Try these instant tips for boosting self-confidence before your next interview.
When you are looking for a new job, one of the most stressful things is waiting for the job interview. Especially for people who have lost their jobs and been out of work for a long period of time, self-confidence can be in short supply. Sure, there are things you can do to improve your self-confidence over the longer term, but when you are waiting to be called in to an interview, those things aren't especially comforting.
Never fear! Here are 5 things you can do right before an interview that can boost your confidence instantly:
Smile - It only takes a second to do, and it works wonders. It's funny that this is where most people get confused. Smiling isn't something you do because you are confident and happy, rather it's something you can do that will make you feel confident and happy. Give it a try. It's next to impossible to be nervous when you are smiling.
Look people in the eye - This one works best when mixed with secret number one. Look around the waiting area and make eye contact with the other people there. Look them in the eye and give them a smile. See, if when you smile at someone, they can't help but smile back. Being smiled at will boost your confidence and make you feel happy. It's a scientific fact that the act of smiling or being smiled at makes our brain release endorphins which cause us to get an instant boost.
Check your appearance - When you arrive, if you are a little early, take a moment to stop in the restroom to check your appearance. Giving yourself the once-over will help you feel confident that you don't look messed up or have something hanging from your nose. Before you leave, smile at your reflection. The smile tips of number one and number two still work even if you are just smiling at yourself.
Talk slowly - When we are nervous, it's natural to talk faster. It's just a reflex to want to hurry up and get it over with when we are nervous or anxious. Instead, take a deep breath and speak slowly. It will allow you to think about what you really want to say and make you more easily understood. When you slow down and pause at the end of your sentences, you give the listener a chance to process what you have said.
Reframe things that don't go well - Don't dwell on your mistakes, the traffic that made you run late or the fact that the outfit you selected feels uncomfortable. Whatever it is that's bothering you, let it go. Think about the situation in a way that reframes it into something positive and just move on. Don't allow something you can't change to lower your self-confidence. By giving it your attention, you only give it more power. So, as they say on Jersey Shore, "Forggetttaboutittt".
Are you nervous before job interviews? What do you do to help boost your confidence? Please share your thoughts and tips in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for TechCareersBlog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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