Whether it’s for a job, internship, or scholarship, everyone finds interviewing a nerve-wrecking experience. You’re standing in front of a person, maybe more, knowing that they’re assessing and analyzing every answer you give to their questions.
Even if you’ve done it for years, interviewing still likely makes you nervous–I know this is true for me!
Thankfully, you can take several steps to not only prepare for your interview but ace it. Here are just a few things you can do:
1. Write down some questions and answers.
At some point during the interview process, I realized that having a script made me all the more confident. When I get nervous, I sometimes forget what I’m going to say, but having a script saves me from that. It’s like you’re an actor in a play, and you have lines to read—nothing wrong with that! Search up common interview questions and answers online, then write them down somewhere easy for you to reach during the interview. Trust me, interviewers have to write down their questions all the time—no shame in writing down yours!
2. Keep a copy of your resume.
During the interview, you may be asked to expand on the roles that you put down on your resume. If you’re like me, you don’t always remember what’s on your resume, especially if you custom-tailored it for the specific job you’re interviewing for. Just like with writing down your questions and answers, have a copy of your resume on hand, or write down the most important parts of what you did in your previous roles somewhere. This will help you feel more confident when going into the interview and speaking to your expertise, which always impresses interviewers.
3. Practice what you’re going to say.
For your interview, try role-playing with a friend or family member. Have them give you feedback at the end on your eye contact, how you responded to questions, and anything else you want tips on. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at interviewing—and the more confident you’ll be going into the interview.
4. Dress for success.
You’ve heard the saying before, but it bears weight — what you wear can inspire your confidence. While wearing something deemed professional, it doesn’t mean it has to be boring! Put on your favorite dressy outfit, or find pieces in your closet that work well for an interview. I know dressing up when I go into work, even at home, makes me feel more confident about myself.
5. Do some relaxation techniques.
Let’s face it—even if you feel prepared and have practiced, nerves always show up. And that’s natural—you’re meeting new people, being asked about a role you want to get, and knowing that they are taking notes on your answers. Thankfully, relaxation techniques can help you. Leading up to the interview and half an hour or so before it, try some deep breathing exercises to help calm down. Or take a quick walk in your neighborhood, soaking in the fresh air as you breathe deeply again. If you know of any other relaxation techniques that help you, do them as well. Whatever you can do to help yourself relax, you’ll feel that much more confident going into the interview.
6. Visualize yourself acing the interview.
Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you achieve your goals. When you see yourself acing an interview, and you truly believe it, chances are you will be more likely to do so. Close your eyes and imagine you’re going into the interview confident, relaxed, and excited to talk about this opportunity with the people you will talk to. Imagine yourself answering the questions with ease and genuinely enjoying it, seeing it as a conversation rather than an interrogation. It may take some time, but when you can see yourself achieving your goals, it makes all the difference in the world.
The next time you find yourself dreading an interview, check out these tips and see how they help. You can also find other things that you know will help you, or you think may help you. Whatever you do, know that you can do this. With some preparation and relaxation, you’ll feel confident and ready to face your interview in no time. You’ve got this!