The time has finally come. You’re looking at an email stating you’ve been one of the few selected candidates to come in for an in-person interview with the hiring manager. You’re ecstatic, jumping up and down with a big fat smile all over your face, until a thought strikes you… oh no, what if I make a bad impression? What if I go in and completely freeze? What I stupidly answer the strengths question with a weakness? You find yourself in this mode of panic as anxiety, nerves, and pre-interview jitters takes over.
Reduce Job Interview Anxiety and Nerves with this Powerful Visualization Technique
Welp, my friend, I’ve got you covered with this powerful visualization technique you can try during your job search process, and especially before any phone interview and on-site interview to kick that interview anxiety to the curb!
What is Visualization?
You have probably heard of the laws of attraction and how our thoughts can literally welcome vibrating energies and therefore yield desired outcomes. The laws of attraction are built on the principle that you can truly design your life with clarity and purpose by being conscious of deliberate and positive thoughts.
Visualization is a technique to mentally rehearse what you want to happen. By creating visuals in your mind of accomplishing or obtaining what you want, you begin to see overtime that your dreams can be a reality. What was once deemed impossible may be possible after all!
The most accomplished executives and star athletes utilize visualization techniques in their daily routines and especially before any peak performances. By “seeing” this success, it allows that person to accelerate their actual goals, growth, and ambitions. Visualization focuses only on positive outcomes and negates any negatives thoughts or visuals. It builds internal motivation and allows creative ideas come to fruition.
Sounds pretty awesome, right? Below is a sample visualization technique you can try for your next interview!
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Decide what you want, believe you can have it, believe you deserve it and believe it’s possible for you.
Visualization Exercise to Try for Eliminating Interview Anxiety
Step 1: Lay on the ground or sit cross-legged – the goal is to be in a comfortable pose for the entirety of the exercise. Find somewhere quiet and preferably dark.
Step 2: Start by breathing in and out for 5-10 breaths before getting started, trying to focus on the silence. Breathe deeper and deeper, in and out, several times. Bring your breathing to a normal breathing rate, relax, and try to focus on the prompt being read aloud to you or memorizing the below:
Today is the big day of the interview and you know that you’re going to make the best impression you’ve ever made before. As you start getting ready in the morning, you can’t help but notice that you’re smiling, fueled with excitement. As you start to get ready, take note of yourself looking in the mirror. What are you wearing? How does your ensemble look? Your hair? Your face? What expression are you wearing?
As you start commuting to your destination, you can’t help but notice there’s a little skip in your steps. You arrive at the location just 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time.
As you push through the main entrance, you’re greeted by a cheerful receptionist. You smile back and confidently announce your name and you’re here for your interview. As you look around, what do you see? How do you feel? Use all five senses to describe the room around you.
It’s finally time to meet the interviewer and you can’t help but notice their smile and their enthusiasm to meet you. You’re also very confident and extend a firm handshake letting them know you, too, are excited to discuss your background. As you go through the interview, you take note of how natural the interview seems to be flowing. What are you saying? What questions have you positively crushed? What questions come spontaneously easy? You’re amazed at how comfortable all of this is to you.
At the end of your interview, what positive next steps do you hear the interviewer say? You might imagine them saying “Welcome aboard!” or “We have other candidates to interview but you got the job if you want it!”
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Other Techniques to Further Reduce Interview Anxiety
If you want to take this visualization one step further, you can journal your feelings and reactions to how you feel after this exercise. Be sure to speak in the present tense when journaling.
Example: I am really excited to learn the next steps as Bill shared with me he hopes to make a decision really soon! I could not believe how natural and easy that interview was. I never felt so comfortable before.
Speaking in the present tense makes it seem even more attainable and real – boosting your confidence and making you realize this goal is definitely within reach!
Good luck!
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