Interviews and Exams

I wonder how many of us feel like panicking when we think of taking an exam or having an interview? As soon as we feel panicky, our mind blurs, our heartbeat may start going faster and we may even feel nauseous or too hot or cold.

Of course, having these physical symptoms of panic don’t help us pass the exam or succeed at the interview, so what can we do about it?

The answer is that we can approach the situation in two diffferent ways. We can find all sorts of ways to be calm physically; or we can change the way we look at the challenging situation.

Let’s look at the second way first: by deciding that, having done all you can to prepare carefully and thoroughly for an interview or exam you can CHOOSE to feel neutral about the outcome, having no expectations either way, rather than feeling either: “I MUST succeed” or “I’ll NEVER do it!” both of which are sabotaging statements.

Once we have put the effort in to the best of our ability, the rest of the outcome depends on outside circumstances which are outside our control. However, you’ll be pleased to know that the effort you make, which IS within your control, is very likely to affect 90% of the outcome. You may have heard of the words: ‘Success is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration’ – well, that really is true! If you think of how the Olympic athletes achieved their amazing and wonderful successes, incluing the paralympic athletes, this success was not due to ‘good luck’ – this was due to the training and dedication that they put into creating the successes that we saw on our screens and at the stadium.

So now you can know for sure that, through your own careful preparation and training, you can achieve 90% certainty of success!

Now for the 1st way to approach the situation of an exam or interview: once you have done all the necessary research, preparation and training you can calm yourself physically on the actual day of the interview or exam by:

a) Breathing slowly, using the diaphragm rather than the upper chest. This gets plenty of oxygen into our lulngs, which in itself is calming, and prevents us from hyperventitaling.
b) Standing up straight, as if an invisible thread was suspended from the ceiling to the top of your head: this will make you feel more confident and look more confident, besides being good for your posture and body balance.
c) Sitting back in your chair so that the chairback supports your back and helps you to sit more erect. This is actually more relaxing!
d) Imagining a beautiful calming scene, like a lovely beach or beautiful countryside, paying attention to the different colours and shapes you can see in your mind’s eye. You have done all the preparation you need to do, so while waiting for the exam or interview to start, relaxing will hep you to remain calm.

So, now you have all the ingredients for success in your interview or exam. Feeling well-prepared, look forward to the experience and enjoy it!