Searching for a new role can be demoralizing and anxiety-inducing. However, with the right mindset and preparation, you can tackle the process with poise and boost your odds of success. This article summarizes proven techniques from the career podcast “Conquering Interview Anxiety” to help anyone on the job hunt.
Do Your Research
Thorough preparation breeds confidence and success. Never apply or interview with a company before doing in-depth research. Explore their website, press releases, news articles, Glassdoor, LinkedIn profiles of employees, and more.
Key areas to research:
- Mission, values, culture, leadership bios, history
- Major products/services, customers, recent initiatives
- Challenges company is facing and goals for the future
- Competitors and industry trends
For specific roles, analyze job descriptions closely. Note must-have qualifications and responsibilities. Search for people in similar positions on LinkedIn to understand typical backgrounds and skills needed. Use this intel to tailor your resume and interview responses.
Develop Your Personal Mantra
In addition to researching the company and role, you need to reflect on yourself. Identifying your personal “mantra” builds self-confidence. Your mantra is an uplifting statement about your core passions, values and strengths.
Consider what motivates you, how you positively impact others, your proudest achievements, and what makes you unique. Extract common themes to create a succinct statement, like “I am driven to empower others to reach their full potential through compassionate guidance.”
This self-awareness provides a foundation to discuss your background with passion and confidence. You can explain how your mantra has enabled success throughout your career. This showcases authenticity over just reciting qualifications.
Craft Compelling STAR Stories
When interviewing, expect behavioral questions like, “Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge.” Prepare 2-3 minute stories highlighting your skills using the STAR method:
- Situation – The context and your role
- Task – What needed to be achieved
- Action – The steps you personally took
- Result – Outcomes and contributions
Quantify results whenever possible. Choose stories demonstrating skills needed for the target role based on the job description. Reflect on transferable lessons from other contexts if lacking direct experience.
Practice summarizing stories smoothly and conversationally. The more you rehearse STAR responses, the more natural they will become.
Interview with Poise and Positivity
During interviews, focus on conveying your genuine strengths and abilities, not just credentials. Highlight how your skills and passions align with company needs. Share relevant experiences with enthusiasm and clarity.
Make steady eye contact, actively listen, and mind your body language. Ask thoughtful questions to demonstrate initiative and interest. Follow up with each interviewer thanking them and reiterating your fit.
With preparation and practice, you can develop confidence in your value and ability to convey it. Focus less on exactly what you’ve accomplished and more on who you are and what you offer. This will enable you to tackle interviews with poise and maximize your chances of connecting with the right opportunities.
Don’t Get Discouraged by Rejection
Searching for a job often entails rejection and false starts. Don’t let this discourage you. Reflect on what you can learn from each experience to strengthen your next application or interview.
Remember, you only need one right match. Persistence, resilience, and continually improving based on feedback increases the odds of finding the perfect mutual fit. Maintain momentum in your search through networking, informational interviews, continuing education, and involvement in professional associations.
With the right mindset and strategies, you can land fulfilling roles aligned with your strengths and passions. Confidently showcase your value while determining fit with the company’s needs. Take control of your career path through preparation, practice, and perseverance. You have so much to offer the right organization – now go out and find them!
