Having walked into a job interview with little preparation and even worse odds of getting the job, I found myself in a predicament that is often talked about but rarely paid attention to: Job Interviews.

The area is a relatively strange one to me considering that most of my previous jobs were offered with no formal encounter of this sort. In reality this was my first job interview, and suddenly it was a little clearer where all the talk about jitters came from.

Sitting there in the waiting area which by all means was larger and more intimidating than I had expected it to be; I experienced firsthand the daunting difficulty of getting through these confrontations without being under a significant level of stress. Even more surprising was the sheer weight of nerve wracking jitters I witnessed around me. Seated along the whole room in neatly lined rows of expensive looking furniture were fully grown adults, who otherwise go through life in a placid state of nonchalance, but now were writhing in their seats, wringing their hands and biting already nonexistent cuticles.

An important step towards conquering your fears is to face them and recognize them. Fear is one of the choice human emotions that manifests through physical symptoms. Scientifically speaking the embodiment of fear is referred to as sympathetic arousal; the mechanism that is the culprit for the clammy hands and dry mouth which accompanied you all through life.

In reality fear is an adaptive mechanism that warrants your survival in order to ensure the continuance of the species, but in modern contexts such as that of a job interview, the overwhelming psychological stress triggers irrational fear in us forcing us to take the low salaries or lose the job altogether.

In reality should you be able to conquer your fear, your chances of getting the job will improve by that much. So after a little research and introspection, I’ve listed out the top glitches which should be fixed and the top tweaks which need be made when facing a job interview.

How prepared you are, is a prime deciding factor in how stressed you will be upon arrival. Preparation lends itself to many facets ranging from attire to your CV and the amount of sleep you had the night before. So to start it off your clothes and grooming reflects a lot about your personality and how motivated you are. Dull tones and dirty crushed clothes are obvious deal breakers. In addition to conveying a positive message your clothes also grant you a psychological plus. Researchers suggest that how happy you are about yourself translates itself to others around you through your aura. In addition a popular psychological concept called the halo effect states that people tend to attach positive traits to individuals that they believe are attractive, a concept that can be used to your advantage.

A complete CV is a good start but a portfolio is an obvious advantage. Especially if you have previous experience in the field of work your looking to find, employers will be more interested in finding out what your work is like more so than they are interested in the stack of paper qualifications you’re carrying. Think of the CV as a foundation without which your portfolio can’t be built, but a folio looks very impressive especially if you’ve picked out your choice best work.

The food you consume and the amount of sleep you get the night before are also critical in making that good impression. Droopy red eyes and a slouched posture don’t really scream out employability.

Smiling alone can reduce your stress by hefty amounts. The muscular function of smiling alone will bring out positive energy, an act of classical conditioning. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself, just smile right now you don’t need a reason just the upward curve of your lips will do the trick. And in the rare case that you really are the Grinch and smiling isn’t your thing faking a smile will make you look a lot more confident than you really are, and you know what they say; fake it till you make it.

The first 20 seconds of your interview will pave set the tone for the entire encounter. First impressions often stick. So make purposeful steps towards your interviewer and look him/her in the eye when you say your first few words. If the first impression is a good one the interviewer will be likely to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Speak clearly and slowly. Squealing is a very unflattering act of portrayal and will not work in your favor. Take time formulating your answers; be very confident about what you’re saying and maintain eye contact. Minimize pacifying behaviors such as covering your mouth, wringing your hands or glancing around the room.

Finally make a graceful exit. Make sure you collect all your belongings, take it from me, leaving your phone in the office and returning to collect it isn’t the most fun thing to do. Make sure to shake hands and thank the interviewer. Contrary to instinct, don’t rush out of the room.

 

 

 

 

By Dilshan Seneratne