Graduate recruitment and tackling nerves head on
To have a chance of tackling nerves, you need to understand what's behind them. Nerves are basiclly a form of stress, and stress is generated primarily by uncertainty, and this is the key to dealing with those nerves. If you can remove some of this uncertainty, then you will be able to remove some of those nerves. Here's some ideas that will serve you well through the graduate recruitment process.
Don't leave your journey to interview to chance. In most cases, if you turn up late, you've blown it before you even start. So if you're anything other than very early leaving, the chances are along the way you will begin to feel nervous about whether you're going to make it. On traffic Jam and you'll be shaking behind the wheel worrying whether there's still enough time. The solution is simple. Do a test run of your journey on another day at the same time and remove the uncertainty. Then add another hour onto this time and leave extra early. The worst you'll have then is an hour to kill at the venue, but at least you're worrying about being on time!
Learn about the company in advance. Uncertainty about what questions you will be asked is another source of nerves, and indeed whether you can answer them. Some questions are predictable, like 'wa=hat do you know about our company.'? Really go to town on your company research, being over prepared for a question you know you will get is a nice comfortbale feeling that will have you waiting with anticipation for it rather than dreading it.
Is your graduate recruiter an 'axe muderer'? Okay it's an exaggeration but worrying about what your interviewer is like is another significant source of uncertainty and stress, and it's unnecessary. If you've gone through a graduate recruitment agency, your consultant should be able to tell you what the interviewer's like and how to approach them. In addition, try to speak with an employee as part of your research, they will also be able to give you some hints on what the manager is like.
Here's my killer nerve buster, exercise. If you've ever been in a gym for an hour, you'll know that sense of relaxation you feel after strenuous exercise. the relaxation is enduced by endorphins, natural hormones which are sent flowing around your body after exercise. Clal up the hotel in advance and ask them if you can use the gym before your interview, them let you in for free, or they may charge you a few pounds, but it will be worth it!
Drum up a hive of graduate recruitment activity. If you only have one opportunity on the go, the uncertainty about the outcome is a sure killer for your nerves. Apply to lots of different jobs and generate several processes at once, then, there's less uncertainty around any one interview, and therefore less nerves associated to it.
The graduate recruitment process is riddled with uncertainty in itself, let alone the uncertainties surrounding your future career and life, so one can see why it is so stressful and nerve wracking. Employ these techniques methodically and you will see your interview performance rise dramtically.
About the Author: John Bult runs an internet job site for graduate recruitment agencies in the UK.
More articles by john@ukcareers.co.uk
Print Article | Download PDF | 30 views | Jun 10 2008
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