How to be Relaxed for Your Interview

The day is finally here. You’ve been filling out applications for weeks. You’ve contacted a couple dozen employers. You finally found the perfect job and they gave you an interview.

The problem: nerves. You don’t want to be a nervous wreck when you enter their office. Good employees are calm, cool, and collected. But how do you keep from being nervous?
Research early

The first thing you can work on is to know the employer well. Most of the time, this will require researching. But if you wait to research until the night before your interview, you’ll be more nervous.

Thus, you should research the employer at least a week before the interview. Gather the important data about their business, the office, the city in which they are located, etc. Try to understand their typical clients or customers. Perhaps most importantly, find out what you can about the person who will be interviewing you. Also, don’t forget to research the position for which you are being considered.

But how do you remember all this info for a whole week? Take notes. If you write the key facts and figures down in a text document or on paper, you’ll have an easy reference. Glance back over this data a couple times before the interview and make sure there’s nothing you need to add. You’re already well on your way to a relaxed interview.
Prepare the day before

On the day right before interview day, make your final preparations. Make sure your clothes are clean, pressed, and ready to go. Ensure that you have maps to get to the interview location. Glance over your fact sheet again to refresh your mind.

If all has gone well, everything will be in order. However, if you need to make a quick trip to the store to get socks that match your suit, you’ve got plenty of time. This is only the day before, so you have a cushion between now and the interview.
Clear the day’s schedule

A big key to having a relaxed interview is being able to focus on it. If you’re worried about making your next appointment on time, you will naturally be stressed.

The best advice for this is to clear your schedule on interview day. At least give yourself an hour or two buffer around the interview slot. This should provide time to get there, do the interview, and then get to your next obligation.

If you cannot help having a tight schedule, inquire with the employer ahead of time approximately how long they desire your presence. Some interviews might last 15 minutes, while others could require the whole afternoon. Know ahead of time, and you can plan accordingly.
Relax in the evening

The evening before the interview is time to just relax. Make yourself a nice cup of tea, have a small glass of wine, or just enjoy a casual dinner with friends or family. Do not do anything too strenuous, and definitely do not stay up late.

Relax, try to take your mind off tomorrow, and know that you’ll do fine.