5 interview Mistakes Caused By Nerves

So you got the call for the interview and you feel that you are prepared for your shot to impress your soon to be boss. But, once you get in the hot seat, your palms start sweating and you get that deer in the headlight feeling, you start to break out in a cold sweat and the panic sets in. Nerves can make you freeze up and end up making you fail to impress your interviewer. Don't let nerves get the better of you. When you find yourself in the middle of a panic, take a deep breath and try to focus on what you are doing. If you are like me, then you know that it is hard sometimes to “never let 'em see you sweat”. But there is hope, because for the most part, you can get through an interview, nerves or not, by watching out for some of these common mistakes that nerves can cause.

Even though an interviewer knows that you are nervous, they want to see how well you can work under pressure and if you have the ability to hold it together under fire. Practicing these things will give you an advantage when you feel yourself starting to panic in the middle of an interview and will show the employer how well you can work through even the toughest situations.

Here are 5 mistakes that nerves can cause-

1. Not answering the question- Sometimes it can be simply that you got off track after you started talking and forgot what your point was. It can help to write out your answers to some common interview questions ahead of time in order to familiarize yourself with what points you want to be sure to work in. Don't be afraid to say “I'm sorry, I got lost my train of thought, what was the question again?” Even though it can disrupt the flow, by admitting that you need help and getting the problem solved, you are showing the interviewer that you can admit your failures and get back on track, rather than trying to bluff your way through it.

2. Answering questions before they are asked- This is a classic mistake that nerves can cause. When you are nervous and the interviewer is talking, don't try to answer the question you think that they are trying to ask. Wait until they are finished, interrupting people is rude, and often the question may be completely different than you had anticipated. The interviewer is looking to get a feel for how you will work with their company, and you don't want them to think that you aren't a good listener or that you jump to conclusions without waiting to hear all of the instructions. It is a good idea to get in the habit of pausing for a couple of seconds before answering a question, just to be sure that you have heard the entire thing. When you are nervous, it is better to leave them under the impression that you had to think about your answers rather than them believing that you jump the gun.

3. Talking too much- When I get nervous, I always seem to talk too much. Maybe it is just a way to fill the silences and make someone not notice that I am freaking out, I don't know. What's worse is that often I am just rambling and not making much sense. When you find that you are running on and on, take a deep breath and try to wrap it up. It is a good idea to try to get your responses down to just a minute or two.

4. Not talking at all- Sort of like number 3, when some people get nervous, they start to reply with one word answers. It is hard to build rapport without giving the interviewer enough information to work with. If you know that you have a tendency to do this when you get nervous, practice your responses until you know them by heart, that way you can be sure that even under pressure, you will be able to recall what you wanted to say and how. It is a surefire way to beat this type of stage fright.

5. Not listening- When you are panicking, it is hard to remember to pay attention to what someone is saying rather than thinking about what you want to say. When you tune out, the person talking almost always notices, especially someone who interviews people frequently. When you find yourself tuning out, remember to breathe, make eye contact, nod and let the interviewer know that you are still listening.

Keeping a handle on nerves is hard, but keep in mind that you want to show your future employer that you are someone who can put those things aside and work through any sort of adversity. Practice is the key, and if you prepare for anything that may arise, you will be able to put the feelings of nervousness aside and let your wonderful attributes shine through.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.