Successful Interviewing: Detach from the outcome, engage in the process!

Brenda Griffin  Get A Job Expert

Be ready when opportunity comes….Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet.  ~ Roy D. Chapin, Jr.

     Interview nerves.  Do you have them? Does the thought of having to meet face to face put you in a panic?  If so, you are not alone.  One man told me he drove around the block six times before he decided to go to his interview.  Another was so nervous he drove to the wrong address! 

     If your nerves are getting the best of you, it is time to shift your focus. Your goal: detach from the outcome and engage in the process.

     Needing a paycheck creates pressure to perform well during interviews. There is much at stake!  Over-focusing on the outcome – the need for a job – is where the panic and nerves start.  What increases the level of anxiety is knowing you cannot control the outcome. By continuing to focus on what you can’t control, things get even worse. They get crazy!  You get crazy.  Next thing you know, you are driving around the block instead of parking your car. 

     Remember this, employers make the final decision.  You can influence the process; you cannot control it.  So, how do you detach?  Acknowledge you can’t control the outcome. Rather than focusing on what you can’t control, put your energy into what you can.  Engage in the process of preparation!

     Turn the panic anxiety into thrilled and energized enthusiasm.  By focusing on preparing, you can remain calm and focused at interview time:

Study your background  - so you know how your credentials fit the job description.

Study the company – so you can demonstrate you are serious about fitting into the organization.

Rehearse questions you want to ask the employer – so the interview becomes an equal exchange.

Rehearse answers to the questions you most dread to be asked.

Video mock interviews to see what changes need be made in body language and demeanor.

Examine your wardrobe and overall appearance to reflect a professional image.