Calming those pre-interview nerves!!!

[drlexygoat]

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Just had my first interview this past week (I was an August MCATer) with only a 3-day's notice because I filled in a cancellation spot. I've always been a little edgy during interviews but I found myself really on the edge of my seat! When they called my name to go into my interview my heart was racing like you wouldn't believe. This was a panel interview (3pp) so maybe it was a little more stressful than a one-on-one.

Any comments or suggestions for vegging out before the interview? Anyone have any great tips on getting that heart rate back down!!!

 

[jlee9531]

just use that extra blood pumping ability and channel it to your enthusiasm...

but everyone gets that feeling before an interview no matter how many they go to. but you should be able to calm down when it starts. pretend you are having a conversation with your grandparents haha. i dunno.

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by drlexygoat
Just had my first interview this past week (I was an August MCATer) with only a 3-day's notice because I filled in a cancellation spot. I've always been a little edgy during interviews but I found myself really on the edge of my seat! When they called my name to go into my interview my heart was racing like you wouldn't believe. This was a panel interview (3pp) so maybe it was a little more stressful than a one-on-one.

Any comments or suggestions for vegging out before the interview? Anyone have any great tips on getting that heart rate back down!!!

You'll get better at interviewing as the season progresses. I've had 3 interviews so far and have 11 more to go 🙄 (alreading feeling overwhelmed but very fortunate). Anyway, I'm finding that it's getting easier and I'm getting better talking about myself and articulating my answers.

Just be yourself and pretend you are talking to your best friend. That's what I did in my last interview and my interviewer and I shared several jokes. It was a very pleasant and an extremely laid back interview. Just remember that the tone of the interview is going to be set in the first 3-5 minutes. In that respect, I try to control the interview by discussing what I want to talk about and I try my best to sell myself.

 

[ForensicPath]

Originally posted by drlexygoat
Just had my first interview this past week (I was an August MCATer) ...

There was no need to qualify the fact that this was your first interview because you are an August MCATer. No normal person is going to look down on you because "it's so late."

But here is my secret. I calm my nerves with a little help from my friends: Jack, Jim, or Johnnie.

 

[link26]

3 people! damn.

I hate it when there are 2 people even. It's like 2 hawks glaring at you ready to go in for the kill.

I usually calm my nerves down by thinking "I don't need this job/position"..... the nothing-to-lose attitude..

 

[acab]

I used to feel extremely nervous before interviews, public presentations, etc....to the point that my voice would tremble, my hands would shake uncontrolably.

My secret now....run a few hours before. Just do some sort of cardio exercise that makes you sweat a lot. That's gonna calm your nerves down....

If you don't have time to exercise before the interview. definitely don't have any caffeine.

 

[ForensicPath]

Originally posted by acab
definitely don't have any caffeine.

VERY true. I had to give a presentation in a class recently and I drank some coffee beforehand. Bad idea. My hands were shaking like a Parkinson's patient.

 

[evines]

I was extremely nervous for my first interview. My lips were twitching, chin shaking, and I sounded like a sheep. But my second was a lot better. Now I am hardly nervous at all after the first minute or so. So perhaps repetition is the key.
Remember that these interviewers are people, and they are generally nice people. So just be friendly and honest, what more can you do?

 

[Kashue]

Oh ya, let's not forget, listening to music!

I listened to a few Celine Dion song before my interview and it helped me relax immensely.

 

[ewing]

Originally posted by ForensicPath

But here is my secret. I calm my nerves with a little help from my friends: Jack, Jim, or Johnnie.

Hey Papi, don't forget Jose. I always turn to JC in times of trouble.

 

[evines]

I listened to a few Celine Dion song before my interview and it helped me relax immensely.

😕 Celine Dion? I thought the point was to relax. I guess if you have built up an immunity to it, though, you could use it as a weapon to get rid of the competition. The other interviewees would never know what hit 'em.

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by evines
😕 Celine Dion? I thought the point was to relax. I guess if you have built up an immunity to it, though, you could use it as a weapon to get rid of the competition. The other interviewees would never know what hit 'em.

Hey! Celine Dion is da bomb

Personally, I find her voice soothing and relaxing. I love listening to a New Day Has Come (very motivational) and it helps give me the pep I need to get through my interviews as well as my workouts =).

 

[ForensicPath]

Originally posted by Kashue
Hey! Celine Dion is da bomb

Personally, I find her voice soothing and relaxing. I love listening to a New Day Has Come (very motivational) and it helps give me the pep I need to get through my interviews as well as my workouts =).

Here is some music to relax to:
Killswitch Engage, Slayer, Earth Crisis, Shadows Fall, Nothingface

Its all good stuff, trust me.

 

[link26]

what about the classic "picture them half naked" deal.

I've never tried it..... 😀
but i should have. My last interviewer was a redhead with a big rack. It was really easy talking to her.

 

[meanderson]

there is another recent thread where we were debating this. .25-.5 mg xanax 50 minutes before the interview would be a good idea. Your alertness will stay be intact. Just experiment a few days before hand to get the dosage correct.

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by link26
what about the classic "picture them half naked" deal.

I've never tried it..... 😀
but i should have. My last interviewer was a redhead with a big rack. It was really easy talking to her.

If that was me, I know that I'd have a hard time looking straight at her eyes 😀.

 

[WillowRose]

Originally posted by link26
what about the classic "picture them half naked" deal.

I've never tried it..... 😀
but i should have. My last interviewer was a redhead with a big rack. It was really easy talking to her.

Hey! I don't remember interviewing you!!

My first interview is Wednesday...it's a panel interview (I think)..and it's scheduled for 9 a.m. I am sooooo screwed! I am a total non-morning person and the idea of facing 2 or 3 interviewers while still half-asleep does not appeal.

On the other hand, I survived a birthday party for my 4-yr-old complete with a visit from my parents. I can do *anything*! Guess I will just wake up, get dressed, and take my happy pills before leaving the house.

I find myself staring in the mirror and telling myself..."I'm good enough...I'm smart enough...and doggonit, people like me." (After all, who wouldn't like a redhead with a big rack!?!)

I am so screwed!!!!!!!!! 🙁

Willow

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by WillowRose
Hey! I don't remember interviewing you!!

My first interview is Wednesday...it's a panel interview (I think)..and it's scheduled for 9 a.m. I am sooooo screwed! I am a total non-morning person and the idea of facing 2 or 3 interviewers while still half-asleep does not appeal.

On the other hand, I survived a birthday party for my 4-yr-old complete with a visit from my parents. I can do *anything*! Guess I will just wake up, get dressed, and take my happy pills before leaving the house.

I find myself staring in the mirror and telling myself..."I'm good enough...I'm smart enough...and doggonit, people like me." (After all, who wouldn't like a redhead with a big rack!?!)

I am so screwed!!!!!!!!! 🙁

Willow

you are not screwed.....im sure there are stats on sdn somewhere but redheads with big racks have a 90% acceptance rate. the other 10% dont make it cause they are not morning interview peop........oh wait. never mind that last sentence 😉

you have an interview and i hear the panels ones arent as bad as they seem. my friend had one at emory and she was really nervous about it but she said it was more relaxing than her one on one interview.

like you said so yourself. you're smart, good enough, and yes we all love you. so chill till the next episode...

good luck!

 

[Tezzie]

I had a Blood Mary (ok make that 2...ok i am lying ... i had 3) before the interview 😎 .

 

[topherius]

Actually, I like this thread a lot more than the xanax thread...on that one, people mainly just argued about proper dosages. It got really boring. I would disagree with meanderson about xanax. Unless you're nervous to the point of nonfunctionality, I wouldn't take anything that might numb my thinking. That's just me, though.

On my interview days I try to go running before the day kicks off. It calms me down. If I don't have a chance to do that (only happened once) I dance naked in my hotel room singing old Chicago songs (I guess you could subsitute Celine Dion, but that gets kind of painful after a while) for about 10 minutes.

In contrast to what someone said (I could scroll down and check who but I'm way too lazy), I think my best interviews were my first couple. I was a little more on edge...once I started relaxing I think I may have gotten a little too comfortable. In situations like interviews, having a little adrenaline coursing through the ol' veins can be a good thing!

 

[WillowRose]

Ok, does anyone listen to *good* music before an interview?? Chicago and Celine Dion would make me shoot myself before I even got to the interview.

Ah hell...it's a morning interview...I'll listen to Bob & Tom and maybe I'll at least have a good laugh before I freak out in traffic!

 

[Kashue]

Sniff, no one likes Celion Dion? 🙁

Bonnie Tyler anyone? Stan Bush? Sara Brightman?

 

[topherius]

I was singing the Chicago songs, not listening to them...I didn't have a cd player with me, otherwise I certainly would have popped in something a little more in line with conventional notions of musical quality.

But seriously, for pure belt-your-heart-out singing, you really can't beat the emotion that Peter Cetera and I pour into our renditions of such time-honored classics as "Look Away" and "Hard Habit to Break." It would bring tears to your eyes, it really would.

 

[WillowRose]

It has already brought tears to my eyes! LOL

But I suppose it's no worse than my shower renditions of Ozzy Osbourne's "Mama, I'm Coming Home." Wait a minute...it *is* worse..it's still Chicago!

Now I must go buy some sensible shoes....

Will~