Four Tips To Calming Interview Nerves
Category: Tips and Advice
Publish date: 02/02/2023
Nerves are natural during stressful situations, and they can actually be quite useful – helping you to stay alert and attentive (although I’m sure you’re already aware of this). However, during interviews, it's very easy for them to dent your confidence and get in the way of you performing well. That being said, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the impact of interview nerves and ensure you take a confident step into the civilian world.
1. Rehearse Rehearse your answers to anticipated questions out loud. Things sound very different when spoken out loud and hearing yourself voice the answers will help consolidate them in your head, while alerting you to anything that doesn't sound quite right. Whether it's by yourself or with the help of someone else, rehearsing will help you begin to feel more prepared for the interview ahead.
2. Dress for success Try on your interview clothes a few days in advance and make sure they fit properly, are comfortable, and that they present a strong professional image. A well-prepared outfit can make a huge difference to your posture and confidence levels. After all, you’ll perform well if you know and feel that you look good!
3. Arrive early Arrive at least 10-15 minutes early for your interview so that you have time to gather your thoughts and centre yourself. We also recommend managing your breathing while you wait to be interviewed. Breathing deeply not only helps to calm your nerves but also lowers your heart rate, helping you to speak clearly when introducing yourself and answering questions.
4. Act confident Even if you’re not feeling particularly confident, make sure to present yourself well with positive body language. Stand up when you’re greeted and remember to give a firm (but not bone-crushing) handshake. Once the interview begins, sit relaxed but straight with squared shoulders and look the interviewer in the eyes when answering questions. You'll likely find that acting confident despite your internal feelings will help calm some of the nerves.
There aren’t many people out there who actively enjoy interviews (and for any of you who do, we envy you!) If you find yourself feeling nervous at the thought of attending an interview, having potentially not done so for quite some time, don’t forget to use the CTPInterview tool available via myPlan, where you can record your answers to a set of questions and receive immediate feedback.
There are also tonnes of resources available in the Video Library that offer additional insight into what employers look for at interview, as well as plenty of e-learning support to help you navigate this important part of your transition.
Links to additional resources - myPlan, CTPInterview, and Video Library.