5 Tips to Conquer Interview Nerves

Hi everyone! I am Nithin Hassan, author of the book Interview Alchemy, your career strategist, speaker, and coach. Welcome back to my channel, guiding you to a career you will truly enjoy.

If your interview is lined up and you are extremely nervous, then today’s video is for you. I am going to walk you through my best five tips on how to not be nervous for interviews, so that you can interview with confidence and ease. Let’s get started!

As a career strategist, I have had the honor of helping professionals land their dream job offers. If you are interested in working with us one-on-one, stay tuned until the end of this video for more details.

I understand that interviews are nerve-wracking. Knowing that our performance will determine whether or not we get the job offer can make anyone nervous. You might trip over your words, forget what to say, or freeze up. Showing nerves can signal to the hiring manager that you lack composure. But don’t worry—today, I am sharing my best five tips to help you get into a different state of mind for your interviews so you can feel confident and at ease.

Tip #1: Make Yourself Comfortable in the Space

Make yourself comfortable in the space before the interview. This tip applies whether you’re doing a video call interview, which is common these days, or an in-person interview. If it’s an in-person interview, when you get into the building, fill yourself with a sense of ease. Be present wherever you are. If you’re in the waiting room, breathe and get connected to the space. When you move into the interview room, sit down, breathe, and settle yourself before the interviewer comes in. Don’t get lost in your mind before the interview, as this can cause you to ramble or forget what you want to say.

If the interview is over a video call, you have an advantage. Set up the space where you plan to do your interview. Sit in that space a day or two before the interview, get centered, and visualize yourself doing well. This sets your energy and creates an expectation on yourself to perform well. Get calm, centered, and comfortable in the interview space.

Tip #2: Prepare Your Stories and Responses in Advance

Prepare your stories and responses in advance. One mistake many professionals make is not preparing their responses. They assume they can figure it out on the spot. This is the last thing you want to do. Imagine they ask, “What do you know about us as a company?” If you didn’t prepare your answer or do research, how can you perform well on the spot while feeling nervous? Being unprepared is a major reason for nerves.

Focus on knowing what examples, stories, and responses you’ll have for common interview questions. If you struggle with this, I recommend signing up for my free interview strategy workshop. The link is in the description box below. It’s completely free and provides key techniques to improve your interview preparation.

Tip #3: Practice Your Answers on Camera Beforehand

Practice your answers on camera beforehand. If you’re doing a video call interview, look at yourself on your laptop and see how you appear while giving your answers. If it’s an in-person interview, practice in front of a mirror. Either way, practice is crucial. Treat it like preparing for a presentation. You need to know what you will say to feel more at ease.

Prepare your answers in advance and then practice them. Use a mirror or a video call setup, press record, and pretend you’re being asked questions. Re-watch yourself and identify areas for improvement. Analyze yourself as if you were the hiring manager. This will help you improve quickly and sound more confident.

Tip #4: Focus on Them, Not on You

Focus on them, not on you. This tip is particularly relevant during the interview. We get nervous because we focus too much on ourselves, criticizing and judging ourselves. Shift your focus to the hiring manager. Make sure your words and sentences are delivered clearly and land well with them. Think of it as throwing a ball over a net. Make sure they can catch it and appreciate it. If you focus on delivering your message well, you’ll do a better job and feel less nervous.

Tip #5: Dress the Part

Dress the part. This might sound obvious, but the way we look impacts the way we feel. If you know you’ll be wearing your best suit or outfit, you’ll feel more confident. Prepare to look your best—groom yourself, comb your hair, and dress sharply. Looking professional can give you a sense of ease and confidence, especially if the interview requires a specific caliber of individual. Look the part, and then focus on sounding and acting the part as well.

So there you have it—my five tips on how to not be nervous for interviews. Let me know in the comments if these tips help you. If you are on the job hunt, going for interviews but not getting great results, and need more one-on-one professional guidance, feel free to reach out.

For more in-depth guidance and resources, visit CareerKickstartClub.com, where we offer comprehensive support to help you achieve your professional goals.

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