By Shea Ki There is nothing like that moment when you get that first call or notice from an employer that they want to meet you. "I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW!" First there is the inner cartwheel. Then there is the excited-but-nervous stage where maybe you start tell people about it. But for many, those shaky butterflies in your tummy start turning into wild bees, increasingly buzzing with anxiety, doubts, and fears. "UGH. I have a job interview." I used to hate hate hate job interviews. There, I said it. Yes, a career coach that some publications and workforce development colleagues have referred to as a "job interview expert" confesses! (*gulp*) Actually, I've always been pretty open about my journey to becoming a pro in the career counseling field. I let my clients know that I used to be a mess when my time in the hot seat was coming up. I also remember how my insides felt after interviews-kind of like an unsuspecting turtle being run over by a high speed truck. I knew that there had to be a better way. I wanted to avoid feeling like my anxiety, nerves, and doubts were about to spew out everywhere, but how? When I started working for employment centers, I saw so many jobseekers and career changers experiencing this same frustrating problem every day. Fears about failing, feelings of not being good enough, and confusion about not knowing how to share their value in a tough economy plagued most of the people I was serving. I thought this was such an injustice as so many of the hundreds of clients I met were talented, qualified, and very much needed a good paycheck ASAP. I kept wondering, "Why is the job interview process set up for so few to succeed?" Somedays it made me sick and I felt powerless. ![]() When I later decided to head into graduate school to become an even better career coach, the lightbulbs I expected didn't go off in my head. Instead, it was a huge, incredible firework show! Everything about helping others discover what sparks them up, how to tap more into their talents, and learn how to share their value with the world excited me. I have been hooked (*obsessed*) with this mission ever since. Fast forward about ten years. After a successful decade in supervising many career specialists and managing employment centers for adults and youth, I started my own online coaching practice. I enjoy sharing my tips, experience, and lessons learned with clients and have already seen them upgrade their interview skills quickly from my holistic, encouraging approach. What do I mean when I say holistic? When your clear mind, grounded body, and sparkling spirit show up with you to the job interview, you will walk away knowing you represented your best self. Often, job seekers are missing something when in the hot seat. Your answers might be on track, but your body language might be telling a different story. Your skills might all be what the employer is looking for, but being so nervous or too guarded may turn them off. Your mind might be telling you that you are a good fit for the job one minute and then jumping into self-doubt land the next. All of these situations and worse happen when you have not been trained to learn a holistic approach to preparing for your job interview. Here at Upgrade My Interview™, we share and create holistic, engaging, and fun resources to boost your power to shine in the hot seat. I invite you to join this positive, growing force that is set on ending the job interview struggle. The more, the merrier as we need to turn that awful stat of over 70% of people not liking their work WAY around. I believe fiercely that getting better prepared and even looking forward to job interviewing is part of the answer. I do what I do because........ I hold on to this vision for the workforce: Finding and being fairly compensated for doing good work you enjoy, while also being well treated for it, will one day be the new norm. I recently went on a website treasure hunt to find out what is out there for job interviewing tools to prepare your mind, body, and spirit (and what is missing for my upcoming vlog series). I hope this list below of what crossed my path serves you by saving you time and boosting your power to shine in the hot seat. Preparing Your MIND For The Job Interview Mindmapping (+ App) Hacks for Better Answers Stressbusters (+Infographic) Powering Up Your BODY For The Job Interview What To Eat + What To Avoid (+ Infographic) What To Wear (Women)(Men) Power Poses (Examples + a most famous Ted Talk) Fueling Your SPIRIT For The Job Interview 11 Spiritual Practices To Help You Be More You Tapping Nerves Away (Video) Vision Boards (+ Example on Pininterest) Benefits of A Ritual (+ How To Do A Cleansing Ceremony) YOUR TURN: What useful holistic links can be added to this list? Are there websites, apps, youtube videos, or other media you turn to at job interview time that help prepare your mind, body, and spirit? Tell me in your comment below and be sure to follow me on Instagram so you always have encouraging job interview tips and less stress on hand! Most of all, believe in you. "Finding and being fairly compensated for doing good work you enjoy, while also being well treated for it, will one day be the new norm."
Tamara
9/6/2016 12:13:49 pm
Nailed it.👏🏻 I think this approach helps so many who like me hold back on going for better positions
Shea Ki
9/13/2016 12:36:39 pm
I like to doodle when taking notes and learning so mind mapping was a treasure when I came across it. It can help make the process of developing your key message you want to convey not such a boring chore! A good whiteboard and color markets will work well too if an App is not your style.
Tonya
9/7/2016 11:12:03 am
Yes, interviewing is easier ever since I tried meditation 30 minutes before leaving for the job interview (and I tossed in a few affirmations in the mirror at the bathroom when I arrived early). It's still not a spa treatment, but I don't walk away feeling like I sucked at it.
Marco
9/10/2016 09:19:42 pm
Great list and I will try the mindmapping and getting food down the day of--sometimes my nervous stomach wins though and cannot eat much
Shea Ki
9/13/2016 12:43:37 pm
Tonya--love it! Mirror or work is such a no-cost (but time!) and easily accessible practice to get into to help build confidence and have less stress at your job interview.
Shea Ki
9/30/2016 04:57:43 pm
Thanks for sharing the post and resources, Emmanuel! 😀 Comments are closed.
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