Interview Nerves: 

Amy was visibly nervous. And I was floored…I didn’t expect a Senior Director to have a case of interview nerves. Especially since she and I had worked together for almost a decade. Amy had been a client of ours but unfortunately was recently laid off…which meant that currently I was representing her as a candidate. But while her situation had changed, she was still Amy, and I was still me. 

What had happened to the confident and knowledgeable clinical research professional I had worked with for the last several years?   

Interview Nerves Isn’t Your Fault

While I expect junior-level candidates and candidates we are speaking to for the first time to be nervous, I was so surprised about Amy’s nervousness that I did a little research.  Apparently, having a case of interview nerves is common among job seekers. 

Why? Because nervousness is a natural reaction when you are not in control. Meeting new people or trying new things can also cause nervousness. It is also normal to feel nervous when you are concerned with being judged or rejected. And let’s face it, interviews involve performing, and having performance anxiety is extremely common among interview participants.

I won’t bore you with details regarding the brain chemistry behind nervousness but know that being nervous before and during an interview isn’t your fault. 

But if you want to shine during the discussion, you must learn how to overcome interview nerves. How do you find the perfect balance between showing that you are confident and competent without overcompensating to the point of appearing arrogant? Here are some steps you can take. 

Do Your Homework

The best thing you can do to ease your pre-interview anxiety is prepare. Being prepared minimizes the unknown, making you feel like you have more control of the situation. 

Spend some time researching the company and position so that you can identify characteristics that resonate with you. What skills and qualifications do you possess that align with the position? Do the company’s philosophy, mission, vision, and goals align with your ethics? If so, what are they and why are they important to you?

Also, clearly understanding the interview logistics will go a long way toward calming those nerves. If the company hasn’t explained the interview process, ask what to expect. And always make sure you know who you will be speaking with. 

Proper interview preparation will convert your interview from an unfamiliar experience to a familiar one, thus reducing your anxiety. 

Evaluate Your Goals

A great interview starts with the application. In the simplest of terms, you should only apply to positions that align with your career goals. 

When you have well-established goals, you can outline what aspects of the job are relevant to your overall objectives. Additionally, you will be able to articulate how you can use your new position with the company to support them in obtaining their objectives. 

Every hiring manager wants to engage a team member who has hand-selected their position. By showing how this opportunity aligns with your career trajectory, and being clear on what you feel you can contribute to the team’s mission or goals, you will be more likely to impress your interviewer. The bonus is that instead of being nervous, you will be able to speak with passion and conviction. 

Practice Your Interviewing Skills

Have a friend or family member “interview” you, quizzing you with the typical foundational questions most interviewers ask. Regardless of the industry, you should be prepared to provide a thoughtful response to at least the following questions:

• Why do I want this job?
• What are my goals?
• How does working in this position for this company help me to achieve these goals?
• Where do I see myself in five years?
• How does my experience relate to this position?
• What value will I add to the company?

In addition to these, spend some time preparing for behavioral interview questions. Candidates who prepare for behavioral interviews are better prepared for all types of interviews. And going into an interview knowing that you are fully prepared with real-life examples that exhibit your strengths will certainly mitigate interview nerves.

Expect to Interview the Interviewer

In addition to becoming familiar with the questions you may be asked, consider what questions you want to ask in the interview. Remember, you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Asking questions in an interview will show you have done your homework on the company and want to be clear on how this position aligns with your career goals. It will also relay your genuine interest in both the company and the position.

Just make sure the questions are genuine and thoughtful. And actively listen to the responses! I once had a recruiter candidate ask me why I decided to co-found this company. Of course, I provided a heartfelt and spirited answer…after all, building a company is no small feat. And her response was “okay’. Then she went to her next question (eek). 

What a missed opportunity for her! I had to wonder if she had even heard my extremely personal and passionate response. Your goal should be to transform the interview into a conversation, so use your questions to accomplish that objective. 

Dress for Confidence

Several years ago Northwestern University conducted a study that showed wearing certain clothes will have an effect on your psychology and performance. It will also have an impact on how others perceive you.

Along those lines, when I first moved into management with IBM, my coach recommended I dress ‘like my client’. At the time, this seemed like a logical approach but as I progressed in my career, I learned to dress ‘slightly better than my client.’ 

Why? Because I felt more confident when I dressed in a way that didn’t overpower the company’s culture or my client’s personal style. My dress showed that I was buttoned up and at least as professional (if not more professional) than they were. 

Dressing for an interview should follow the same guidelines. The first step is to know the company’s culture and the easiest way to know this is to ask your recruiter. Step two is to be clear in how you want to present yourself. Are you a trainee or will you be an equal? Do you want them to see you as a coach, consultant, mentor, or leader? Once you decide the role you want to represent, simply dress the part. 

Other things to consider

Put the interview into perspective.

During a recent coaching session, a jobseeker asked me if he was hurting his chances by applying to multiple companies. My response was a resounding no! You should be considering multiple companies. Having several options will enable you to weigh which is the best fit for you and your career objectives. 

And having alternatives will keep you from being devastated if one opportunity doesn’t pan out. After all, it is unlikely that every company will be a match for you. Nor will you be a perfect match for every company. And this is why you should shift your mindset for the interview. Consider its primary objective to gather data. 

The perspective you should hold is that the interview is a fact-finding exercise. The data gathered during the interview will give you much-needed information to select the right opportunity.  

Mentally rehearse success.

Visualize yourself in the position. Not only will this exercise calm you, but it should give you insight into additional questions you can ask. For example, in order to visually place yourself into the role, you must know what the day-to-day looks like. Who will you be taking most of your work direction from? What does the organizational structure look like? 

Therefore, before the interview, think about what it will feel like on your first day. Then imagine day 30, your one-year anniversary, etc. 

Practice calming exercises. 

If you are still fighting interview nerves, do something that calms you. Breathing exercises are a great way to find your center and shift your focus. You can also go for a walk or run, or even meditate. The key is to give yourself a break. 

In Conclusion

It is natural to feel pressure before and during an interview. But realize that you can gain some control of the situation in order to mitigate nervousness so it doesn’t ruin your performance. By properly preparing, you will find the perfect balance between showing that you are confident and competent without overcompensating to the point of appearing arrogant. 

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