Revisited: How To Warm Up Before Any Interview

by Sep 22, 2021

With all of autumn’s transitions, one of those changes might be the opportunity to pursue a new position. In order to do so, make sure you’re keeping an open mind to the opportunities all around you, and practicing gratitude for the ones that come your way, especially amidst our present unprecedented circumstances. In order to ace that interview, you’ll want to ensure that you’re being proactive and properly preparing yourself to give an ideal performance, providing your prospective employer with a phenomenal first impression of you. Working with your staffing agency contacts to prepare for your unique interview opportunity is just one step you can take on your way to a new position–you’ll also need to do a bit of work on your own! As part of that work, treat your interview like an audition. By which we mean make sure to warm up physically in addition to mentally! The pros we’re highlighting below offer up some surefire ways to do just that.

 

Laura McMullen at U.S. News provides this key method you won’t want to miss: “Warm up your vocal cords. Talk about a quick confidence killer: introducing yourself to the interviewers only to have your voice crack or sound strained. Don’t let a weak, I-woke-up-an-hour-ago voice set the tone for the rest of the day. Lewis Lin, founder and CEO of Impact Interview, an interview coaching service, suggests warming up your vocal cords, especially before phone interviews. Before the interview – say, on the drive to the office – speak through your talking points loud and clear, ‘as if you were an actor or actress getting ready for an audition,’ Lin says.” We appreciate this quick and easy suggestion for getting yourself ready to talk at length. If you’re feeling self-conscious about speaking out loud, humming helps get your vocal cords ready to go. Select your favorite song, and use that to amp yourself up in advance of your interview. Another great way to make sure your vocal cords are in great shape? Hydrate! Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water before your interview, as this will also help keep your voice from sounding weak or muffled.

 

We also love this tip highlighted by Dominique Rodgers at Monster from Bob Kulhan, founder & CEO of Business Improv in the New York City area: “Loosen up. ‘A warm-up exercise can help you relax, get out of your head and into the mental state where you are fully present and in the moment. A great warm-up you can do alone to get in the right mental state shortly before your interview is called ‘Shake ’em 8s.’ Hold your right arm out and shake your right hand, counting up to 8, then repeat the shake and count for your left hand, right foot and left foot. Then repeat the whole process counting up to 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2, until you finally shake each limb 1 time.’” This warm-up method might feel silly, but it’ll help you get any self-consciousness out of the way before you settle into your chair as an interviewee. And this bit of exercise can give you a boost of endorphins! That burst of positivity will shine through during your interview, impressing any potential employer. If you aren’t able to do the “shake ‘em 8s” while standing–or don’t want to–you can also modify this exercise to be done while seated. Even a little bit of movement can help dust off any mental cobwebs, get you out of your comfort zone for a moment, and allow you to be fully present once you’ve started the interview itself.

 

Preparation is key to being present. Make sure you’re taking advantage of every moment you have leading up to your interview to prepare both mentally and physically so that when it’s time to perform, you’ll be able to present your best self to your interviewer. View your interview as a warm up act before you’re given the position, a way to introduce your skill set and give your potential bosses a taste of your workplace performance. Approach planning for your interview holistically, and maintain your attention to detail by focusing on small, easy steps you can take to feel calm, collected, and in charge. You’ve got this! Join us again tomorrow as we consider even more ways to warm up to the start of fall in our Wednesday Wellness: Warm edition.

 

 
 
Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain
 

This posting is brought to you by Contemporaries Inc., one of the best temp agencies in Boston MA. Also available for payrolling employees in Boston and Greater Boston

Recent Posts

Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials

Gen Z’s Top Five Job Hunting Essentials

Author: Alyssa Rebolledo Gen Z is the newest and largest group of job hunters that are currently in the market. They are recent graduates, hungry for new opportunities, and want to change the typical nine to five job blueprint. Here are the Top Five Requirements of...

The Power of Positivity in the Workplace

The Power of Positivity in the Workplace

Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned pro who has been in the workforce for years, why not try incorporating the power of positivity into your daily routine? It won’t take much effort on your part, but will set a better tone for the day. While you...

Giving Back is Key to a Better Perspective and Feeling Good

Giving Back is Key to a Better Perspective and Feeling Good

Working hard may be a great way to get ahead, but giving back and helping others can also be very rewarding and a means to feeling good. Most times, being nice and thinking of others costs very little or nothing at all. However, the gift of giving back may make an...

Rethinking Motivators May be the Key to Hiring Top Notch Job Seekers

Rethinking Motivators May be the Key to Hiring Top Notch Job Seekers

Motivation for job seekers today is very different from the incentives that drove them in the past. Or, at least the order of what seems to be most important to them now compared to years ago. Renowned American psychologist Abraham Maslow, back in 1943, put to paper...

Thank You Boston Candidates and Clients for 25 Great Years!

Thank You Boston Candidates and Clients for 25 Great Years!

Many new exciting and interesting happenings occurred in 1998. Bill Clinton was President, while Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House. It was a time when the blockbuster hit, Titanic, dominated the Oscars as well as movie theaters and became the first picture to...

Contemporaries Named One of Best Staffing Agencies in Boston for 2023

Contemporaries Named One of Best Staffing Agencies in Boston for 2023

Boston_ Ringing in the New Year is not just a one-day celebration. It also is a time to think about making future changes for the better, personally and professionally. If you are a business owner or decision maker in search of top talent, or a job seeker looking for...

All Staffing Firms Are Not the Same When it Comes to Placements

All Staffing Firms Are Not the Same When it Comes to Placements

The standards for staffing agencies, when selecting a candidate for a specific position, may differ slightly, to drastically, depending on the types of job, the client, the length of assignment, as well as how the Recruiter is compensated. Traditionally, a firm may...

What Staffing Agencies Look for in Candidates

What Staffing Agencies Look for in Candidates

Do you want to know the secrets to making a great impression on a staffing agency Recruiter? Here are a couple of tips as well as insight on what Recruiters are looking for. First, they want the type of candidate who will take their job search activities seriously and...

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Three of Three Part Series

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Three of Three Part Series

As we mentioned in the previous two parts of this series, employers certainly have choices when it comes to utilizing the services of a qualified staffing firm to accommodate their specific employment needs. Whether you require a temporary contract employee or the...

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Two of Three Part Series

Employers Have Choices Too! Part Two of Three Part Series

Staffing choices can have massive ramifications to a public or private organization. Hiring the wrong individual may cost a company millions while making a great hire could lead to a vast increase in profits as well as other invaluable benefits such as positive brand...

Employers Have Choices Too! Part One of Three Part Series

Employers Have Choices Too! Part One of Three Part Series

Decades ago, public and private organizations turned to staffing firms mainly to fill  temporary gaps when full-time employees were out, a project required more staff, or to help an employer catch up with day to day operations. Employees could find themselves working...

Secrets to Snagging a Contract Opportunity  And a Better Career Future

Secrets to Snagging a Contract Opportunity And a Better Career Future

  Very few people are able to secure their dream job or even a regular position as soon as they graduate from high school, vocational school, or higher ed. Unless your degree is from an ivy league university or you are someone who has worked in a particular field...