This is it: Your ultimate interview cheat sheet

Never talk too much or too little in an interview again (Pexel.com)

This is the answer to overcome your job interview anxiety.

If you’re anything like most human beings on this planet, you probably get very nervous during interviews. If you’re anything like some humans on this planet, your nervousness may cause you to forget your name, first language, and thinking capabilities. What’s worse than knowing the answers but not being able to remember it?

It’s like redoing your final exam --  orally -- with strangers -- that you have to impress -- so that you can feed your family!

Geez, this interview business is scarily intimidating.

But it doesn’t have to be. We’ve designed a ready-to-print cheat sheet that you can take along to the interview. All you have to do is add your personalised keywords.

Now, there are a few very strict rules regarding the cheat sheet. Failing to follow a few fundamentals will mean risking your chances at finding out how awesome your could’ve-been-but-never-will-be colleagues are. In other words, you won’t get the job.

Do the research

Have a close look at the job specification by referring to the vacancy posting. Take note of the skills, experience and responsibilities needed to fulfil the position.

Go over a few common interview questions, and try to find interview tips specifically offered by your company of interest (like these).

Right, now think about the overall message you want to convey. Make sure that you know what you want to say. There’s a difference between drawing a blank and not knowing anything. With forgetting, it means the information is somewhere in your brain, you just haven’t found the trigger.

Your trigger will now be your cheat sheet.

Use keywords

Under each interview question, jot down key points you want to remember. Do not use full sentences. Full sentences will tempt you to read and reading is a big no-no.

Make sure that each keyword resonates with a particular point you want to get through. Not only will you not forget but you’ll also stick to the important stuff without speaking too much.

Practice

Have a mock interview with a friend or family member. Take turns being the interviewer and being the interviewee. When you're the interviewee, your friend should read typical interview questions out loud for you to answer.

As the interviewee, you will be able to practice:

• your body language when glancing at the cheat sheet,

The key is to look confident while instantly uncorking your brain.

• on which page each question appears

This will minimise the shuffling and fumbling of papers.

• your keyword associations

Familiarise yourself with the sentences you’ll be using to get your message across effectively. As the interviewer, make your friend read the keywords on your cheat sheet as you go through the questions. As the interviewer, you will be able to judge your friend's:

• body language while glancing at the cheat sheet,

Take note at what he is doing wrong. If something annoys you, it will annoy the interviewer too.

• ability to shuffle pages,

What do you wish your friend would do to look less flustered and fidgety? Use this knowledge for your interview.

• keyword use in relation to the question.

Do the keywords properly correspond with the information the interviewer wants to hear? If not, choose new information and keywords that'll enhance your message.

Good luck!