Here's how you can bounce back from a stressful interview experience.

It's okay to feel bummed after a tough interview. Take a moment to feel those feelings. Write down how you felt during the interview. This can help you understand it better. After you calm down, think about what you did well and what you could do better next time.

After bombing an interview for my dream job, I was crushed. I spent the whole night replaying every awkward pause and fumbled answer in my head. But then I decided to channel that nervous energy into something useful. I grabbed a notebook and jotted down the toughest questions, trying to pinpoint why they threw me off. Was it lack of prep? Interview jitters? Turns out, I'd skimped on researching the company culture. That realization stung, but it was also weirdly freeing. I now had a concrete area to work on, instead of just feeling like a general failure. For my next interview, I dug deep into the company's values and felt way more prepared.

For some folks, calming activities like meditation can have the opposite effect as they need to burn through the nervous energy first. If that’s you, you might join an exercise class, go for a run or do some squats in your lounge room.

After a particularly rough interview, I was a bundle of nerves. My mind kept racing, replaying every awkward moment. I knew I needed to reset, so I laced up my running shoes and hit the trail near my house. As I jogged, the rhythmic sound of my feet hitting the dirt slowly drowned out the anxious chatter in my head. The fresh air and green surroundings worked their magic. By the time I finished my run, I felt lighter. The interview still wasn't great, but it no longer felt like the end of the world. That simple act of moving my body and connecting with nature helped me shake off the stress and regain some perspective.

Reflect on what went wrong during the interview and identify areas where you could have performed better. Did you stumble over your words? Were you caught off guard by a specific question? By pinpointing the areas where you struggled, you can work on improving them for future interviews. It's natural to feel nervous during an interview, but try to stay calm and composed. Take deep breaths, smile, and remember that the interviewer wants to see the best version of you. Instead of dwelling on the mistakes you made in the past, focus on the positives.Remember, each interview is a learning experience, and with practice and determination, you can overcome any challenges that come your way.

You can also focus your attention on being grateful for the opportunity to have an interview. It’s easy for our brain to argue with thoughts designed to help us “stay positive” but we can usually find at least one thing to be grateful for.

Confidence is experiential. The best way to improve your confidence is through action. You could try participating in activities you’re already good at to remind you you can be confident in other areas. Or you could endeavour to go to as many interviews as possible to flex your confidence muscle.