3 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress Before Your Dream Interview

By: Jake Kelfer, @jakekelfer

Have you ever been stressed out before a big interview? I’m sure you have. We all have. That’s why I’ve taken the time to share with you three ways you can reduce your stress and increase your chances of crushing the interview.

1. Drive to the location a day or even a week before.

On the days leading up to your big interview, I suggest driving to the interview location at the same time of your interview. When you drive to the location of the interview at the same time, you will be able to see the traffic and how long it takes to get there. This is especially important for people in Los Angeles, as there is always traffic. You will be able to see what parking is like and whether or not there is designated, street, or paid parking, in which case you will need to carry cash. By driving to your interview and figuring out the details, you will set yourself up for success when the day of the actual interview comes. This will reduce stress because you already know you will arrive on time and only have to focus on the interview.

2. Plan out your outfit the night before.

Time and time again, I hear about people who panic on the day of their interview because their clothes aren’t ready. Take some time the night before your interview and lay out your outfit. This includes your underwear, socks, belt, watch and everything else you want to wear on the big day. That way, all you have to do in the morning is put your clothes on and hop in the car. If you’re like me, you might have a favorite suit or tie you love to wear. The last thing you need is extra stress on the day of your interview caused by something as simple as not planning what to wear. We all love to look our best for an interview, so plan ahead and set your clothes out in advance.

3. Print out multiple copies of your resume.

Too often candidates will forget to bring multiple copies of their resume, and when they arrive to the interview they are caught off guard when the interviewer asks for more than one copy. This causes the interviewee to start worrying about their resume instead of making good conversation and mentally preparing to crush the interview. Often times, you will be told or can ask if there will be more than one interviewer, but if you are not sure, I’d rather you be safe than sorry. I suggest always bringing 3–5 extra copies of your resume because you never know who you might meet with.

While these three tasks may seem trivial, or even unnecessary at times, I recommend doing each and every one of them. It is always better to err on the side of caution rather than showing up late or not being prepared. This is, after all, your dream interview we are talking about.

Why wouldn’t you want to do everything you possibly could to reduce your stress and improve your chances of getting the job? The worst thing would be to risk your chance of being hired before the interview even starts.

I encourage all of you to try these techniques before your next interview. By doing this, you will feel more confident, more mentally focused and better prepared on the day of your dream interview.