By Chelsea Babin

Are you nervous about an upcoming interview? Don’t be! If you become overly anxious before and during your interview, it will show. Whether it’s sweaty palms, forgetfulness or shaky hands, it’s hard to make a great first impression with body language that reflects a lack of confidence.

One of the best ways to reduce your anxiety is to take a few deep breaths and focus only on positive potential outcomes. Instead of picturing yourself fumbling through the tech screening, picture yourself acing it. Instead of imagining yourself stumbling and falling, picture yourself walking into the office with ease. These mental reversals will help reduce your anxiety.

If switching to positive thoughts isn’t enough to turn your anxiety into confidence, fake it! Good posture, a steady handshake and well-thought out responses will make you look calm, collected and prepared even if you’re freaking out on the inside.

Remember, you’re interviewing for a job you don’t have. The worst thing that could happen is you screw up the interview and still don’t have that job. So, really, the most negative impact possible is remaining in the exact spot you’re in now. Take in a deep breath, think positively, and relax!