If you are someone who has faced or will face a lot of interviews, you probably know how important it is to spend quality time on your resume, practice your stories well and research about the company you are interviewing.  Getting ready with the said things is like running a marathon.  You cannot wake up one day and start running.  It needs a lot of hard work, dedication and patience. 

What if I tell you that this is just half the work done?  If you are a nervous wreck like I am, the other 50% starts just 24 hours before the interview. 

Follow these 10 tricks to take control of the last moment anxiety and let go off the butterflies in your stomach

1.  Eat at home a day before the interview

The idea here is to keep yourself busy and away from the jitters.  Cooking is the best way to spend some time thinking about yourself and how awesome you are.  You have an added advantage of keeping your stomach happy.  Needless to stay, refrain from consuming alcohol and enjoy your food while reading your favorite book or watching a movie you love.  You have prepared yourself well and it’s time to stop overthinking. 

2.  Sleep for a minimum of 8 hours

You must have heard it on multiple occasions about the importance of an 8 hour sleep.  This might not be possible everyday but I cannot emphasize enough on the importance of getting wholesome sleep the day before your interview.  A good sleep trumps everything else.  Feeling fresh when you wake up is of utmost importance.  It not only brightens up your day but makes you look smart and confident. 

3.  Take a cold shower to get superpowers

I am not the biggest fan of taking cold showers and many of you will agree that it’s not the best idea.  However some research will show you that many successful people take cold showers every day.  Cold showers give you super powers.  It keeps your mind calm, focused and ready for any challenge.  Give it a try before you actually start practicing it.  Take a cold shower on the day of your interview and superman your way out of it. 

4.  Have a light meal 2 hours before

Have you ever taken a lengthy examination and came out exhausted, drained out?  Interviews are like exams where our brain is constantly working, trying to focus.  Food provides a continuous stream of energy and keeps you moving.  Foods rich in protein like eggs and salmon provide instant energy and keep you full.  Blueberries and nuts provide important nutrients.  Having food 2 hours before the interview keeps you in the best spirits.  Things to avoid include soda, garlic and oily food.  Take care not to cook after you dress up.  You don’t want to smell like your breakfast. 

5.  Suit up.  It’s gonna be legendary!! 

Make extra efforts to get well fitting clothes much before the interviews.  Shabby clothes significantly reduce confidence.  Get a sleek haircut and plan it much before the interview.  Take time to suit up and look your best every time.  Keep your clothes away from food and get a decent cologne. 

6.  Forget your resume, carry a smile

Just kidding.  Do not forget to take copies of your resume.  But what is more important is to carry a smile.  Carry it throughout the day, not just in the interview.  Greet anyone you meet with enthusiasm and prance when no one is around. 

7.  Priming your brain can do wonders

Priming is an important concept in understanding human psychology.  It is as simple as talking to people who motivate you, watching videos which make you feel special and imagining yourself successful in the future, minutes before the interview.  It goes a great way in raising up your spirits.  People who are primed tend to do much better than others statistically.  Read Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariele to better understand this concept. 

8.  Power pose

I was first introduced to power posing from an amazing TED talk.  Humans generally tend to shrink when they are nervous or in fear.  Whereas in a position of power they expand, stretch their arms and keep their chin high.  This trait can be mimicked to trick the brain.  Minutes before going in an interview, stretch your arms, keep you feet on the table, shout and act crazy.  It will open you up.  For more insights watch the TED video. 

9.  Treat interviewer like your grandmother

One of my favorites is the Grandmother analogy.  It takes a while to master but I am sure you get the gist here.  Treat your interviewer like your grandmother.  Give them respect, use simple language, control your pace and voila, you can make your grandma understand what you wanted to convey.  It is more about controlling your jitters than making them understand you. 

10.  Beware of tangents

Tangents are nightmares for interviewers.  They don’t want to listen to your biography every time they ask you a question.  Keep to the point and stay focused.  Take 2 second pauses if you can’t remember what you want to say next.  Sometimes a long pause brings in a dramatic effect too.  At least it is better than a tangent. 

Disclaimer: The person writing this article has failed at numerous interviews and has learnt it the hard way.  Recommend the article if it’s worth sharing.