Overcoming Speaking Anxiety for Job Interviews Part 1: Preparation

Job interviews are a particularly stressful event for anyone, but for non-native English speakers, it can be especially nerve-wracking. Speaking anxiety can make it challenging to present yourself in the best light during an interview. That combined with known and unknown cultural differences can make successfully nailing a job interview feel unattainable.

How do we get past this anxiety and perform confidently to show how awesome we are, and what an asset we would be to our team?

Visualizing success may seem silly, but it can work wonders! The first step towards acing your interview is to imagine a successful outcome. Take some time to visualize what a successful interview looks and feels like to you. Envision yourself speaking confidently and effectively, and answering questions with ease. This exercise can help you mentally prepare for your interview, shift your focus from the negative to the positive, and reduce anxiety.

To feel confident during your interview, practice is key. The more you prepare and practice speaking English, using the vocabulary and phrases you expect to use during the interview, the more confident you will feel and appear. Practice speaking with friends, family members, colleagues, or language exchange partners. Practice common interview questions and record yourself speaking to identify areas for improvement. The more you speak, the more natural the words will feel coming out of your mouth, and the more your speech will flow at a natural rate.

When preparing, focus on practicing your content rather than perfecting your pronunciation. Communication is about understanding each other and untangling messages. If you feel confident about your subject and content, you’ll be less likely to stumble on words, speak too quickly due to nerves, or forget what to say. Confidence in your speaking ability goes a long way towards a successful outcome.

Understand that blips, hiccups, stumbles, blunders happen to everyone, native speakers included. Don’t let these minor mistakes deflate your confidence. Accept them and move on. In then end, use it to learn from, to be better for next time.