Faced with a new experience ahead, your job interview, your mind and body react. Stress shows up. It can play against you if left unmanaged.

Recognize the symptoms

   Stress is a natural reaction -physical or mental- that can be helpful when it works as a red light to show us a dangerous situation ahead. However, it can become a severe condition if it is left unmanaged. And this works not only for a job interview but for life.

   A dry mouth, trembling hands, a headache, a stomachache, sweaty palms, increased breath rate are signs of stress. Stress shows itself in diverse ways. Consequently, the first step is to recognize that we are under pressure, know the symptoms. Denial only leads to more problems. 

   If the signs of stress keep on appearing uncontrolled, you will not be able to elaborate and articulate your thoughts properly. Your production will be weak, and so the interview.

Personal ways to cope with stress

   We all face stressful circumstances in our daily lives and surely have resources to reduce them. Well, an interview is another one. What do you usually do to relieve tensions? Do you go to an aerobic class, a walk in the woods, a yoga class? Do you find these activities uninteresting and prefer listening to music, developing a hobby, knitting for charity? Or perhaps you need to feel useful in a different way, do volunteer work, coach a team, for example?

   There is not a recipe list of practices. Only what you feel helps, counts. We may fall in the temptation to compartmentalize a little too much and leave the whole job search, application process, and interviews out of the box. However, we need to remember that they are part of our present lives, and we need to include them as such.

Coping with stress at job interviews

   Changing careers can be extremely stressful because it does not merely imply a good salary and household maintenance. It means a way of life adapted to a new reality in all senses.

   The positive thing in this particular situation of a job interview is that you know the source of stress. There are specific techniques to release tensions that will improve your performance when faced with your interviewer.

• Refresh all the info you have about the hiring institution. Be clear about the department courses, syllabi, obtain as much information as possible, and keep it handy. Make notes if it is necessary.
• Be ready to summarize your professional career, research, methodology, etc. with concise examples.
• Keep print copies of your CV, statement, and materials as much as possible if the day of the interview, your device, or technology does not respond the way you expect.
• Choose and prepare your attire in advance. You do not want to find that your jacket does not fit the day before the interview.
• Plan arriving with enough time in advance to walk and enjoy the campus and buildings' views to help you clear your mind.
• Practice, practice, practice. Make a list of possible answers and questions, and look at yourself in a mirror, record yourself, and talk to someone you trust. If you want to rehearse with a friend or relative, choose one who is positive and gives you useful feedback.

   Most importantly, no matter what the result will be, think positively. Think about how much you need this job, you want this job, and that you are the best fit for this job.

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