- The 15 minutes before your job interview can be moments when you're most frantic, but staying focused is crucial to landing your dream job.
- Business Insider talked to five career experts on how to get in the right headspace in the 15 minutes before meeting your potential employer.
- Deborah Shane, author of "Career Transition," recommended that you review your notes but avoid over-rehearsing. Too much preparation can leave the impression that your interview answers are scripted.
- Click here for more BI Prime stories.
The 15 minutes before a job interview can be harrowing. Job seekers are never quite sure what to do with that time — but experts suggest that you look in a mirror, take deep breaths, and do whatever else it takes to focus and stay calm.
"Those 15 minutes are your opportunity to get yourself into the right frame of mind, and set your energy and focus on who you'll be meeting with, what you want them to remember about you, and what you want to ask them," said Deborah Shane, author of "Career Transition."
Business Insider talked to five career experts on tips to get you in the right headspace before meeting the hiring managers.
Here are nine things you should do in the 15 minutes before a job interview.
SEE ALSO: 13 things successful people do in the first 3 months at a new job
Stay calm
When you're stressed, your body releases hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. Depending on the level of your stress, these can inhibit your ability to think clearly, said David Parnell, a legal consultant, communication coach, and author of "The Failing Law Firm: Symptoms and Remedies."
"Ensuring that you remain calm, collected, and cool in the minutes leading up to the interview is necessary to avoid this hormonal elixir, and keep your mind clear," he said.
Career coach Anita Attridge added that staying calm before and during an interview allows you to listen better and to stay focused on how to best respond to questions.
"In addition, you are better able to think how you can best present your accomplishments in alignment with what is important to the interviewer — and being calm also demonstrates your ability to deal with stressful situations," she said.
Arrive early, but don’t go inside
Few things can shake you more than running late to an interview, so always arrive early — but no more than 10 minutes early.
Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach, told Business Insider that being too early can place unnecessary pressure on your interviewer and start the meeting off on the wrong foot.
"It can come across as an imposition, as if you are expecting the interviewer to drop whatever he or she is doing to attend to you," she said.
Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," told Business Insider that showing up a half hour before an interview can make you seem too anxious. It can do more harm than good.
Be friendly to all receptionists and security guards
When you do walk into the office's waiting room, remember to be nice to the receptionist, security guards, or whoever greets you.
"It's very likely that he or she will be reporting back to the hiring manager about how you behaved," Friedman said.
For instance, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he will ask the shuttle driver who picks up candidates whether they were impolite or rude, Business Insider reported.
He explained that the company usually picks up candidates from the airport, and hiring managers usually circle back to the shuttle drivers for thoughts.
"It doesn't matter how well the day of interviews went," he said. "If our shuttle driver wasn't treated well, then we won't hire that person."
Hopefully, you were planning on being friendly anyways.
Decide on one or two things you want to be remembered for
What makes you different from other applicants, and what do you know the company is looking for? Project management, communication savvy, or another skill set that sets you apart?
"Keying in on a few things that will impact your memorability and likeability is a smart way to approach the interview," Shane said.
Stop rehearsing
You don't want to over-prepare or rehearse responses because it can make your conversation seem scripted and not authentic.
"You want to know your stuff, but remember your interview is a conversation. Trust that you know what you know, and that the interview will take on a flow of its own," Shane said.
Breathe
You can try a breathing exercise if you're feeling nervous.
"Counting your breath is one of the most immediate and impactful techniques for calming your nerves," Parnell said. "Simply focus on your breaths, counting each until you reach 10, and repeat."
Focus on your posture
Sitting up straight, maintaining eye contact, and minimizing your use of filler words communicates that you're confident and professional, wrote Fran Hauser, author of "The Myth of the Nice Girl."
"You'll come across as looking more confident and poised," Friedman added.
"First, sit at the end of your chair (that's right, don't rely on your backrest). Let your body go into a slouching position. Now, try to sit up straight, accentuating the curve of your back as much as possible. Hold this position for a few seconds. Next, release the position a little bit," wrote Business Insider's Erin Brodwin on how to correct your posture.
Be sure your feet are on flat on the floor and your shoulders are relaxed, too.
Briefly review your notes, but don't do any additional research
You should be done researching, preparing, and rehearsing, but if you made any notes for yourself, this is a good time to briefly look them over.
"This is not the time to be using your phone to look up the company's recent achievements or earnings report," Friedman said. "Giving big numbers of projects a glance at the last second is a good way to misinterpret key information."
Attridge suggests you be prepared to tell them about yourself — a go-to ice breaking question that many employers use.
"While it sounds like an easy question, this is not the time to "wing-it," she said. "Instead, be prepared for the question by developing and practicing a 30 second to one minute pitch to position yourself as the best candidate for the job. Write out your pitch and review it before the interview to focus on why you are the best candidate for the job."
Look in a mirror
Duck into a nearby restroom or clothing store to check yourself out in the mirror.
"You may have left the house looking like a million dollars, but you could still arrive looking like a vagabond," Friedman said.
This is also a great time to wash your hands and make sure your fingernails are clean and your palms are dry. If you wore comfortable shoes and plan on changing into dress shoes, be sure not to do this in the office. Even if you've completed a masterclass on the proper handshake strength and length, a sticky palm or dirty fingernails can undermine an otherwise great introduction, she said.
Jacquelyn Smith contributed to a previous version of this post.
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