Have a Successful Interview by Taking Care of Yourself

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Looking for a job and interviewing is really stressful.  Especially if you're currently out of work.  So in the interest of Valentine's Day we're going to talk about love.  But not like you think.  It's about showing yourself a little love.  Not that kind of self love.  This isn't that type of blog.  We're talking about making the time to treat yourself well even when you're stressed out.

All of the fun things that come along with stress work to sabotage your performance.  The sleeplessness, poor diet, lack of exercise and general lack of having fun all contribute to you having a bad day.  Or a bunch of bad days.  All in a row.  Which then makes you more stressed resulting in another bad day.  It just keeps rolling back on itself.  And when you're feeling bad, you don't perform well.  And that can be disastrous when you go for an interview.


When you're frantically spending every minute of every day searching online and working your network to find a job, it's hard to make time to take care of yourself.  But it's really important.  And you have to start prior to the night before your interview.  Because that's just not going to work.  If you establish some of these habits you'll find you're sleeping better, eating better and feeling better.  And when you feel better, you'll perform better.  Not only will you increase your probability of performing well on your next interview but your job search, and everything else you do, will be more effective.

Related: A Positive Attitude Helps Your Job Search

We all know that we should eat healthier.  No one is under any illusion that fast food is healthy or that ice cream is good for you.  But they are quick, cheap and make you feel better when you're down.  If you make the effort to eat healthier just for one work week, Monday to Friday, you'll see a huge difference in your energy level.  Having more energy puts you in a better mood, too.  Just by putting aside the take out and cooking at home, and yes this means fresh vegetables, you can increase your productivity and performance.  You'll have more energy and a more positive attitude to devote to your job search and interviews.  

In addition to eating healthier, we all know we should move around more.  That doesn't mean you have to start clocking miles running around your neighborhood but a walk now and then won't kill you.  In fact, besides getting some fresh air you'll also increase your heart rate and blood flow.  Getting your system moving helps you think more clearly.  Which is especially helpful when crafting all those cover letters you send with your resume.  It also boosts your mood, and who doesn't need that?  Besides, when you're out of the house you see other people.  And you never know who you might run into.  It could be that all important contact that leads to your next job.

Related: So You Got Laid Off

The last piece of the stress puzzle here is getting enough sleep.  Stress robs us of that.  We lie wide awake at night obsessing over every fear, rejection and set back we've suffered.  The human brain seems to think that 2am is the perfect time to mull it all over.  It's not.  But we all do it.  The way to get around that is work at the two other suggestions you just read.  Eat better and move around more.  If you eat healthier and get some form of exercise in you'll also sleep better.  You'll be in a better mood, have more energy and work off some of that stress which will allow you to relax at night and actually sleep.  A good night's sleep can work miracles.  That alone is worth making the effort to eat better and exercise.  Sweet, sweet sleep.

Take the time to care for yourself a little bit.  Being more energetic, happier, less stressed and well rested will come through when you're applying for jobs.  And it will help your performance not only on those job interviews, but when you meet people that may be able to help you find a job.  People like to help happy people.  So do yourself a favor and help make you happy.  It's worth it.