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For many people, the thought of looking for employment and the job interview can cause much anxiety: butterflies in the stomach, dry mouth, and sweaty hands. These are only a few examples of how the body reacts to anxiety.

If the thought of a job interview or looking for employment makes you nervous, it is perfectly normal and you are not alone. You need to learn to take it easy and calm down, and here are three (3) simple ways to do this: Practice, Prepare, and Relax.

Practice: Like any skill, practice makes perfect. Many people make the mistake of "winging it" or thinking all interviews are the same; until they are in the job interview. Yes, interviews can be the same from one to another, but there is no guarantee the same questions will be asked, the interviewers will use the same process or the environment will be open and warm or closed and confined. To get past the "unknown" successfully, you have to practice what you know from previous interviews and know your strengths and weaknesses. Engaging in role-playing with others or recording your responses and playing them back are proven results to ease anxiety. Use a camcorder, this will help you recognize your negative body language (e.g. scratching, fidgety with a fingers or pen etc.) and how to correct them before the interview.

Preparation: is key to an interview, right down to directions to the interview, who you will be meeting, how many interviewers? And picking out the right attire. Have your clothes picked out, any materials you are bringing ready (e.g. resume, documents), and make sure you get a good night's sleep beforehand. Even if you don't get the job, be positive and learn from the experience and how you can improve for the next one.

Relax: practice some breathing exercises. This will trigger a relaxation response that will soon become second nature to you. This forces your body to move out of the 'fight or flight' state, into a more useful, calmer state. Along with breathing, smiling and maintaining eye contact during an interview will help you relax and make the environment positive for you and the interviewers.

Following these three steps will provide you an abundance of confidence and energy going into an interview. You'll be ready to manage your nerves and provide excellent responses to the interviewer(s) questions.

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