Tips for Overcoming Interview Anxiety

Summary

In this special holiday edition, Amanda Augustine, a career advice expert from TopResume, answers job seekers’ questions, focusing on overcoming interview nerves. She shares practical tips to prepare effectively for interviews, such as researching the company, role, and hiring manager, as well as addressing tough questions with confidence. During the interview, Amanda suggests using pauses and repeating questions to buy time and gather thoughts. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of follow-up thank-you notes and viewing interviews as a two-way street. These actionable strategies help candidates stay calm, collected, and prepared for their next interview.

Takeaways

• 😀 Preparation is key to feeling confident and reducing interview jitters. Research the company, the role, and the hiring manager beforehand.
• 😀 Make sure to think about the questions you're nervous about and prepare thoughtful answers to them.
• 😀 Avoid over-rehearsing answers. Focus on key points you want to communicate, rather than memorizing full responses.
• 😀 When answering questions, aim to communicate in a natural way, not a robotic, rehearsed manner.
• 😀 Instead of memorizing answers, write down bullet points of the main points you want to cover.
• 😀 During the interview, it's okay to pause before answering questions to gather your thoughts.
• 😀 You can repeat the question back to the interviewer to buy yourself some time to think and clarify your understanding.
• 😀 Don’t feel pressured to immediately respond to a question. Take your time to formulate a thoughtful answer.
• 😀 If you forget to mention something important during the interview, include it in your follow-up thank-you note.
• 😀 A thank-you note should not just express gratitude but also reinforce your qualifications and interest in the role.
• 😀 Remember that interviews are a two-way street; ask questions to assess whether the company and role are a good fit for you as well.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Amanda Augustine's advice in this video?

Amanda Augustine focuses on providing tips to overcome pre-interview jitters and offering strategies to feel more confident and prepared during job interviews.

Why is preparation considered key to overcoming interview anxiety?

Preparation is important because it helps reduce nervousness by making you feel more confident and ready. Knowing about the company, position, and hiring manager allows you to walk into the interview with a sense of control.

What should you research before an interview?

You should research the company, the specific position, the hiring manager, and even salary expectations. This ensures you're fully prepared for the questions and discussions that may arise.

How can anticipating tough interview questions help reduce anxiety?

By anticipating tough questions and preparing your responses, you can avoid being caught off guard. It allows you to respond thoughtfully rather than panicking in the moment.

What is the danger of rehearsing answers too much?

Rehearsing answers too much can make your responses sound unnatural, robotic, and rehearsed. It may also cause you to forget your answers when trying to recall them in the interview.

What is Amanda's recommendation for handling tough interview questions?

Amanda recommends focusing on key points instead of memorizing full answers. By writing down bullet points of the main things you want to convey, you ensure flexibility and authenticity in your responses.

How can pausing before answering a question benefit you during an interview?

Pausing before answering gives you time to think through your response. It also shows the interviewer that you're thoughtful and composed, and allows you to gather your thoughts without feeling rushed.

What is a 'pregnant pause,' and how can you use it in an interview?

A 'pregnant pause' is a moment of silence after you've answered a question. Interviewers may use this technique to see if you have more to add. You can also use it to collect your thoughts or to ask them to clarify a question.

What should you do if you forget to mention something important in the interview?

If you forget something important, you can use the follow-up thank-you note to include the missing information, reiterating why you're a great fit for the role and showing continued interest.

Why is the thank-you note important in the interview process?

The thank-you note serves multiple purposes: it expresses gratitude, reiterates your qualifications, reaffirms your interest in the role, and helps keep your candidacy top of mind with the employer.