Job Search Scaring You? Try These 3 Things.

We love horror movies, but lately, they haven’t had the same thrill. That’s probably because we’ve seen the true face of horror, the job search. And the scariest part of the process has to be the interview. Is there anything more unnerving than sitting in a room while strangers analyze your every word before passing judgment on your worthiness? We don’t think so.

That got us thinking: If horror movies make us face our fears, then maybe they can teach us how to face the job search head on.

Here are three things to try before your next interview, inspired by the scary movies we love.

Become A Mad Scientist

Mad scientists don’t create unholy incarnations of evil on a whim. It takes years of study to reach that level. True, their creations ultimately turn on them, but that’s the wrong take away. The point is, if you want to perform at your best, you need to research first.

Investigate the company to get a feel for its operations and its culture. Peruse the company’s website to see how the company likes to present itself. Then explore social media and review sites to see how others feel. If you want to go deep, see if you can find annual reports or letters to stakeholders.

Do some research on interviewing techniques as well. To get you started, check out our posts on how to prep for a job interview, common interview mistakes, and the ultimate guide to job interview questions.

Gear Up For The Hunt

Pro monster hunters don’t walk out the door each morning and hope for the best. When it comes time to slay some beasties, they always prepare with a gearing up montage. Holy water? Check. Silver bullets? Check. Battle axe? You get the idea.

If you want to kill at this interview, you’ll need to gear up, too. Print out extra copies of your resume and cover letter to have at the ready. Write down the questions you want to ask at the end of the interview. Plan out your outfit. (Epic montage music optional but recommended.)

Now is the time to put that research to use. Rehearse your responses to common interview questions until you feel confident in your answers. Get a friend or family member to perform a mock interview with you. If that’s not possible, no worries. Simply hearing your answers out load will help.

Exorcise Those Demons

Fear, stress, self-doubt, hesitation…these inner demons plague all of us from time to time, and high-stress, high-risk situations like interviews make us susceptible to their spell. That’s the bad news. The good news is, you can banish these demons without resorting to something as extreme as an exorcism ritual—trust us, hell vomit is impossible to get out of carpet.

Following the first two pieces of advice will help you here, but be sure to give yourself adequate time. The more you try to juggle, the more stressed you’ll become. Planning your research and rehearsals in advance will allow you to focus on one task at a time, keeping you calm and improving your work.

If your restless mind is constantly whirling, try some physical activity. Cardiovascular exercises oxygenate the blood, reduce stress hormones, and make you feel good. Even a short, brisk walk can be just the thing.

Of course, this is just the beginning of what horror movies can teach us. You should also be sure to stalk your prey (i.e. map out the route before the day of the interview) and avoid walking-dead syndrome (i.e., get a good night’s rest). With these and other horror-inspired job search hacks, you can spend the week leading up to your interview confident you’ll be ready to kill it. Metaphorically speaking, of course.