Interview Nerves? 5 Great Tips (Not 27 Lame Ones) To Tame Your Butterflies

Relax. It’s normal to be nervous about your interview. 

In fact, it’s to be expected. 

Unless of course, you’re some sort of serial interviewer一madly stuffing your calendar with umpteen interviews to fill some emotional void… hmm, that might be an interesting film project for Dakota Fanning. But we digress. 

The point is, nerves are natural and you should embrace them. Why? Because they show you’re human. And that’s exactly what the person across the table or video screen is looking for. A human. So there we go, that’s tip #1 for calming your interview butterflies.

1. Be yourself

Remember, an interview is just a conversation. That’s all it is. It’s no different than when you go to a social event and someone you haven’t met before asks you what you like to do. It’s no big deal. You’re just talking about some work they need help with, and whether you want to be the helper.

So don’t become a different person when you interview. There’s no need to use brobdingnagian words (yep, it’s a real word that means “big,” and don’t ever use it). Also talk at the same speed you always talk, breathe like you always breathe, show the same enthusiasm for whatever you’ve always been enthused about, and try to work in personal anecdotes to your answers (this helps bring your responses to life一think books you’ve read, sports teams you’ve played on, vacations you’ve twisted your ankle on, etc.) Make it real, and make it about you. Oh, and smile. Smile a lot.

2. Bring your A-game

This starts with being in a good place from the get-go. You won’t be nervous if your mind and body are up to the task. Make sure you're hydrated, but not so hydrated that nature calls halfway through the interview. You might want to bring a bottle of water in case your mouth gets dry (again, if this happens, it’s to be expected一except for Dakota Fanning). Also, have a light snack right before your interview so your stomach is happy. Think twice about garlic nachos or anything that might spill on your outfit, like a fresh pomegranate. Go easy on the caffeine too. Both to stay calm and to keep that Caramel Brulee Frappuccino off your freshly pressed sweater.

Speaking of which, how you dress gives you confidence that helps calm your nerves. And your interview outfit is critical. Not critical in like you need a wardrobe director to dress you perfectly. Just make sure to find something that fits the part you’re looking to play. Use your best judgment, and don’t be afraid to use an iron and a lint remover (wrinkles and dog hairs rarely make a great first impression). Dress to match the workplace, and always err on the side of “professional.”

3. Do your homework

Job interviews don’t sneak up on you like a mountain biker on a leisurely hike. You usually have plenty of time to get your head in a good place. The better prepared you are, the fewer butterflies you’ll feel一guranteed.

Use the time available to do your research. Learn about the company. Not just what they do or make, but about their culture and values. Have they been in business for six years or six decades? Do they contribute to social causes you align with? You can even do some searching on the person you’ll be interviewing with. But don’t get too familiar during the interview, like mentioning a toucan photo they posted online. That’s just creepy.

4. Come with ice breakers

Once you get on a roll, it will all come naturally. Promise. We have complete faith in you. But sometimes that first couple of minutes can be awkward. Especially if your interviewer is new at the game. 

Always have a few conversation starters in your back pocket. Naturally, the weather and traffic are popular, but be creative. Train yourself to look around the interview room or Zoom background for something to get the ball rolling. Maybe their coffee mug has a logo from a popular musical? Or the interviewer is left-handed and your brother is left-handed? Or their earrings remind you of a fishing lure you had as a child? (OK, skip that one). But look for little things to establish a good rapport.

5. Create a cheatsheet

Before your interview, jot down important things you’ll want to remember. Like the interviewer's name. Then memorize it. Please don’t call her Diana, when her name is Dana. Also, jot down the three most important things you want Dana not Diana to remember about you. Is it your experience managing teams? Your knowledge of industrial equipment? Your ability to stay cool when things go totally bonkers haywire? Don’t finish the interview until you make those three points known, and be sure to have concrete examples that bring them to life.

Include questions on your cheatsheet too. Both the ones you expect to be asked (with answers), as well as ones you plan on asking. Yes, there will always be that moment during an interview when you get, “Do you have any questions I can answer?” Be ready to ask something that shows you’re engaged and interested. If you’ve already answered the two or three questions you jotted down on your cheat sheet (gulp), be quick on your feet and come up with a third one. You can’t go wrong with, “What would an average day on the job look like for me?”

Now go get ’em

So there you have it. Not an exhaustive list, just the major tips to make sure those interview butterflies will only flutter softly. Again, we know you’ve got this, and we’re excited to see you grow as your career grows. Go nail that interview.