I just found “why do I get so nervous during job interview?” among the search terms used to get to this blog. In fact, there have been quite a few of you looking for help with job interview nerves. Clearly, being really stressed out by the interview process is not an isolated problem. (To say the least.)
So why do job interviews make us feel really nervous, even if we know we’d be great for the job? A good question indeed. I’ll do my best to come up with some answers – and offer tips to help you fight those annoying interview nerves that may be getting in the way of you getting an offer.
First, let me restate the obvious…job interviews are stressful by nature. None of us like to give up control to others when it comes to something as important as your career. And almost everyone gets interview nerves to one extent or another when they interview – sometimes even the interviewer us nervous!
I hope it helps to learn that most interviewers expect you to be at least a little nervous. But for some of us, the mere thought of being on the answer end of an interview question makes our nerves run wild – way beyond a little nervous! And that can be a problem.
Actors are usually told to take their nerves and turn them into performance energy. It would be great if we could do this in interviews (and it’s worth trying), but then again we don’t get to rehearse our exact words the way actors do. 
For most of us, the only thing we gain from a bad case of interview nerves is a strong desire to run!
Worst of all…as much as we want to gain control of ourselves and our nerves during an interview, the more we try to control our nerves, the less relaxed we are. But of course what we want more than anything during interviews is to relax and just be ourselves. Luckily there are some things we can do to help. But first let’s answer the question I found…
Why do you get so nervous during job interviews?
- It’s scary and uncomfortable being judged.
- It’s scary and uncomfortable being the focus and having to come up with good answers for whatever they ask you.
- You don’t know what they’re going to ask.
- You don’t know for sure if what you say is a good answer.
- You don’t like talking about yourself.
- You don’t feel comfortable “selling” yourself.
- You don’t interview every day and so you aren’t sure you know how to do it well.
- You really need a job.
- You worry that if you don’t get this job there may not be another chance any time soon.
- You worry that you’ll sound stupid.
- You worry there’s something about you or your background they’ll hate.
- You have no idea exactly what they’re looking for.
- You hate the idea of being rejected based on just one short meeting.
- You think you have to be more than you are.
Getting past interview fear and calming your nerves!
Luckily there are ways to help you get enough past the fear to still give a great interview despite your nerves. Actors for instance use those nerves to motivate a more energized and exciting performance. No reasons you can’t do that too!
First and foremost, it helps to demystify that which we can’t control. So make sure to give yourself get a better understanding of the hiring process in general – including what goes on behind the scenes. Add to that stronger interview skills, a belief in yourself and your abilities, and a clear picture of how you match what the employer is looking for and you have a winning combo!
To help with all that here are some posts from the Work Coach Cafe archives. Hopefully they can help you calm at least some of those interview nerves while also improving your interview skills and chances (more tips below these links):
Job Interview Questions and Answers
What’s Your Greatest Strength?
What’s Your Greatest Weakness?
Where Do You See Yourself Five Years from Now?
Handling Some Tough Interview Questions
Explaining Why You Left the Last Job So Soon
How Do I Interview After Being Fired?
How Do I Explain Dropping Out of Law School?
Job Interview Tips
15 Things I Look for When I Interview People
Job Interviews: Practical Tips to Help You Ace That Job Interview
The Single Most Important Thing in Any Job Interview
Please Help Me Ace My Phone Interview!
The Hiring Process: Behind the Scenes
Who the Heck is Screening Your Resume?
What the Heck Goes On Behind the Scenes After a Job Interview?
10 Impressions You Leave Behind After a Job Interview
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A Few Simple Tips to Help Fight Those Interview Nerves
And finally, if you don’t feel like reading any of those posts (although I hope you read at least a few of them since they give a more detailed understanding that can really help), here are a few quick tips I hope will at least help calm some of those interview nerves:
- Do some relaxation exercises the night before, when you wake up the morning of the interview, and right before the interview. Gentle, slow deep breathing (in four, hold seven, out eight) is a very good way to help relax your body.
- Visualize the interview going well and everyone smiling and shaking hands afterward. (You may want to do this a few times prior to the actual interview day.)
- Practice interviewing beforehand with the help of friends and/or family. Practice a lot until you start to feel more comfortable talking about yourself.
- Research the company as much as possible to help you feel on top of things and answer intelligently. This will also help you come up with good questions to ask.
- Prepare stories ahead of time that speak to the employer’s needs and not simply toward your wants or interests. (Best of all is when they coincide.)
- Now that you’ve done all that, on the day of the interview…trust in yourself and let it all go. It’s already inside you and will be there when you need it. Remember to
- Be in the moment (not thinking ahead or about what was just said)
- Listen carefully to what you’re asked
- Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you need it
- And most of all just be yourself. (I know from my own experience as an interviewer, this will help make the interview better for everyone.)
Just remember: You are fine exactly as you are and have things to offer your potential employer that no one else can. Your only job during the interview is to help them see who you really are. You don’t have to be anyone else.
If nothing else works: Give yourself permission to fail. That’s right…tell yourself it’s ok if you answer every single question completely wrong and come out looking like a complete idiot. You might also tell yourself this is just practice and it doesn’t really matter to help ease some of the tension. Then just say “what the hell”, be yourself, and go for it!
I know this sounds crazy – and easier to say than do – but I guarantee you’ll come off looking more natural and more interesting than if you go in all stiff and self-conscious trying so hard to be perfect – especially since you have no idea what that really means to them! Spontaneous and relaxed are a powerful team once you’ve prepared ahead of time and know who you are.
And anyway…who wants to work for a boss who is so uptight you’re afraid to be yourself.
Well…that’s all for now. Good luck finding a job that’s right for you!
~ Ronnie Ann
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New Work Coach Cafe Policy:
Although I had to stop answering individual questions (to preserve my sanity), as always your thoughts and stories are VERY welcome here.
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nnn
Also don’t forget that a certain amount of nervous energy can be helpful in an interview—or in any situation. It keeps you alert, on your toes and in the moment. You listen more closely because you’re anxious about doing well. And honestly, if you seem too relaxed, it can come off as blasé or, worse, arrogant.
Still, you don’t want to be all Barney Fife jittery. When I was first teaching, I was told that doing something physical—vigorously erasing the blackboard at the start of a class, for instance—could burn off nervous energy and help you relax. Walking very briskly to your interview or even taking the stairs instead of the elevator [as long as you're sure you can exit the stairwell!] can serve the same purpose. Just make sure you’re not all sweaty or out of breath as a result.
What brings about job interview jitters? Think about your mindset:
* As advertised, the job is just too perfect for you, and with the type of company you REALLY want to work for. You’re too uptight about giving an answer to a question that you only *perceive* might be the one that will determine if you’re a finalist or not.
* You’re out of work and you really need to land a job. So, this is front of mind as you walk in the door for the interview.
Just to name a couple of examples.
Terry B: Excellent reminder Terry. Nervous energy can be converted to positive energy. And agree…no one wants to hire a limp rag.
Often, when a person relaxes enough, they can let their true self shine through, and that should include energy! Nerves can sometimes drain and divert a person’s natural energy. Some people know how to use the nerves and turn it into excitement – but for many, the nerves just mask part of who they really are. So take those deep breaths, do your visualizations, and let your real self shine through with energy galore!
Rick: Thanks for adding to the conversation. You’re so right about how perfect those ads can make a job sound. When I used to interview for jobs, I sometimes would look at the ad and get scared for a minute and then remind myself that it’s just a job with real daily activities I can handle.
I am going to have to up my mock interview practice. It is the only way.
Hi AJ!
Sorry I didn’t get to your other comment yet. It’s been hectic around here. Yes…it helps to practice and to maybe even watch yourself on video if you can. But the trick is to practice and then let it go when you actually interview so you feel natural and totally in the moment. Show you can really listen and take your time to answer what they ask. Some people memorize lines and it comes off stiff and unreal. Most of all, believe in yourself.
Best if luck, AJ! Please let us know how it’s going. I know you can do it.
Hi,
Great advise !!! Thank you
So I have a question for you? I work for the district at a school as a finance manager everyone got fired and we have to reapply for our position which I did and guess what I did not get because my nerves got in the way but no one else got it either not because I don’t know my job so I think!!! But I’m in an unique situation where is there is two high schools one property we have a new principal who really does not know my work ethic and there is the other principal who i feel does not like me so much, it is complicated. I would really like your opinion on if I should apply once again since no one got the job, and as a note I am working as a finance manager but everyone had to reapply in order to keep it. Sincerely much thanks.
Hi Karla!
Unfortunately there are too many details and nuances I don’t know. If it were me, I’d put on my most positive “we can make this work” attitude and try again. What’s to lose at this point? And you never know when your timing is just right – no matter what else might be going on. If you can muster the nerve to speak with both principals and let them see what positive, resourceful energy you bring to the job, it might help. Or if you know someone who can help you understand what happened and what might get you the job back, might be a great time to network.
I wish you much luck. Don’t let the fear of being rejected again (I know great people who have been rejected many times
) stop you from trying.
Hello I just wanted to share my problems with interviews. I have really really bad anxiety and every time I get an interview I end up not going because my anxiety blocks me from going. And I was just wondering what is a good way for me to brake to make my anxiety to go away. Thank You.
Hi Jimmy,
Most of us are anxious about interviews, but not showing up for an interview is not a helpful way to deal with the situation.
My recommendation is to do three things:
1. Look at each interview as a two-way street.
You want to know more about them as much as they want to know more about you. It’s a learning opportunity for everyone. Would this be a good match for both “sides” of the table? That’s really the core issue in a job interview, but many job seekers lose track of it in their concern to give a great performance.
You’ll have an opportunity to see inside an employer’s offices or premises, meet their employees, and find out what they do. You’ll have a chance to ask questions to find our more about them and to decide if you want to work for them. Maybe you don’t, but you won’t know until you go there to see them and to ask your questions of them.
2. Understand that you don’t have anything to lose but time.
Worst case, you’ll decide that you don’t want to work there, or they’ll decide that they don’t want to hire you. Either way, you come out OK when it is over. No harm; no foul. You’ll probably never see those people again, unless you want to.
And interviewing, particularly for someone who is introverted or shy, is something that gets easier with practice.
So, worst case – you’ll have more practice at interviewing when you are done, and you’ll do better next time. Best case – you’ll have a job offer!
3. Take the time to be well-prepared.
We know the common interview questions that get asked. Write down your answers. Practice them at home. Say them out loud, maybe in front of a mirror, maybe not. It’s good to get feedbck on your answers which means saying your answers to someone else (which is great practice). Say them out loud until you can do it relatively comfortably without reading them.
Do some research on how to answer the questions. You’ll find MANY excellent articles written by Ronnie Ann here on WorkCoachCafe.com about answering interview questions – just look in the right column or click on “Career Topics” at the top of the page and then select “How to Answer Annoying Job Interview Questions” to find help.
If you can get professional help with your interviewing techniques – someone knowledgeable to practice on – that would be most effective for you. If you are in the USA, find your local Career OneStop Center. You’ll get free, professional help there. Pick your location from the options on America’s Service Locator.
Bottom line:
Everyone is nervous in an interview, and employers know that and take it into consideration. Know that you will screw up. Everyone screws up. It is NOT fatal!
Go for it, Jimmy. You CAN do this! You MUST do this – your other options for making a living are limited – so go for it!
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! Stay in touch.
Good luck!
Susan