Conquering Anxiety: A Finance Candidate’s Guide to Interview Calm

A racing heart, sweaty palms, wobbly legs, and scattered thoughts – sound familiar? Those are all common symptoms of interview anxiety. And it’s more common than you’d think. Even if you know you’re well-qualified for a specific finance role, nerves can still get the best of you.  

After all, interviewing means meeting strangers, often in an unfamiliar environment, discussing yourself at length, and exposing yourself to being judged. On top of that, the awareness that a “good interview” will separate you from the competition. 

Fortunately, even if you aren’t an expert at “selling yourself” or feel uncomfortable in high-pressure situations like interviews, there are ways to conquer this anxiety. What it takes is a little preparation and the right process to get your nerves under control. 

Here’s how to conquer fear and excel in your next interview. 

Understanding Interview Anxiety

If you suffer from interview anxiety, you’re not alone. Reports show that over 90% of candidates feel nervous, regardless of their age, background, or experience level, before an interview.  

There are various reasons why a candidate might feel interview nerves. For example, some people suffer from “imposter syndrome” and question whether they’re good enough for a role, even with the right qualifications and skills.   

However, the most significant source of interview anxiety is the fear of the unknown. Candidates may experience uncertainty about the technical questions they’ll need to answer to prove their finance knowledge or whether specific tests could be part of the recruitment process.  

Some candidates also struggle with how they are perceived in the interview and whether they’ll get a job offer after the meeting.   

These concerns can contribute to various symptoms before and during the interview. Anxiety can make it difficult to relax in the build-up to an interview; it can interfere with thought processes, making it harder to focus. Candidates might suffer from physical side effects like heart palpitations and rapid breathing, all forming part of fear and anxiety. 

Knowing how to respond to this type of anxiety and overcoming those nerves is key to ensuring a portrayal of confidence and a professional image in the interview. 

Overcoming Anxiety with Preparation Techniques

As most of the nerves associated with interviews come from a fear of the unknown, the best way to tackle interview jitters is with preparation. 

Focus your energy on a few simple preparation techniques: 

Research the Company

First, learn about the business you want to work for. Brush up on the company’s mission statement, its core values, and the goals it wants to achieve. 

Re-read the company’s job description for insights into the skills and qualities they’re looking for. Additionally, ask yourself “why” you want to work for that specific company – why are you a good fit for their team, and what goals do you think you can achieve working there? 

Practice Common Interview Questions

Prepare responses to some of the main questions you will likely get asked during an interview. Consider the type of technical questions you might be asked based on the role you’re applying for and common competency-based questions like “Tell us about a time you dealt with a budget issue for a client.”   

Consider your responses to broader questions like: “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” or “How are you qualified for this position?” 

Brush up on Financial Insights

Based on your knowledge of the company’s goals and the role you will fill, read up on current financial trends and collect valuable related insights. For instance, you might want to discuss the latest reporting guidelines for TAX and VAT if you’re applying for an accounting role.   

Psychological Anxiety Management

Even when you’ve prepared by researching the company, industry, and questions you may need to answer, it is not unusual to still feel anxious. The body naturally responds to any perceived “threat,” and interviews often can feel threatening, particularly if you are invested in clinching the new role for your future career.   

Practice a few simple relaxation techniques to help calm yourself before the interview: 

Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing calms the nervous system and reduces your heart rate and blood pressure, effectively minimising stress. When you’re anxious, try inhaling through your nose for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds, and then exhaling for eight seconds.  

Alternatively, sit in a quiet place and position one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Breathe in and out slowly through your nose, focusing on the movement of the air throughout your body.   

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

When we’re anxious, our muscles often tense up without realising it. This can cause strain and fatigue before and during the interview. Before stepping into an interview, pay attention to how you feel throughout your body.   

Use progressive muscle relaxation techniques to eliminate tension. Start at your feet, gradually tense and release the muscles in each body part up to your head.   

Practice Mindfulness

Fear can overtake your thoughts, making it difficult to focus on anything else – even the questions you’re being asked in an interview. Try using the “STOP” method to return to the moment.   

When you feel anxious, consciously pause and focus on your thoughts. Take a few deep breaths and observe what’s happening with your body and mind. Then, proceed to reorient yourself and focus on the situation at hand.   

Reframing Thoughts and Expectations

Feeling anxious about an interview is not unusual because you fear what will happen if you don’t get the desired job – which is a valid feeling. The key is not to allow those concerns to overwhelm your mind. Suppose you’re constantly telling yourself you’re never going to make progress in your career or you’re going to end up dealing with serious financial issues. In that case, it’s hard to focus on anything else. 

Practice: 

Positive Self Talk

Whenever imposter syndrome tries to convince you you’re not good enough for a role or suggests you won’t get a job offer, question that thought. Remind yourself of why you are suitable for a role, listing your leadership skills, qualifications, and the benefits you’ll bring to the company.   

Remind yourself of the things you’ve accomplished and the challenges you’ve overcome. If you’re worried about what will happen if you don’t get a job, remind yourself that even if you’re rejected, you can apply for other roles and learn from the experience. 

Visualisation Techniques

Instead of picturing what might happen if the interview goes poorly, visualise what it will look like when it goes well. Imagine speaking confidently to the interviewer, making them smile, and finishing the conversation positively. Consider what it will feel like to get a job offer when your interviewer sees how great you are for the role. 

Reframing the Interview

Rather than looking at an interview as a situation where someone else will judge you, look at it as a two-way conversation. Interviews aren’t just for the employer; they’re a chance for you to ask questions and determine whether a role is appropriate for you.   

Remember, interviews are conversations, not interrogations.   

Investing in Professional Presentation

Presenting yourself in an interview impacts more than just the opinions an interviewer forms about you. It can also help boost your confidence.  

Start by dressing appropriately for the interview, with professional but comfortable clothing. Once you’re in the interview, focus on your body language and posture. Avoid fidgeting and lean forward, sometimes, to show you’re engaged when answering questions.   

Share eye contact with your interviewers to show them you’re actively listening to them.   

When answering questions, focus on your voice. Pay attention if you’re talking too fast; consider your tone. Speak calmly, and take a moment every so often to breathe and compose yourself. 

Industry-Specific Confidence Boosters for Finance Candidates

All the tips above will help you excel in an interview and overcome anxiety regardless of which role you’re applying for. However, there are a few extra strategies you can try to give yourself more confidence as a finance candidate: 

Prepare Relevant Work Examples

Based on the role you’re applying for, prepare examples of your work to share with the interviewer. This could mean printing off or sharing examples of your work (such as reports you’ve created in the past).   

It could also mean preparing data-driven answers to competency-based questions. For instance, you might tell your interviewer how you helped reduce a company’s expenses by 25%. 

Stay Current with Industry News

Staying up-to-date with industry news about new financial regulations, evolving technologies in the finance space, or new concepts like green finance may help you answer complex questions. Plus, it will give you ideas on what to ask your interviewer.   

For instance, you might ask how they will address the new Labour workplace policies for work-life balance or their stance on AI in the finance industry. 

Practice Mock Interviews

A role-play interview session with a family member or friend can help you feel more prepared for the event. You can print off a list of common interview questions in the finance industry and ask a friend to quiz you.   

Remember to ask for feedback about your body language, presentation, and how well you answered each question. 

Overcome Interview Anxiety

It’s natural to feel anxious before and during an interview. However, nerves do not need to control you. Use the above techniques to calm your mind and body before an interview. 

Additionally, remember that even if you don’t get a job offer, every interview is a chance to learn and grow. Reviewing your previous interviews will help you prepare for a greater chance of success the next time you apply for a fantastic role. 

Thanks 

Rachel Mitson 

About Rebus Financial Recruitment 

Rebus Financial Recruitment provides a specialist and focused recruitment service to its customers, ranging from various organisations, including SMEs, to large PLCs.  

We strive to offer both the client and candidate a seamless recruitment experience. Using our expertise, we understand and match employer and employee needs perfectly.  

To learn more, contact one of our team members today or call us at 01282 930930.