That’s a good point. Here’s another way to put things in perspective—and feel more at ease: I’d like you to think back to your last job. If you can, I’d like you to think of the first week on the job. You were a newbie. You didn’t know the lay of the land. You probably wondered, “What do all of these people actually do?” “How does the phone system work?” “Where’s my desk?” And heck, let’s not forget “Where’s the bathroom?” That first week at work, you can feel pretty awkward. Maybe even the first month or so.
Over time, you come to feel more comfortable. You know who people are. You go out to lunch with them. They become less threatening, more familiar.
So, here’s a big secret to making your interview easier:
Look at the interviewer and mentally say to yourself (in your mind—not aloud!), “Someday, I’m going to be working with this person. I’ll feel comfortable and natural. I’ll be at ease with them. So, if I can act like I’ve already been working with them for two or three months, this conversation will be a lot easier.”
One of the most important non-verbal communication techniques you can use it to turn up the corners of your mouth. More simply put—smile! The movement of the facial muscles involved in a smile can also trigger “feel good” hormones in your body! (Please don’t use this as an excuse to bear your teeth in a silly grin, OK?)
Additionally, you can be straight with the interviewer. You can say something like, “Whew, I’m feeling a little nervous right now. Honestly, it feels like there’s a lot on the line, because I really want this job.”
Then, just pause and catch your breath. Pauses are Okay. You won’t die. Well, OK, probably not in the interview. If the employer treats you badly for being honest … do you really want to work for someone like that? I’ve found that 99 times out of 100, employers are really understanding.
What about the dripping-sweat-guy?
So, I shared these tips (plus a few more in my Interviewing Authentically workbook) with him. He used them in his next mock interview practice with me.
I swear, I barely recognized him. His mindset had changed. I asked him if he was nervous. He confided that he was, a bit, and then I watched him take a few deep breaths, before we leaped into questions.
Five weeks later, he had seven job offers from consulting firms. And their interviews ain’t no picnic. My sweaty guy had calmed his own nerves, from the inside out. And he had his pick from a bunch of great jobs.
What do you do when you feel nervous in interviews? How does your strategy play out?
By Susan Bernstein, MBA MA Job Search Coach and Founder
