By: Faith Drew

Sweaty palms, churning stomach, bated breath – these are just a few of the symptoms resulting from IAC: Interview Anxiety Complex.

Good news is, there’s a cure!

If you’ve got the interview blues here is what I would suggest:

1) Prior to the day of your interview, write down a minimum of three “success stories”. These could be achievements in your current or previous job, or successes in school or athletics. Having these on hand will not only give you confidence, it will allow you to quickly answer your interviewer’s questions with specific examples.

2) “Dress for success” is an old cliche, but holds much truth. Dressing differently than you regularly would triggers your mind that something special is happening, which inevitably effects your behavior. The way you dress depends on the role you are interviewing for, but generally speaking, for men: a long-sleeve, button-down shirt and tie, tucked into slacks with a belt is the minimum dress requirement acceptable for an interview. For women: a long-sleeve tucked into slacks or a skirt no shorter than three inches above the knee is appropriate. Be sure that the neck line is no lower than four finger-widths below the collar bone. For both men and women: minimal accessories! No more than two rings (one on each hand), one bracelet or watch, etc. This may seem excessive, but the more conservative you dress, the more YOU will stand out as opposed to your distracting style of dress.

3) Sit or stand up straight. Slouching triggers relaxation which is not what you want to portray to your potential employer. Sitting up will give you confidence, similar to the way your dress will.

4) Think of some things you are thankful for. This may seem odd, but it was my biggest interview anxiety cure. Being reminded of the people and gifts in my life that were more valuable than any interview could be, put it into perspective. While I still recognized the importance of the interview, this act helped calm my nerves by laying out the bigger picture.

So, if you or someone you know is suffering from IAC, try these four holistic cures before seeing a doctor.