Got Interview Jitters Heres How to Manage Them

Got Interview Jitters Heres How to Manage ThemGot Interview Jitters Heres How to Manage ThemJob interviews can be extremely stressful for candidates- even very qualified ones. Research from Everest College and Harris Interactive found that almost all Americans surveyed (92 percent) suffer from pre-interview jitters and anxiety related to the interview process.Some specific interview-related fears that job seekers cited includeNot knowing the right answer to questions askedBeing lateMaking a bad impressionBeing underpreparedWith these factors in mind, here is some practical advice on how get rid of interview jitters, and feel more confident and prepared going into an interview situationPractice your interview answers.While there is no way to know exactly what questions you will be asked in an interview, that doesnt mean you cant brainstorm answers to specific types of common questions. A large part of your overall interview prep should involve getting very comfortable fielding job-rel ated questions with confidence and poise.For abflugers, read this article on three tough job interview questions and how to answer them. You should also try to anticipate questions that the hiring team may ask you about the specific position to which youre applying, as well as the company. Thoroughly review the job description so that you have the right language to use when discussing it. Prepare answers about how your past experience and current skills can help the company solve their problems.Arrive in the vicinity ahead of schedule.If you feel nervous about arriving late for your interview, you should- there is no doubt youll make a poor impression and set off on the wrong foot by showing up past the requested start time. Knowing this, you should do everything you can to ensure an on-time arrival, which means planning to arrive at a location near where your interview will be held well in advance of your scheduled interview time.Arriving early requires careful planning. Think thro ugh how long each leg of the journey could take, from the amount of time you need to shower, dress, and eat to how long the commute is to the companys interview location. Build in a large cushion of time- a half hour or more. This will help ensure that you arrive early in the general vicinity of where you need to be. Once youre on-site ahead of schedule, you can breathe a little easier. Dont head into the interview check-in location too early though. Wait out the time nearby- in your car or a local coffee shop, for example. With the travel out of the way, youll know that youll be on time, and you can brush up on your interview answers while you wait to check in for your meeting.Amp up your attitude.Theres no need to worry about the impression youll make if you prepare to make a good one. In addition to taking the steps above, projecting a positive attitude counts for a lot in interview scenarios. Be sure to get a good nights sleep so that you can arrive energized and ready to rock y our interviewDont leave your interview performance to chance. By taking these three steps- planning in advance to say the right thing, arriving early to be on time, and making a great attitude impression on the hiring managers- you can quash your worries about being underprepared and position yourself for job success.Looking for more interview advice? Check out our category dedicated to job interviewing tips.