How to deal with stress in an interview

How to deal with stress in an interview by Amber Rolfe So, youve finally landed yourself an interview for your dream job. But what now?Chances are you’re feeling slightly apprehensive (see also: terrified) about the big day, as every nightmare scenario plays out in your head, whether its  What if I forget everything Ive ever learned in my entire life when Im asked a question?, ‘what if I trip on the way in and fall flat on my face, or what if I get lost on the way there, lose one of my shoes and get rained on? Sure, they may be unlikely scenarios, but that doesnt stop you from worrying.To help you officially de-stress, here are some of the best ways to battle interview nerves and make sure you stay confident, calm and collected (and/or dry) on the big day…Relax, breathe, and take your timeSo you’ve arrived at an interview filled with nerves; your palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy â€" you may also have been listening to Eminem on the way, but we digress â€" to put it simply, interviews are a scary ordeal.But whilst anxiousness is inevitable, it can be controlled with a few simple words â€" Breathe. Relax. And, Repeat.With this in mind, pay attention to your body language (ensuring youre maintaining eye contact, are sitting up straight, and resisting the urge to fidget) slow your speech down, and take the time to think through your answers before you say them. Pausing for thought is always a good idea.Its also important to focus on the positives to help you relax. Youve been invited to an interview for a reason. Youve obviously done something right, and the good news is, they already like you, so awkward interview moments aside, what could go wrong?Even if you arent offered the job, there are many ways to take  interview rejection  as a great opportunity to learn and improve.Four things to take to a job interviewHow to prepare for a job interviewNail your interview answersMany people make the mistake of trying to ’wing it’ when it comes to interviews.However, even if you feel as though the ‘wild risk taker’ approach works best for you, struggling to respond to a question you haven’t prepared for won’t do anything for your stress levels. More importantly, it won’t get you the job.So avoid awkward silences by preparing potential answers a few days in advance. That way you’ll have a clear, unstressed head to store all your newfound knowledge, and all you’ll have to worry about the night before will be a quick refresh and an early night.Not sure which questions will come up? Dont panic, we can help with that too. Download James Reeds bestselling book Why You now.Common interview questions and answersFive interview questions you should stop being scared ofThink of the interview as a conversation, not an interrogationInterviews are often just as much about finding out whether you’re a good fit for the company as they are about skills and experience. And despite all the difficult interview questions that might come up, never underestimate t he importance of compatibility.With this in mind, try to act naturally whilst maintaining a good level of professionalism. Avoid reeling off a sequence of memorised interview answers, and instead try to remember at least five skills, or areas of experience you have that make you a right for the role, and weave them into your answers naturally.After all, its a two-way conversation not an episode of Question Time. Also, nobody wants to interview the a robot and/or the internet.However, there is also such a thing as too natural.A friendly chat to get to know each other is fine, but you probably shouldn’t be sharing intimate details about your soon-to-be ex just yet.Types of interview questionsRemember that your interviewers are actually humanForget about the formalities and remember: your interviewer/s are just human*So, chances are, they might be nervous too. Imagining them as infallible bastions of professional perfection is often the root of a large share of interview jitters â€" and can be avoided.A few mind-easing facts for you: they are able to feel human emotions (who knew?) and are often understandably aware of interviewees being slightly anxious on the day. They also understand that people sometimes make mistakes, and won’t judge you if you slip up once or twice as a result of nerves.There will, however, be a limit. Anywhere upwards of 100 and you might be on your own…Six types of interviewers that you need to knowFour secrets your interviewers arent telling youDon’t overdo it with the caffeine intakeDrinking approximately 17 mugs of coffee directly before an interview might seem like a great idea at the time, but a caffeine overload will often have the opposite effect, and only end up making you shakier than ever.Let’s face it, the last thing you want is to be frantically fidgeting in front of your interviewers, while they assume you’re simply not interested enough in the role to concentrate.Caffeine also increases your heart rate and can a dd to the sweaty palm syndrome we mentioned earlier, and you definitely don’t need these things to be amplified.Instead, get an early night before the big day and make sure you’re fully rested and energised without the overreliance on beverages to give you a buzz. Remember: energy drinks are not your friend.Added bonus: you’ll get to spend more time in bed, and that’s what really matters.12 things you should never do at an interview  Job interview weaknesses  Final thoughtsThe main thing to remember about keeping calm during an interview is: don’t stress about being stressed, or you’ll just get more stressed.As long as you’ve done enough interview preparation beforehand, and you follow these simple tips on the day, we have no doubt that your irrational interview fears will be a thing of the past.If not? Hey, there are always umbrellas…Whats the worst thing you can do at an interview?Competency-based interviews: What you need to know*This may vary from interview to in terviewStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Job interview tips Preparing for an interview

International Students Careers Week now open for signups University of Manchester Careers Blog

International Students Careers Week now open for signups University of Manchester Careers Blog Reading week (29th October 2nd November this year) is international students careers week at The University of Manchester. Log into Careerslink (our database of the latest jobs and events coming up) and you will see the full programme. From this week you can also now   sign up for a place at all events listed. Its always popular, with over 600 students getting involved last year and we hope you will get involved this year too. Whats on? ( a few examples) Making a positive impact when job hunting? this is a great session if you are quite new to the job hunting process, maybe lack confidence or just want to know how to make a positive impression through the selection process. Working in the UK work visa regulations find out about the Tier 2 visa process in more detail from an immigration specialist. What do you have to do, when does it need to be in place? A great opportunity for free legal advice too. International Recruiter Event meet a range of employers hiring for overseas positions or for international posts in the UK too. With a panel of around 10 recruiters there will be the opportunity to hear them all speak, answer your questions and to talk to them individually on their stands. This is always a very popular event, but there are enough spaces for everyone so come along. Having said that though, recruiters often ask if there is enough interest for a session so sign up to avoid it being cancelled. Recruiters are from Asia, Africa, SE Asia, and beyond. For example: PWC looking for China talent, Global Career Company host recruitment events for international students from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia Africa BP are very keen to meet students from Angola, Azerbaijan, Indonesia Freshfields Various including UAE, China etc Mandarin Consultant recruitment firm for China UK organisations Getting a professional job for Chinese students with Mandarin Consultant. This recruitment firm will share their secrets to getting in with both UK and China organisations. Hear from the experts. To see the full programme see: www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/internationalweek and sign up for session places on Careerslink. If you have not heard of careerslink before it is the Careers Services database of the latest jobs and events. There are job vacancies for around the globe too, so its not just the UK! You can access Careerslink at www.manchester.ac.uk/careerslink (log in as a student with your university username and password). All International

Communicate Effectively for Your First Job Interview

Communicate Effectively for Your First Job Interview Preparing for your very first job interview, it’s necessary to follow the interview etiquette. Even if you have an impressive resume, without good written and verbal communication skills, you may be losing out on the opportunity of a lifetime. This article gives some tips on the right way to communicate with a prospective employer. Interview Basics Everyone faces interview jitters, whether going for the first or tenth time. The tension levels are surely more for the first time candidate. Appearing for the job interview, first time candidates usually follow the general principles, including dressing right, being punctual and answering questions correctly. These are the basic instructions required by a fresher attending a job interview. These are usually followed when the candidate is appearing in person. Competitive times and tough job market, employers assess the suitability of a candidate on various other parameters. Jobs at the entry level are available in multiple industries, and to get the desirable profile, candidates have to know about other important parameters in the industry of their choice. Good correspondence etiquette is one of them. Before a face-to-face job interview, the employer contacts the candidate over the phone. Many a time, a fresher is asked questions in a telephone interview before being invited for the final interview. To ensure effective communication, a candidate is required to follow certain phone interview etiquette. Telephone Interview Etiquette Given below are the rules to follow in a telephone interview: A candidate should be prepared at all times. Keeping a record of names of companies applied to is helpful, as it allows easy recall. Write the names of companies and job profiles in a notebook and keep the list handy.  Most interviewers would ask candidates a question like this at the beginning of the phone call Is it a good time to talk? Only if the candidate is in disturbance free surroundings, should he continue. Else, politely say no and offer to call back on reaching a silent zone. Do not delay the call. A Candidate searching for jobs should keep the caller tune and voice mail message professional. No personal messages or rock music for caller tunes. Try to maintain the same level of formal tone during the telephone interview, similar to that in a face-to-face interview For the fresher, every call for the job matters. Interview whether face-to-face or telephone, should never be underestimated, and the candidate should always present themselves in their best in any interview environment. E-mail Etiquette Freshers should maintain a tone of formality in their emails, too. Applying for various jobs, the email ID, as well as the content of emails, should be professional. For example, an email ID like pinky123@xyz is fine for personal communication. It is advisable, though, to create an impersonal and discreet ID for sending application correspondence for fresher jobs. Many candidates apply for jobs and forget to attach their resume. Before clicking the send button, check the attachments and subject. Attach your resume and a cover letter. Sending a resume without the cover letter makes the job application incomplete. Candidate should check that attached documents are virus-free. If the candidate is replying to a recruiter’s job offer, this should happen in the reply mode. This helps the applicant and the recruiter to link back to previous communication. Try to answer the email within 24 hours. Delaying the reply implies lack of seriousness or interest. Do not let your communication lead to missed opportunities. While applying for Fresher jobs, a resume holds the credentials, but without good communication skills, your cause might be lost. Just follow the right telephone and email etiquette it will surely bring you a few steps closer to the desired job position.

How to Ace a Skype Interview

How to Ace a Skype Interview The world is more connected today than its ever been. Thanks to travel and technology, you can patch into almost anyone, anywhere at any time. Increasing global mobility is changing the jobs market, too. The interview process isnt always the traditional face-to-face method anymore. What does this mean? Well, mastering the art of the  question / answer meeting is not enough anymore, oh no. Now theres a high chance youll have to come to terms with video and  phone interviews, which come with their own set of unwritten rules and keys to success. The Skype interview in particular has become a standard for HR departments, though the conventions might seem alien to  those whove only ever had in-person meetings, or perhaps none at all! Fear not, as  Viking has put together the below infographic to  guide you on formalities of the Skype interview, and tips to help you ace it. Check your time zones! If youre on a Skye interview, chances are youre also in a different time zone. Even different states of the same country will have different timezones, so dont shoot yourself i the foot by failing to turn up on time, or getting on the call way too early. Triple check you know where theyre based. Make sure your  profile name is professional Im going to go right ahead and say it:  Sexy_Sharon_69 is not an acceptable name. Shock! Horror! Who’s calling who?  Avoid confusion and decide beforehand If I had a dollar for the amount of times calls are set up, with each party assuming the other is calling them, Id be a very rich lady. The result? Ten minutes goes by, until theres an awkward email exchange along the lines of, Hi, are you still calling in? followed by a, No, I thought you were calling us? Have prompters closeby Keep your application documents and Post-it Notes  in front of you. The great thing about Skype calls is you can have resources near you, to act as prompters when they ask you tough questions. Just make sure they cant see them, and you dont break your neck to look at them when you feel nervous and on-the-spot. Profile picture Check your profile picture isnt you downing a line of Tequila shots, nuff said. Check the tech Is your audio working? Is your camera switched on, and allowing the video to show? How is your internet connection looking? Are you on a proper PC or laptop thats big enough to comfortably host the video? Is there a light source nearby that provides a comfortable atmosphere? Its also wise to set up a practice all first, with a willing participant, just to iron out all the kinks before the  big gig! In addition to these tips, dont  forget to  prepare  for the actual interview subject matter as you would a normal interview. That means having questions ready to ask them, and practicing how to answer the hard asks they probably have in store for you!

Grow Your Career Without Wasting Time - CareerMetis.com

Grow Your Career Without Wasting Time Do you ever get the feeling that there’s just not enough time to focus on expanding your career potential?Most of us work nine to five jobs and when we get home the last thing on our mind is job hunting. Instead, we want to relax, enjoy ourselves, maybe spend time with loved ones.There’s not a whole lot of room left in the schedule to sit down and start browsing through career options or expanding your skillset is there?evalHowever, there are ways to ensure that you move forward in your career without losing your precious free time. Here are a few of the best options.1. Let Your Profile Work For YouOne of the best ways to make sure that you expand your career without wasting a lot of time is to set up profiles online. You can setup profiles on everything from social networks sites like Twitter to professional sites like Linkedin. You can even establish a blog for yourself and use this to advertise your past job history.Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comThe benefits of doing this is that we’ve all become pretty competent at managing social media profiles. In fact, it’s something that you can easily do while you’re focusing on other things and thus, it won’t take up your spare time. On top of this, there’s the fact that you may not have to work on your profile at all to see results.It’s possible that employers will find you, be impressed and invite you to a job interview. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, rather than applying for endless job applications?2. Study OnlineOne of the best ways to expand your career prospects is to get new skills and qualifications. You can sign up for full-time courses, but this takes a lot of time out of your life. Instead, you should think about studying online. By doing this, you can learn new skills around your own schedule. And, there’s no limitations to what you can learn online either.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comAs well as this, top educational institutions like the University of Maryland offer full online degrees. So w hether you’re just starting your career path or you’ve been on it for quite some time, you can develop the skills you need.3. Sell Yourself PersonallyYou might think that the things you do in your spare time can in no way help boost your career, but you might be surprised. First, you could find that an employer shares some of your personal hobbies and that’s why you should put a few on your CV.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comevalSecond, you can use personal pastimes like sports to show that you have the traits and abilities employers are looking for. For instance, being part of a sports team demonstrates that you are a sociable person who is highly competitive.As you can see then, there are no limits to how you can use your spare time effectively and efficiently. The best part is that if you make the right choices, you can grow your career without it eating away at your personal life.

How a Finance Guru got Four (4) Job Offers in just 3 weeks After Being Laid Off

How a Finance Guru got Four (4) Job Offers in just 3 weeks After Being Laid Off How a Finance Guru got Four (4) Job Offers in just 3 weeks After Being Laid Off How a Finance Guru got Four (4) Job Offers in just 3 weeks After Being Laid Off July 23, 2012 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas Leave a Comment Whether you want a new career because you’ve been laid off or because you’re ready to leave frustrating and unsatisfying job, there is one key skill that will be critical to your success â€"  your ability to be a rainmaker for your own career and create job offers and opportunities. I love that Chris Rock says, Being rich has nothing to do with money. It has to do with having opportunities. My good friend Cindy Hoyme is the poster girl for creating opportunities!   She had been a rock star in the financial industry for 30 years, when 8 months ago her boss brusquely told her that her job had been eliminated due to the down economy. Suddenly unemployed, and the main bread winner for her family with a daughter in college â€" she had to find a new job FAST! In my new book, The Bounce Back, Cindy reveals how she networked her buns off to receive a remarkable four job offers in three weeks! Here’s an excerpt from Cindy’s story… After 30 years in the financial business and many job changes due to better opportunities, I was faced with a sudden job loss. I felt abandoned by the person who had hired me and I had been working with for 10 years. With a daughter in college and financial obligations, I needed a new job and needed one fast. I had not updated my resume in years, nor had I kept up with my networking. Waiting was not an option for me. I updated my resume and then contacted everyone I knew that had called me when they were seeking employment. I set a goal to have one appointment a day. I set up 21 appointments in three weeks, getting to know every Starbucks in town. I kept a normal schedule and did not hesitate to call almost anyone. Cindy goes on to talk about a variety of strategies she used to get reacquainted with past colleagues, managers and clients, which in turn, helped her land appointments, interviews and eventually four potential job offers. The interviewing and job seeking process is much different now than it was 10 years ago. It wasn’t shopping my resume on the Internet that got me my next job, but instead it was by word of mouth. In my industry talking to people and getting connected is still the way to secure good positions. Thanks to developing and expanding my large network, I had four potential job offers that came together around the same time. I did not want to take the first offer but, instead, evaluated what I really wanted in my next career and what kind of people I wanted to work for. With the power of prayer and lots of good friends and acquaintances, I landed on my feet with a great company. I feel grateful and very fortunate, especially in this job market, for my new career. During the transition, I also researched and looked into certifications to pursue a second income in the future which now is a possibility. What I love about Cindy’s story is that she learned how to be a rainmaker for her own career.   She didn’t sit back and wait for job openings to pop up online.   Instead, she fast tracked her job search by going straight to her professional community asking for job leads, referrals and recommendations. Not only did she receive four job offers in just three weeks, but now she’s proactively creating opportunities to help secure her new job, and her future! â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"- Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist, international speaker and best-selling author of “The Bounce Back” and “Career Smart â€" 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand. “ Get more tips and strategies on how you can bounce back from a layoff, re-org, bad manager or other career threatening setback in my new book, “The Bounce Back” now available on AMAZON and BARNES NOBLE.   You can download the three FREE chapters of THE BOUNCE BACK at http://www.MyBounceBack.com

Fix your work reputation -

Fix your work reputation - Hows your work reputation? Your future career depends on how well you maintain and manage your reputation as a reliable, competent employee. Getting started at a new job can be tough, and sometimes, youll make a misstep that has the potential to derail your path. Fix your work reputation Your reputation is one of your most important assets, so dont let a mistake at work interfere with your dreams. If you need a career turnaround, follow these tips from Emily Bennington, author of Effective Immediately and Who Says Its a Mans World to repair your damaged reputation and get back on track at work. 1. Get to work early. Bennington notes: Most colleagues arent around to see who stays late, but its hard to miss the employee who shows the initiative to come early. Not only can you make a good impression, but getting to work early eliminates any need to rush to set yourself up for the day. When you come into a quiet officeâ€"before your boss, ideallyâ€"youll have a chance to plan for a successful and productive day. Dont hesitate to occasionally take a walk around first thing in the morning so people know youre a go-getter and get an early start. (You may be surprised by the impression it leaves.) 2. Write down your priorities. Keep a notebook and write down your top five priorities each morning or, ideally, the night before, Bennington suggests. 3. Do the work. If youve let down your guard and earned a reputation as someone who is less focused, one of the best things you can do is put your head down and focus. Keep track of the details and be alert for things your supervisor is likely to ask for next, Bennington says. When possible, try to deliver on those things too. 4. Stay positive. Never let people know when youre frustrated. Bennington advises, Ask questions to clarify anything you dont understand, but stay positive. 5. Keep a check on your attitude. Expect colleagues to judge you based on how you act. Bennington says, Run your behavior through this filter multiple times each day. Literally stop and ask yourself, Hows my attitude right now?' She also suggests asking yourself, Am I showing initiative? Am I being as productive as possible? Dont beat yourself up too much if you make some early mistakes at work, but recognize its up to you to rectify the situation. Your behavior and attitude directly impact what people think of you as a colleague, which will either hurt or help you when its time to go for a promotion or find a new opportunity. Read the post on my U.S. News World Report column. photo by by jeffedoe