differently to different situations, and whilst some do find interview tips and techniques like the STAR Method useful, others find them confusing and stressful.

Work out what works for you: think about what calms you down when you’re anxious. Personally, listening to music calms me down: so, when I had job interviews I would listen to music beforehand.

At the end of the day, interviews are just like any other anxiety-inducing experience, so combat that anxiety as you would anything else.

9. Reassurance

I know that when you don’t get a job it feels like the end of the world: it feels like you’re a failure, and that no matter how hard you try, that all the effort you poured in was for nothing but a waste.

Let me tell you something: it’s okay to feel like this, sometimes people react stronger than others and that’s alright!

However, even if you don’t get the job, it’s completely fine! Most of the time it has nothing to do with you, so don’t let it bring you down!

Your capability is not determined by whether you get a job or not: all you need to, at the end of the day, is be true to yourself, and show the recruiter why you’d be a good fit.

Even if you don’t get this job, the correct one will come along sooner than later.

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