The other day, I watched a documentary that focused on the life of Deepika Kumari, an Indian archer who became the World’s Number One at age 18.
Throughout the course of the movie, she strives for a gold medal in the Olympics.
But because she was born into poverty in rural India, and because she did not have access to the same sorts of resources available to her competitors, she never got close ever again.
Although Deepika is exceptionally skilled at the technical level, there were a few reasons why she didn’t score well.
While her competitors were flying in business class and had ample opportunity to get some rest before their competition, Deepika always flew in the cramped economy class section and often did not have enough time to rest.
More importantly, her competitors had “mental coaches” on their support teams. Mental coaches help competitors relax mentally. If you’re not a relaxed archer, you’re not an accurate archer.
Deepika, on the other hand, did not have access to a mental coach.
Given the added stress of her background and limited resources, I’m sure a mental coach could really have helped Deepika improve her performance. She did exceptionally during practice sessions, often breaking world records, but could not perform during competitions.
This reminded me a lot of how the job market treats candidates during the interview process.
You can be an exceptionally skilled professional, but if you get interview nerves, it’s very likely that you will not be able to get an offer very quickly or easily.
By the way, if you feel like your resume needs a little revamping, you can learn more about what we do and sign up for our free resources by submitting your information in the form below.
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While speaking to a professional who can help you master your anxiety can help, here’s my favorite trick:
Stop interviewing with JUST your dream companies!
Instead, say “yes” to every interview opportunity possible, including informational interviews.
Going through as many interviews as possible will not only help you develop strategies for the difficult questions but give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the stressful environment of an interview. “Practice makes perfect” applies to almost everything in life; job interviews are no different.
Being able to interview well with a “safety net” company will help you see what the job market is like. It will also give you the confidence to interview well with your dream company. Even if the interview doesn’t work out for you, it’s a great opportunity to build professional connections that can come in handy later. Check out our networking course if you’re looking for guidance on how to network your way to a dream job.
Apart from the aforementioned positives, when you’re less attached to the outcome of your interview, you’ll find that you’re less anxious. When you have less to lose, it’s less likely that you’ll lose anything at all!
Please don’t make the mistake of putting all your eggs in your dream company’s basket without first getting a few “practice” interviews out of the way.
P.S. Are there any specific topics that you struggle with when it comes to your job search? Comment below and I’ll write about it next.
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