Have a nerve-racking heavy equipment job interview coming up? Being nervous during an interview is normal. Being nervous for your interview is actually a good sign. It shows that you care about your potential new job The best advice for conquering those pesky interview jitters is to be fully prepared before stepping into the process. Knowing what you are going to say during the interview and practicing aloud will help you in overcoming your interview nerves. Think about  possible questions you could be asked during the interview and practice the answers. Also make sure you get a good night's sleep before the interview.

To be interviewed means to let someone see “in to you”, and that can make anyone feel vulnerable. Try to view the interview as a challenge you are about to conquer and  you might just find yourself relaxing and enjoying the interview process, forgetting all about those interview nerves. Remember, you must be prepared not only to answer questions, but to open yourself up to the interviewer and to manage the physical tensions and emotional anxieties that happen when you are being evaluated or questioned. The following steps, prepared by expert Sandra Zimmer will show you the proper techniques for dealing with interview nerves. These steps will help change the way you think about the interview process, prepare you to share your experience and expertise as a heavy equipment mechanic and show you how to handle your tension and anxiety.

1. Be there to help. Don’t think about an interview as an audition or test. Thinking this wayputs you in the position of being judged, which will trigger tension and anxiety. Instead, think about your interview as an opportunity to help the interviewer. Remember that the interviewer needs help. He is looking for someone to hire because his company needs someone to help them be successful. 
2. Detach from the outcome.  Evaluate your expectations and really look at what you think needs to happen in the interview. . Be willing for it not to happen the way you want it. This puts you in neutral energy where you can feel open to more possibilities. Turn your results over to a higher power and ask that the outcome be for the highest good of all concerned.
3. Determine likely interview questions. List on paper the questions that your interviewer will most likely ask you to answer. Be sure to include the really hard interview questions that you are afraid to answer. And also include, “Tell me about yourself.”
4. Write and practice your answers. For each of the questions, write your answers on paper. Then, practice them aloud until you can share your answers fluidly. You may be tempted to skip the practice, but don’t. Vocal expression is different from the thought process. You must speak your answers out loud for fluid expression.
5. Decide how to sell yourself. List on paper the important points that you want to communicate to the interviewer about your background, abilities, qualities, experience and expertise.
6. Illustrate the key points with stories. For each important point you want to make, write down the things you want to share and an example (story) that backs up the point. For instance, if you say you managed a team effectively, tell a story about a challenging situation that happened that proves you managed the team well. Then, practice sharing your points and stories aloud until you can speak them fluidly.
7. Warm up your body. Before you go to your interview, do enough physical exercise so that your body is loose and flowing. Make sure you stretch fully and that you elevate your heart rate so that blood is pumping. Most people don’t realize how much physical tension impairs their ability to communicate freely. Actors and athletes know the power of warming up. You should too.
8. Ground yourself in your body. Get out of your head and into your body. Learn to relax your mental attention down into your body all the way to your feet. Imagine you melt energy out of your head and let it flow down through your body until you fill your entire body. Grounding clears your head and creates a sense of physical strength and emotional safety. You can think on your feet when you are in you feet, and you can speak from your heart when you have attention in your heart area. This is the most effective antidote to performance and presentation anxiety I know.
9. Breathe. After you ground yourself, take deep breaths, fast breaths, and slow breaths until you relax. Breathing helps your brain oxygenate and relaxes your body. Focus on breathing for 10 minutes an hour before your interview. When you have finished these steps, you will feel ready to interview. Instead of feeling dread, you will be eager to get to the interview so you can share yourself. You will feel like an athlete who is ready to take on the current world champion.