In the hours before a make-or-break job interview, Emma Valentiner was a bundle of nerves. She wanted to do well, but she was petrified that she would stumble. To relieve her anxiety, she prepared herself by donning what she called ridiculous underwear adorned with perky pugs and prickly cactuses. As she approached the interview room, she stopped by the restroom, disappeared into a stall, and struck a Superwoman pose. With hands on hips, shoulders thrown back, and feet firmly squared, she breathed deeply for a few moments and told herself she could conquer this interview. This confidence-building trick worked to relieve her stress and helped her enter the interview poised and feeling self-possessed.

Your Task. 

Search news articles and Web blog posts for tactics or tips that new grads and others could employ to reduce anxiety before a job interview or a big test. Prepare a list of 10 ideas, including a few offbeat rituals such as Emma’s. Write your list as a set of instructions and be ready to amplify if necessary. Report your advice in class or in a written document determined by your instructor.