As soon as we get an interview call, the first reaction is excitement and joy which is immediately followed by anxiety. There are millions of questions in our mind such as, what should be the perfect attire? What will be the interviewer like? How difficult will the questions be? The anxiety and stress a person accumulates waiting for the interview often lead to making some mistake during the interview process.
Being stressed before and during a job interview is very common and some people experience this fear of appearing in an interview even after being in the professional field for years. However, different people feel this anxiety at different levels as some only feel slight anxiety while others feel panicked and completely out of sorts. People who face mild anxiety can easily hide it and appear perfectly composed during the interview but those who face extreme cases of anxiety before the interview, often end up creating a poor impression on the interviewer.
Signs Of Extreme Job Interview Stress:
There are a few signs which can clearly indicate if you are suffering from extreme stress before or during an interview:
• Sweating profusely, so much so that even the palms of your hands are wet
• Dry and scratchy throat
• Head ache, fidgety hands
• Failure to remember important information such as the time or place of interview
Controlling Your Stress Level:
Since the anxiety and fear of interview faced by a job-seeker is psychological, it is not difficult to control this anxiety by a little motivation and practice. In order to be successful in your job hunt you need to nail the interview which cannot be done unless you are calm and controlled. Panicking and losing your calm can be fatal for the interview. By following a few simple rules and tips, you can easily control your stress level prior to an interview session. Some of the suggested measures for controlling your panic level are given below:
Sleep Well:
Getting a full night’s rest is essential if you are hoping to be calm and stress-free for the interview. Staying up late can make you feel nervous and fidgety and will definitely have an effect on your performance during the interview. Sleeplessness is known to cause many problems and affects the performance of an individual negatively. So it is important to get rest and sleep for no less than 6 to 8 hours before the interview.
Time It Right:
The most important factor in an interview session is the timing as it can help you in remaining calm during the interview. You should reach the venue about 15 to 20 minutes before the interview and keep yourself focused on the job. Arriving too early will give you too much time to sit and contemplate which will make you nervous and arriving at the nick of time will make you anxious as well. So stick to the middle ground.
Reduce Its Importance:
One of the most successful techniques to eliminate stress and pressure is to readjust your thinking and persuade yourself that the interview is not that big a deal and even if you fail to get this job, there will be other chances. Over time, you can persuade your mind to relax and the tension will evaporate. This technique has been suggested by psychologists and many jobseekers apply this to boost their confidence level prior to an important job interview.
Research & Prepare:
Most of the time, jobseekers are stressed because they feel that they are ill prepared for the interview. So if you want to reduce your stress level before an interview, it is advisable to prepare well by researching the internet and finding out relevant information about the company, job description, responsibilities etc. Thus when you are well prepared, you will be better able to answer questions in an interview session. The confidence that you can answer questions in an interview and you are prepared for them will help in eliminating the stress factor.
Practice Till Its Perfect:
The common things which make the jobseekers nervous include presenting yourself to the interviewer, introducing himself and answering questions without pausing too much. In order to make sure that you do not feel nervous during the interview, you should practice mock interviews repeatedly. When you have attained a certain level of command over different steps of an interview process your anxiety level will come down automatically.
Think Positive:
Positive thinking can change the entire outcome of the interview as you can control your anxiety and tension by controlling your mind. By thinking that you will definitely get the job, you can boost your confidence level and manage to feel relaxed.
Breathing Exercises:
Breathing exercises can help in keeping yourself calm and composed during the interview. If you begin to panic before the interview, just close your eyes and breathe deeply. Keep your mind blank and continue this for 5 to 10 minutes after which you will feel composed and calm.
Be Yourself:
It is an acknowledged fact that a person feels most relaxed when he is open and acts natural rather than trying to be someone he is not. Most people try to act like someone else during the interview process which increases the stress level and they end up making a poor impression. It is best if you be yourself during the interview and answer questions simply.
Think of Answers Beforehand:
Since most of the questions asked during an interview are generic and quite common, it is better if you have prepared answers to some of these questions in advance. Having prepared answers will help you in remaining calm and controlled as there will be no element of surprise.
Improvise:
When you have prepared your answers in advance, make sure that you are not sticking to them word by word as this can lead to panic if you happen to say something that was not rehearsed. Be prepared to improvise and spin the words around a little so that you can answer the question with confidence and in a relaxed manner.

Excellent brother, I hope it will help me a lot as I will be appearing in an interview very soon. Some of the suggested measures I have already been using in my interviews but you have given complete account of the issue. Thanks a lot for the valuable post.

Thanxsss dear brother!!!!!! I have a hope to pass pms written part exam but interview is always a nerve-taking for me.I could not pass English lectureship interview due to lack of confidence and poor knowledge of the subject and I think this is due to my private studies
as I could not afford regular institutions owing to lack of resources!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I am gravely sad please guide me what should I do for passing the interview successfully please................................