Interviews have always given me anxiety. Just the thought of them as I type this makes me nervous!
I’m not a very natural speaker so when I’m forced to speak to someone I’ve just met, I either end up sitting in silence or I compensate with word vomit. So the added pressure of having to speak eloquently in an interview just makes everything even worse.
But there’s been one technique that I’ve used for many years now to help calm my nerves before any sort of public speaking or interviewing.
It’s something I learned from a TED Talk that someone had sent me when I said I was feeling nervous for an upcoming interview. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy talks about how changing body positions (i.e. standing or sitting in a certain way) can change the way you feel, especially in the minutes leading up to an important interview.
Think back to your last interview you had. Before being called into the interview, where were you? Were you sitting or standing? What position were you in? And what were you feeling in those moments?
If I had to guess, you were probably sitting hunched over a bit looking at your phone, bouncing your legs. Or perhaps pacing back and forth a bit just wanting to get the interview over with.
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Well, in the TED Talk, Cuddy suggests that positioning yourself in a “power pose” can alter the way you feel about yourself and help you perform better in your interview! Power poses are those that express power and dominance, where you expand and stretch out to make yourself bigger.
An example would be Superman or Wonder Woman pose, where you legs are at least shoulder-width apart, your fists at your waist, and your head held high. Or another would be with your hands up in a “V” shape, as if celebrating.
You can watch the quick excerpt of her TED Talk here:
While the science behind all this has been debated, I can tell you from my own experience that it has helped me feel more confident and ready for the interview. I would find a private area, sometimes even the bathroom stall, and just stand in the Power Pose for a good 2-3 minutes.
As I stand in the Power Pose, I’ll take very deep breaths to moderate my heart beat. I’ll also practice my personal summary in my head a few times to make sure I’m prepared.
(My personal summary is my 2 minute speech about my education and work experience and is the answer to the interview opener: “So tell me about yourself.”)
But the combination of standing in the open posture, the deep breaths, and the confidence booster from feeling prepared to answer the first question all help to calm me down before the interview.
So the next time you’re going into an interview, a presentation, or anything that’s making you nervous, remember to do the Power Pose and see if that helps to bring down your nerves!
Have you done the Power Pose before? And what are your results? Will you try this at your next interview? Let me know in the comments below!
If you’ve ever struggled with performing in an interview or needed help with writing a resume, then this group is for you! It’s a safe space for us to discuss our job search journey, sharing opportunities for improvement and success stories. Hope to see you there! Click HERE to join.
