Calm Your Mind

Interviews… are not that complicated. When I went to my first interview, I remember I was super nervous, I was trying to show everything I have got in 30 -45 minutes. I wanted to let the interviewer know everything about my work and what I have done since I was born. I did not know back then that interview was not a test. I have come a long way now, and the tables have turned, and I am now on the other side, interviewing top talent for global organisations.

You already know within yourself that you are capable of taking the responsibilities of the job that you have applied for but how you show them and get them to believe in you is equally important during a job interview.

The mind plays a significant role in nailing that interview. If you let your mind run wild and you feel like you are about fall off a cliff just before the meeting, well you will fall off that cliff before even saying hello to the interviewer.

Well, here’s how you can calm your mind, which is an essential step towards securing that job.

How do you usually keep your mind or yourself happy? Yes, that’s all you got to do. Make it happy before the interview.

Carry your favourite chocolate with you and indulge it just before an interview. It tricks your mind to think that you are doing something you love, and it gets all the happy hormones going, and it will give a boost of energy. Do this before any exam too, and see the difference.

Get there twenty minutes before the interview, sit in a nearby cafe, don’t drink coffee but have a delicious piece of cake and do five minutes mediation, get any Youtube meditation clip and calm your mind listening to it.
Talk to your mum, dad or your favourite human just before the interview, ask them to tell you a joke, have a good laugh and get their blessings before the meeting.
If you have any good quality essential oils around, your mum probably would ask her to give you some lavender or any citrusy oils, which will help you boost more happy hormones.

Show Your Awesomeness

Give plenty of time to prepare, don’t just say that you can make it when you have nothing prepared to attend an interview.
Buy 24 -48 hours to get your things ready, your clothes, finding the location and most importantly, discovering more about the job, the company and the people that you are meeting.
Get your resume out, and write a short paragraph about yourself.
This is the answer to their “tell us about yourself”.

Start with your Degree, University name, your favourite subjects (pick something related to the job).
Pick a project that is going to highlight some relevant experience matching job responsibilities.
Talk about your achievements – this doesn’t have to be uni or grade related.
This could be something as simple as helping a charity or a uni project how you have achieved what you wanted in that event, did it make you happy? Bringing joy to other people is one of the most amazing achievements you should be proud of and make sure to share those happy moments during the interview.
Yes, mentioning any awards ok too but more importantly show them you are a great person to work with, your team spirit and your caring persona. This would get them more excited than your actual qualifications.

You know why? Think about this, they are going to be working with you 8 hours a day, they do need the essential skills to get the job done, of course, but why soft skills are getting noticed and global organisations picking the candidates with high Emotional Intelligence (EI)?

That’s because they can train you to learn the essential skills, but they can not give you or teach you to have a great personality.

This is why you should be you, show your awesomeness during the interview, be honest, be happy (this is why we activated dopamine before the interview) have a great conversation at the meeting rather than question then answer method.

After interviewing over 1000 people in my career, I can tell you that I always pick the candidate that I can have a great convo with and with a great personality.

It’s ok if you are an introvert, you feel anxious and nervous, you don’t feel like talking, it’s ok to let your interviewer know that. Ask them if you could have a glass of water, take three deep breaths while that person is getting some water for you. Introverts are amazing, and they are the silent achievers, some have incredible thinking and creative minds. So if you are someone who likes to get your job done, that is perfectly fine, highlight your awesomeness during the interview.

This is why it’s so important to find that agent who would look beyond your resume, who would assist you before the client interviews. Having a great conversation with this person is essential and also practice, practice and practice.

And do not forget to give a firm handshake and a big smile when you see the other human who might change your life.