Interview Tips to Help Calm Your Nerves

Though the statistics are nearly a decade old, chances are they still hold up: 96% of job seekers have difficulty sleeping the night before a job interview, according to a 2004 survey by financial recruitment firm Portfolio Payroll.


If you’re one of the 4%, you can stop reading now. However, if you’re part of the majority, here are some interview tips to help you relax before your big day.


In the article, “Four Tips to Help Job Seekers Overcome Job Interview Jitters,” writer and human resources consultant Deborah S. Hildebrand offers these suggestions to help nervous candidates calm down before their job interview:

• Take deep breaths or clench and release your fists several times before, during, and after the interview to relieve stress.
• Videotape yourself or watch yourself in a mirror during practice interviews.
• Review your work history and know it cold so you are better equipped to answer interview questions, including those that recruiters ask the most.
• Don’t rush the job interview by trying to avoid pauses in the conversation. They’re a normal part of any interview. Instead, take your time, consider your answer, and paraphrase to ensure you’ve understood the question.
• Prepare a list of questions you want answered in advance, so you won’t leave anything out.

Additionally, we recommend these interview tips to help you prepare for that all-important, nerve-wracking job interview:

• Know where you are going and what time you should arrive. Drive by the location in advance, if you have any concerns about finding it.
• Have the name and job title of the person you are to meet.
• Prepare what you will wear the night before. Make sure everything is clean and mended. No safety pins, wrinkled clothes, or scuffed-up shoes.

With everything taken care of in advance, you will be able to relax and do your best. No sense losing sleep or the job offer over a bad case of nerves. 


And if you have any other questions or need further assistance with your IT job search, contact us.

A Recruiter's Insight on "Recruiting"

We thought it would be a great idea for our readers to hear from one of our recruiters on a more personal level. Here is a short, informal Q&A with Senior Technical Recruiter Tony DiGiovanni.

1. Why should a candidate work with a recruiter throughout his/her new job search?
   
   As we all know, presently the job market is a crazy competitive place. That understood, I feel it is essential for candidates to create relationships with certain recruiters. I will define “certain” as people who have an excellent reputation as pertains to professionalism. Candidates for the most part get absolutely flooded with inquires from many kinds of agencies (both contract and fulltime). It is the candidates’ advantage to deal with the recruiter to obtain an edge in regards to the position. A good recruiter will have knowledge of both the job and the client. It is much more advantageous to the candidate to work with the recruiter as opposed to just submitting to various online systems where resumes do not always get reviewed. We are the “pushers” in the process along with account managers to convince a client to review, interview and eventually hire a strong candidate.
   
   
2. Why do you think recruiters get a bad rep?
   
   We get bad reps from the unethical recruiters that are in this business. I can go on here, but in short there are many unethical practices, for example - lack of respect and consideration for the best interest of the candidates. The bottom line is that it will eventually catch up to those who act unethically, and the ones who don’t will reap the benefits of dealing with more of the quality candidates and clients that are out there.
   
   
3. What is your favorite part about being a recruiter?
   
   I have to say the best part about being a recruiter right up there on the same level of earning a living is the fact that you are helping people make and secure one of the bigger decisions they have in life. This of course relates more to the full time side as opposed to the contract side, however there is still a rush of putting together the deal and bringing it from start to finish and then getting the rewards both monetary and professionally! There really is nothing better….in my opinion.

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