What can I take before an interview to calm my nerves?

[Tollplaza]

I've got a bottle of Bach's remedy and have used it a couple of days and I don't feel any different at all. The interview is next week and I feel so nervous just thinking about it. I dread to think what I'll be like on the day!

I've read about propanolol but thats too late as I won't be able to get a prescription by then.

Ive been doing deep breathing and visualisation but I constantly have a knot in my stomach and will be glad when it's over.

Is there anything else I can try?

Kalms herbal tablets. I use the Bach Rescue Remedy lozenges when I get the flutters, don't go on a betablocker just for an interview, they are strong tablets. Lavender bath the night before, lay all your clothes out the night before, no caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before. Good luck with the interview. Why are you so nervous, you'll be fine and it will soon be over.

I have an interview on Tuesday and am feeling sick with nerves! I had an interview in September. I took the max dose of Kalms throughout the day and swigged rescue remedy in water. I have to say I did feel calmer after that. I find once I start talking in the interview I naturally calm down. It's just the waiting to go in and first question that is horrific!

SallyWD My interview is on Tuesday too! Maybe it's for the same job!

dosydrawers I have social anxiety which is why I get so nervous. I am nervous in lots of situations where most people wouldn't even think twice about and interviews are on the top of my scary list!

I also have an interview on Tuesday I'm terrified for

Good luck PPs!

Omg! Another one of us! Is it at a hospital by any chance?!

what sort of job are you going for and what hospital? I am an hcp

Ooh I'm too afraid to say as it would be too outing!

I read online advice to tell yourself you are excited instead of nervous. Bizarrely it does help

I read something( on a football forum, oddly enough) about how you can be comfortable about something, when the outcome is so important to you.

Someone replied.and said they were a performer and used to have terrible stage fright. What worked for them was concentrating on the process and putting the the result out of their mind.

That made a lot of sense to me. And I recall going for interviews when I was nervous about the outcome, others where I was totally focused on the process

oh okay, didn't want to be nosey! good luck with the interview, let us know how you get on. the nhs is used to people being nervous!

Think of this as a practice for the next job interview. You'll try your best but don't expect to get it but you'll get lots of useful feedback that will help you get the job you really want. It really helps take the pressure off.

I have an interview next Thursday 😫. Rescue remedy used to work for me but it doesn’t anymore. I will have to try the kalms. I get hot and my words come out wrong and I feel like crying when I’m talking in an interview. I hate it. My eyes go red and watery too. I really need this job though and even thinking about it makes me nervous.

Have a brandy, op! (But eat a mint afterwards). Good luck.

A banana an hour before the event calms nerves. Controlled breathing before too.

Some long deep breaths and practice some meditation work well for me.
Failing that you could always take the wrong direction !
Seriously, nerves are your friend if you can use them well. Practice as much as you can, I suspect you know much more than you think and your interview skills are probably much better than you realise.

@Tollplaza oh good luck! It won't be as bad as you think. Make sure you have answers prepared for all the most common questions. It makes a huge difference when you know you have answers ready. I have social anxiety too. Interviews are awful for me - the fact that you are sitting there facing a group of people who are judging your every word. I blush very easily and think I must appear like a bright red awkward mess! Wear cool clothes, deep breathing etc. I'm trying to pretend I don't care about this job and its helping me feel more relaxed. P. S. My interview is not in a hospital.

Definitely bananas. I swear a banana passed my driving test for me.

I mean, I did the actual driving obviously - not the banana. But I really think it helped to calm my nerves.

I think if you visualise a banana taking a driving test, that might help you relax and smile.

I’ve found in the past that if I go in with the attitude that I don’t really care about getting the job I’m less nervous, more relaxed and can think more clearly.

Good luck!

I didn't know about the banana. Will try that out even though I'm not overly keen on them! The driving banana has made me laugh!

user1471453601 that makes sense but my stupid brain keeps panicking me!

HerRoyalNotness i think my nerves are so bad because I really do want this job. I would be devastated if I didn't get it. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.

Everyone gets nervous for interviews.

Even the interviewer will be nervous.

The best thing for me is to accept that I am nervous. It’s normal - it’s my body’s fight or flight response to a stressful situation.

So I can’t eliminate the nerves but I can control them to some extent.

I make sure I prepare as much as possible. I also spend time thinking about my outfit etc. Think about the journey. Practice my example answers etc. On the day itself, once I’m in the room, I take a moment to get myself comfortable including water etc. Don’t rush!

Good luck!

Mindfulness.

Lots of practice questions with a friend ( even if they don't know the subject matter it helps).

And remember that some anxiety/ adrenaline is useful.

Valerian root. Similar to valium.
Good luck!

Honestly, the most useful tip I've had recently was just to accept that interviews are an inherently nerve-wracking thing, and thus just to let yourself be nervous as you like in the run up to get it out of your system. Otherwise, you use all your energy controlling your nerves ahead of time, and the emotion needs to come out somewhere, so spills over during the interview. Just give yourself permission to let it all out beforehand, so you've no nerves left by the time the interview happens - you've burned it all off by then. Worked for me - got my promotion out of that tip!

I actually went to a pub once before an interview and had a brandy and coke!