The Zen Way To Successful Interviewing

The job interview ranks near the top of everyone's stress-scale, irrespective of how many times they have been in this proverbial "hot seat." It is easy to become overwhelmed with advice as to how you should prepare and conduct yourself at this admittedly critical moment of your job search. And while it never hurts to review the tried-and-true basics (we have several proven strategies elsewhere on our site), there is also value to undertaking more mind-clearing approaches as well. After all, we have all seen well known public speakers reduced to spouting gibberish when hot lights and hard questions are put to them in certain situations. Successful interviews are those where clear heads prevail and the dynamic of the dialogue is manageable by both parties. Here are some ways you can help "find the balance" and come across as confident and controlled.

"The Journey Of A 1,000 Miles Begins With A Single Step"

Take the journey before the interview. Make a trip to the interview site before the scheduled meeting. Ideally, try to make the trip during business hours to get a feel for the traffic pattern. See where you can park if you anticipate driving to the interview. The objective here is to eliminate the stress of possibly having trouble locating the company or finding parking on the day of the meeting. By knowing where you are going in advance, you remove a large potential distraction to your interviewing experience. Of course, give yourself extra time no matter what. Arriving early gives you the time to find:

"Serenity Now"

With an early arrival, you will likely have some time to yourself. Use it to enhance your tranquility. By now you will have rehearsed the likely questions you will be asked and re-hashing it will only tend to make you attempt to script yourself. Take a moment to create a mental picture of a time when you were most at ease. Perhaps it was on vacation at a beach or in the mountains. Visualize yourself there. Remember the sounds and the smells. Lose yourself in the moment . . . it will bring your heart rate down. When you are called in for the meeting, you should feel refreshed and ready to:

"Center Yourself"

Being aware of the "inner you" is an essential tenet in this spiritual approach to interviewing. Coming off your just completed waiting-room meditation, your next level of Zen is to envision yourself in the position you are interviewing for. Try to see yourself as a part of the company and working with the people you are coming in contact with. Answer interview questions confidently. Convey a sense of confidence and 'belonging' that should be a result of your being connected with yourself. Only think in terms of positives . . . "I am perfect for this position," "I fit in," etc. It might sound a bit too "new age" for some, but it works well in handling the usually stressful interview situation.

Needless to say, this entire Zen-like approach to the interview is used in conjunction with the proven and battle-tested mantras of being prepared with research about the company and being rock-solid with details of your experience. The Zen advantage is complimentary to your preparatory work as it serves to take the emotional edge off the situation. If you follow this advice, it will make you more serene and confident. While it might not be the path to complete enlightenment, it should help you get the job!


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