The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing - Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure

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The Lion’s Pride: Interviewing

Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure

I know a “head sweater.”

She only sweats from the top of her head. When stressed or warm, her scalp begins to glisten, then dainty rivers of sweat begin to flow down her face and neck.

I also know a “pitter.” He only sweats under his arms, leaving garish moist rings on his shirts.

And I hate shaking hands with a “handy.” I’d rather have a limp, dry handshake than a firm, moist one.

Chances are, you know (or are) someone who falls into one of those groups. Or, perhaps the nerves rear up in the form of stuttering, hand wringing or nervous twitches.

Employers don’t like nervous sorts. If your nerves often take on physical manifestations during interviews, try one of these:

Rehearse. With preparation comes excellence. Excellence breeds confidence. You get the idea.

Breathe. That’s right – breathe. In through the nose and out through the mouth. Concentrate on inhaling the air into your belly rather than your lungs. Other than helping center you (and a myriad of other benefits), it helps you concentrate on something other than being nervous.

Do decaf. Caffeine makes you jittery and raises your blood pressure – both of which can make you sweat. No since being nervous, sweaty AND hyper, after all. Use the good stuff as a reward after your interview.

Skip the nic. Nicotine likewise adds jitters. Cigs don’t calm you down – they actually have the direct opposite effect. That, and it causes bad breath (and everything else listed on every pack). If you must, satisfy your nic fit like your jonesing for coffee – after your interview.

Drink only a bit of water. Sure, the experts advise us to drink nearly two gallons of water per day, but those experts aren’t likely to sit through a two hour interview, either. Sip enough water to keep you mouth moist and throat lubed, but wait to quench your thirst until you get back to your car. After all, how you appear confident when your bladder’s causing you to squirm?

IN THE CARAVAN: Avoid interview nervousness by rehearsing, skipping the caffeine and nicotine, and minimizing your water intake. Until after the interview.

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Negotiating Pay / The Questions You Hate to Answer / Nerves? Schmerves! / Pre-Interview Prep / Dress the Part / How to Show Your Portfolio / Speaking Of Pay... / All Shapes and Sizes / Interview Practice / What To - And NOT To Reveal / Andre's Answers and Roger's Requests / Practice Like The Karate Kid / Building Rapport 101 / Be a S.T.A.R. / Worst...Interview...Answers...Ever. / The Five Most Important Questions for You to Ask / Reflecting for Rapport / 18 Questions You're Bound to Hear / The Phone Interview / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part I / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part II: My Pete Rose for Your Reggie Jackson and Matchbox / Negotiating With Mr. Smith, Part III: Smith vs. Jones vs. Greene / Remove Thy Foot from Thy Mouth / Body Language 101 / Interviewing Disasters / Hire Your Boss / Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure / Returning the Question / The Dinner Interview / What You Want? Baby, You Know I Got It! / Know Your Industry / You Don’t Need to be a Psychic / Training / The Hippo Technique / Dropping Names / Marking Your Territory / The Walk-On Role / Body Language: The 15 Signals Hiring Managers Send and How to Read Them / You Have GOT to be KIDDING Me! / Taking a Drop: Re-Interviewing After the Fact / Proposing Your Own Job / Answering Self-Employment Questions: The Self-Employment Paradox