Appearing before an interview can be nerve-wracking for just about anybody. Even literal veterans in the field of business and industry often find interviews stressful, simply because it puts them out of their comfort zone. This is perfectly natural, and even normal. Human beings dislike being on the forefront of attention, specifically because of one very important trait: humans are self-aware.
It is this self-awareness which drives people to shy away from being on the limelight, because it will curtail uncontrollable vulnerability, as well as the inevitable fear of censure or mockery that comes with presenting oneself before the scrutiny of other individuals.
The Problem of Fear
If you’ve ever had an interview that went very badly and you’ve ever wondered if it was the jitters that bungled it, you’d be half-right. Fear causes individuals to think irrationally thanks to the rush of adrenaline in their bodies, which activates the instinctual fight-or-flight response. In nature, this is a welcome thing, as it allows one to quickly react to potential threats. In the modern world however, the fight-or-flight response will only result in panic attacks or jittery nerves. Those, in turn, might make you bungle the interview due to scattered thoughts, jumpy nerves, or a combination of both.
While there is no way to actually shut off the fight-or-flight response in the human body, there is a way to control how much of it can affect you. There’s different ways to go about controlling how one responds to the stressors of an environment, all varying in accordance to one’s line of work. For the average worker, fighting or fleeing aren’t exactly tenable options in an office setting. What can be done however is to create avenues where the natural fight-or-flight response is either minimised, controlled, or channelled into something more useful for the modern work environment.
Media training opens an avenue for mastering the necessary skills to control subconscious and instinctual feelings of fight or flight arising from stressful situations. Not only does media training teach an individual how to identify the feeling when it arises, it also gives useful tips on how to manage it when it does occur.
Media Training Tips for Interviews
If you’re a recent hire that’s been scheduled for an upcoming interview, you will naturally feel panicked and at a loss for how to proceed. Thankfully, media training programs provide easy-to-follow steps that make interviews easier, less stressful, and more efficient. Here are three simple things you can do to to help combat anxiety for an upcoming interview:
Never go to an interview hungry
Some folks actually go to interviews hungry, which might seem like a minor thing when compared to all the other things they’d have to worry about once the interview actually starts. Unfortunately, people who go to interviews hungry are more prone to forgetfulness and distractions. The reason for this is actually quite simple – the brain consumes the most amount of energy when in stressful situations. If you go to an interview hungry, your brain will have no surplus energy to consume once the ‘stressfulness’ of the situation kicks in, and you’re more likely to experience brain fog, delayed response time, and forgetfulness – all of which make for a negative impression during a job interview. To prevent this, have a balanced breakfast prior to an interview. If you can tolerate caffeine, it might be a good idea to get caffeinated. Caffeine-intolerant folks can settle for a fruit or a yogurt-and-fruit smoothie for an added sugar boost (since both caffeine and simple sugars jumpstart brain alertness).
Plan out some answers beforehand
It might be presumptive to assume what an interviewer will ask a week or two in advance of an interview, but intimating potential questions and planning out prospective answers that you might need to deliver allows you to become familiar with how to properly respond to questions. Nothing closes an interview better than confidence and control under pressure. Planning answers in response to potential questions – the bulk of which can sometimes be deduced beforehand – will allow you to deliver concise, natural-sounding, and confident answers that will exude confidence. The pre-planning on your end will also help to combat much of the anxiety that may arise when you’re caught off guard or are presented with a question where you’re forced to think up a good response on the spot. Simple queries like, ‘Why do you want to work for us?’ can be answered with a pre-rehearsed spiel which can be modified as necessary. The difference between relying on one’s wits to come up with something good on the spot, versus having a pre-rehearsed answer is the latter becomes ‘familiar territory’, which helps to alleviate anxiety and gives you a semblance of control.
Rehearse an interview scenario
Rehearsing an interview is a complementary practice you can do in order to develop more natural-sounding answers, cultivate confidence, and establish a degree of comfortability with the idea of being put on the hot seat. This can be done by yourself, or with the help of a friend, whether in person or online. An even better way to go about it would be to enroll in a media training course – that way, you have all of the resources and guidance you’ll need at your disposal. Rehearsing an interview scenario is a more well-rounded approach to preparation, since it can be modified in ways that allot for unexpected questions, difficult questions, or open-ended scenarios which can challenge you to think on your feet without succumbing to anxiety or panic. It also allows you to develop a familiarity with being asked questions and being expected to answer them. Overall, this method will help cultivate the necessary awareness and confidence that will help you ace any interview.
Of course, DIY training can only go so far, given the limited resources and experience one has at their disposal. Overall, nothing beats having professional trainers to help you become the best at acing job interviews and handling public interactions in general.
Hire the Best Media Training Company in the Business
Choosing the right media training company with an up-to-date and effective training curriculum is the best way to guarantee your success. Media Training Worldwide is your prime choice for specialized media training. We deliver effective, efficient, and consistent results, specifically targeted to fit your specific niche-market, specialties, and learning curve.
Our experienced media trainers will thoroughly equip you with the knowledge on how to appeal to a broad audience, summarize and compartmentalize key talking points, and deliver information in a clear and engaging manner. Our roster of expert media trainers have been actively and proactively training politicians, CEOs, and managers for the past 30 years, helping them to become better representatives of their own respective industries. If you want a winning edge that’ll help you ace any job interview for any position, or if you simply want to refine your pre-existing skill set, Media Training Worldwide has got your back.
Contact us today and let us know how we can best help you achieve your media presence goals!