It's your first job interview and you are excited, nervous and slightly afraid -- afraid you will not get the job, but even more afraid you will make a fool of yourself.

I know the feeling and, though it will lessen with every interview, it will never totally go away.

So what do you do?

Cram up on everything you should have read, but haven't?

Try to predict what the interviewer will ask and then mug up the answers?

Consult your horoscope to help decide whether you are really destined for the job?

Make a pact with God to pray more if you get the job?

Well, there are ways to beat the stress to a certain extent, by preparing both subject-wise and personally for what is going to be an experience of a lifetime.

After all, you may go through the interview process many times but the first interview is always unforgettable.

It's OKAY to be nervous You are not alone -- most people find the event stressful. The secret lies in getting over that feeling or, at least, not letting it vercome you. Don't feel nervous because you are feeling nervous! Just remember, feeling nervous is natural -- acknowledge it, accept it and move on. Doing this is not easy, but it is not impossible Be prepared The first three rules of doing well are: i. Know your subject. ii. Know your subject. iii. Know your subject. We were once looking for persons to sell sprinklers for agricultural use. One of the interviewees was very nervous; he stuttered and mumbled incoherently when I asked him some general questions. He was quite unimpressive and I was about to write him off. Then, I asked him about sprinklers. He sat up erect, his voice became audible and his diction, very clear. He gave wonderfully articulate answers to all my questions -- he was an expert in his subject and that knowledge gave him confidence in a way that even he was not aware of. Know, understand, apply ~ Knowing your subject when you are just out of college means knowing what you have been taught in college. It also means knowing a few things related to the subject/s that are not necessarily found in textbooks. Furthermore, it means you have really understood, assimilated and at least tried to apply the knowledge to some practical use. For example, if you are a student of political science, you should not only know there was an election held 10 days ago, you must also be able to analyse what took place then. It shows you are thinking and applying your knowledge to what is in front of you. ~ However, don't start cramming at the last minute; it only makes you more nervous. Sure, you can brush up your knowledge, but if you think you are going to learn the whole college curriculum in five days time, forget it. ~ Being prepared also means having done your research on the company and the job. The Internet or magazine articles are good places to start. This will make enable you to give answers that are relevant. Think before you leap Don't rush into something and then tie yourself in knots. It is okay to take a few seconds to think and formulate your answer, especially to important qualitative questions. This shows you are thinking and not just spurting out answers at random. However, when asked for you birth date, answer instantly! Remember, even for complicated answers where you need a few moments to think, don't be silent for too long or the interviewers will wonder whether you know the answer at all! Quick tips ~ Mock interviews A mock interview is a great way to anticipate questions as well your own responses to them. ~ Make a note of where you falter. ~ Get a friend to play the interviewer or rehearse in front of the mirror. ~ What if an interviewer is extra nasty to you? Or asks you particularly contorted questions? Take it in your stride. There are times when people try and stress you out to see how you manage under stress. In most cases, how you answer a question is more important than the answer itself. The important thing is to keep your calm and answer in a matter-of-fact tone. ~ What if you do not know an answer? If you have absolutely no clue, it is better to say so than give a really farfetched answer and look foolish. Be sure not to do this with every second question though or you will certainly look ignorant. On the other hand, if you are reasonably (but not 100 percent) sure or you know at least some information and can make a knowledgeable guess, go for it. You could always preface your answer with a comment indicating you are not an expert or that you know a little but not everything about the subject. Again, if you do this once too often, you will be labeled a 'bluff master' (Interviewers have been known to ask bizarre questions to which there are no answers just to find out how honest the person is. For instance, is Abracadabra a place in New Zealand or Australia?!) . The trick lies in figuring out which questions you can afford to take a guess on and to which questions you need to honestly confess ignorance. In any kind of job, there will be situations where it is imperative that you be sure of the facts and there are situations where you will not be 100 percent sure. More often than not, this is what the interviewer is trying to gauge. Last but not the least -- to minimise this situation, try and know most of what you need to know about the interview, your job profile and the company. Don't believe rumours When people come out of the interview, they share their experience with you. Don't get carried away by everything they say. Your experience is going to be different and, though you can learn a few pointers, don't take what they say as the gospel truth. Each interview is unique. Remember, this is only your first interview -- there is always the next time. Good luck! REGARDS, RAHUL