MANAGING INTERVIEW STRESS
Posted: 13th Oct
It is common to feel overwhelmed, nervous and anxious before an interview. Stress is something we all experience from time to time. It is a response to pressure when faced with a challenging or threatening situation. We can feel stressed by things that are happening around us and also from the pressures we might put on ourselves.
Stress is not always bad. As much as we associate stress with unpleasant feelings, keep in mind that stress can sometimes be a good thing. In this context, being stressed in an interview shows that you care about getting the job and performing well, encouraging and helping you sharpen your focus.
Below are some helpful techniques that may help reduce your stress levels for an upcoming interview.
BEFORE THE
INTERVIEW
To reduce stress, follow the suggestions in Preparing for an
Interview section on page 24.
A HELPFUL RELAXATION
TECHNIQUE
Simply close your eyes, breathe deeply, inhaling from the nose
exhaling out through the mouth, and picture yourself greeting the
interviewer confidently and answering tough questions with
ease.
Use your imagination. Visualisation is a relaxation technique that requires you to imagine yourself succeeding in the situation. By practising this technique, you are mentally preparing yourself to handle the event in real life. This can be practised any time before the interview.
DURING THE
INTERVIEW
During the interview, we can feel all sorts of things. Some people
are able to walk in comfortably, and others may get a little
nervous meeting the potential employer(s). Before we know it, our
hands are sweaty, the heart is beating fast, and we find ourselves
speaking equally fast. In those situations, slow down, pause and
take deep breaths. It’s OK to be nervous.
WHO YOU CAN TALK TO IF
YOU’RE EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS OR
ANXIETY
If the feelings of stress begin to affect you mentally and/or
physically, the following people and organisations might be helpful
to provide you with more support: school staff (welfare staff,
school nurse, teachers); an adult you trust; your GP (doctor);
local services (headspace, youth service, etc.)
headspace: 9027 0100
Lifeline (24 hr): 13 11 14
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
RECENT NOTICE
VIRTUAL INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
Posted: 14th Oct
Ingredients for a great resume
Posted: 9th Oct
20 Soft Skills To Develop To Get You Workforce-ready
Posted: 6th Oct