Tips for Beating Interview Anxiety -

Tips for Beating Interview Anxiety -Theres leidhing like an bewerberinterview to throw an otherwise calm and collected individual off their game. Being interrogated by someone who holds the power to either give you a job or send you home empty-handed can be intimidating. And, of course, when a person is intimidated, they typically underperform.Cognition can be confusing, jitters can be jarring, and it can be difficult to remember things like learned skills and experienceslet alone your full nameas you sit under the judgmental gaze of that seemingly all-powerful hiring manager.If youve found that you struggle with interview anxiety, here are a few tips to take with you the next time you suit up and head out to meet with a hiring team.Stress Is NormalFirst things first, you need to understand that even successful people feel stressed at times. Its a very prototyp emotion, and theres nothing wrong with it. In fact, trying to completely eliminate stress isnt a great ideaespecially since its practically impossible to do so.Rather, its something you should strive to understand and manage. Many of the tips below are ways to directly do that, but the first step is making sure that youre approaching your interview anxiety with a realistic, management-oriented focus rather than an agenda of eradication. If you feel stressed, step back, take a deep breath, and remember that its a perfectly normal reaction to your situation. Once youve done that, its time to take steps to manage the stress.Go in PreparedIts always wise to go into an interview prepared. Take the time to research and learn about the company where youll be interviewing. Look up things like their public announcements, earnings calls, social media posts, and even take the time to look into which specific personnel within the company might be interviewing you.In addition, go over any questions you might have as the interviewee and make sure youve gathered all of your documentation ahead of time. Preparations lik e these are excellent ways to stay calm before the interview day officially arrives.Practice Makes PerfectThe truth is, its hard for most people to talk about themselves without coming across as either insecure or narcissistic. Learning to talk about yourself in an accurate, reasonable manner is a learned skill, not just something the lucky ones are born with.That said, the simple act of practicing your responses to classic interview questions can help bolster your confidence. This handy list of common interview questions from Glassdoor can help you get comfortable with a plethora of different inquiries you might hear from a hiring manager. Go over them, and dont just think about the answers. Speak them out loud, as if youre actually in an interview, answering a person in real time.Dress to ImpressYour clothing can make a huge difference in your appearance. It can send messages to those who see you and can also instill a sense of self-empowerment. In fact, professional attire has be en shown to literally broaden perspective and increase abstract thinking for the wearer. In other words, an excellent way to beat those nerves is to dress thoughtfully for each interview you attend.Be PunctualIts always recommended to arrive at an interview on time. In fact, its best to get there early. That doesnt mean you should hang around the secretarys desk for a half hour before the interview, of course. If you arrive early, simply wait in your car or a nearby coffee shop until its time.While this helps demonstrate your responsibility, it also can help you stay focused and calm, rather than feeling stressed and anxious because you were delayed by traffic, couldnt find the building, etc.Finances Are TabooIt never looks good to show up to an interview mora worried about your own compensation than the job itself. Money and benefits are topics that should be saved for a later time, if and when youre offered the job.This interview strategy is typically brought up as a way to help i ncrease your likelihood of nailing the interview. However, its also quite helpful in reducing performance anxiety as well. Knowing you dont have to open up the can of worms that is financial negotiations can take a load off your mind and ease the pressure and anxiety of an interview right from the get-go.Be YourselfIts easy to feel the need to oversell your qualifications in an interview, but any savvy hiring manager is going to see through that facade, anyway. So dont try it. Thats not to say you shouldnt highlight your strengths, though.Be confident about what you do know, be professional, and show genuine interest. Simply being your professional self can go a long way in helping the entire experience feel less like a performance. And, of course, if it feels less like a performance, its likely to help calm those unwelcome butterflies.Nailing the InterviewTaking some time to create an interview preparation strategy can be a great way to maximize your confidence and help calm anxiou s thoughts. And, of course, poise and confidence directly translate into a better chance of success in each and every interview.If you can manage to implement some of these tips and can avoid being sidelined by those pesky nerves, youre much more likely to impress the hiring manager in your next interview.Are you tired of your resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never break through the screening process. It shouldnt be that way. Thats why I created this guide and I encourage you to download the FREE PDF so you can start seeing better resume response rates

14 Self-Reflection Exercise To Repower Your Career

14 Self-Reflection Exercise To Repower Your Career Like many women, I was told I could become whatever I wanted to be when I grew up. Before the age of ten, I cycled through dreams of acting, singing, and becoming a veterinary pharmacist (true story).Trying to find my passion was a near-obsession that followed me into adulthood. As I struggled to find what my best skills were, all along I ignored what was naturally good at. I let my work get in the way of self-reflection, and forgot that my knack for empathy, love of writing and an incurable curiosity about human behavior are a key tenet of who I am.They say hindsight is 20/20, so today I clearly landsee how these strengths shaped my career. Yet, for a long time, I searched for my passion as if it was a lost treasure chest that required a map to find.What is self-reflection?Ultimately, self-reflection is about asking yourself some key questions about how your past experiences, struggles and triumphs have shaped you.This is elend a ne w idea. For decades, psychologists have known that humans are more motivated by personal, meaningful goals than by external rewards such as money or status. Put simply when you love what you do, it shows. Youre lit up by your passion, you put in extra effort, youre a source of great ideas. Others envy your confidence.Self-reflection is an important part of any career. It requires learning about yourself on a regular basis.So how do you get started? The first step is to simply explore your whims those little sparks of interest youre not sure what to make of yet.14 Self-Reflection ExercisesTo help you figure out what you find meaningful and inspiring in your life, try this exercise. For each of the prompts below, write for a minimum of five minutes. Dont censor yourself. Write freely. Jot down whatever comes to mind, no matter how silly it seems. Ready?Name the top 3 peak experiences in your life. What do they have in common? What does this tell you about yourself?What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?What are your strengths and values?If money werent a problem, what would you spend your every day doing?What would you do if you knew you could not fail?Whats your favorite way to spend your free time?What have you done in your life that you are especially proud of?What activity are you doing when it feels like time just flies by?What times do you feel the most alive?What kind of impact do you want to have?What kind of professional and personal breakthroughs do you want to experience?What are things (a language, a sport) you want to learn?How do you envision you will leave your goals or legacy on peoples lives?What are you excited, happy, and enjoying most in your life right now?behauptung powerful questions can help you strip away limiting beliefs to find your true calling work you find deeply meaningful. That doesnt mean itll be easy, but it will be rewarding.How do you find your passion?There isnt a direct route to finding your passion its somethi ng that unfolds over time and is discovered through life experiences. Your dream job isnt an exact destination, either. Its constantly evolving. The ideal career when youre in your early 30s may eventually become a poor fit by the time you turn 40.So what do you do if you have no idea what your passion or life calling is?First, dont panic. Finding your purpose isnt something that happens overnight. Its a messy, iterative undertaking that requires time, patience and a healthy dose of self-reflection. Youll get there, but you have to start by taking small steps.Self-Reflection in Everyday LifeOnce it becomes a habit of mind, the process gets easier. Here are some of the most common forms of self-reflection that you may already practice MeditationThis practice has a lot of well-known benefits. By clearing your conscious mind, you get in touch with your subconscious mind. Its a process of critical reflection where your feelings are brought to the front of your prefrontal cortex. Once yo ure done meditating, youll feel like you have a stronger self-monitoring scale that will help you through the rest of your day. Its no wonder why meditation is something we should set aside time for every workday. JournalingYou dont have to set out to write an essay every morning. Just writing a sentence or two makes this reflective practice worthwhile. Every few weeks, find the time to read through your past entries from your reflection journal. While it may not detail every situation youve faced recently, youll find that it does an excellent job providing an empathy map a list of what matters to you most. Creating artRegardless of the medium you choose, making art is a calming process that allows you to explore your thought, strength and weakness. Its not your kill or ability thats important, its the action of doing the work. Pick something that interests you, whether its an adult coloring book, knitting or scrapbooking, and pursue it. Youll be surprised at what you learn about y ourself as you focus your thoughts on a singular, creative pursuit.Whats next?At the end of the day, self-reflection isnt enough. You have to take consistent action to make your thoughts and dreams a reality. But when you take the time to look inward and reflect, you may be surprised by what you find. Your passion might have been waiting there all along, just waiting for you to light the spark.--Melody Wilding is a coach and licensed social worker who helps ambitious high-achievers manage the emotional aspects of having a successful career. Her clients include CEOs and C-level executives at top Fortune 500 companies such as Google and HP, as well as media personalities, startup founders, and entrepreneurs across industries. She also teaches Human Behavior at Hunter College in NYC. Get free tools to grow your career confidence at melodywilding.com.A version of this article originally appeared on Inc.