Tips on Busting Interview Nerves

It is completely normal to feel apprehensive for an interview, especially if the interview is for a step change in your career.

Anxiety affects most of us on some level, especially when we are under pressure to perform.

Being confident in your abilities to do the role you are applying for, unfortunately, does not always correlate to coming across as relaxed yet punchy when talking to a panel about all your career successes.

Here are some quick tips on getting the jitters under control if you find yourself losing your train of thought when you first start speaking during an interview.

Step 1. Get through the front door correctly.

Make sure you have the business address saved in your phone so you can double check you are on the right route when searching in google maps.

Ensure you have done your homework on the organisation and have around 3 anecdotes banked in your brain specific to the role you are applying for which you could easily expand on.

Arrive to your location early, but don’t step in the door till 15 minutes before your interview. If you are someone who likes to take a second, third or fourth glance over their CV before heading into an interview, do that in a coffee shop round the corner. It will also give you a chance to familiarise yourself with the area you could be spending a lot of time in.

Step 2. Stay hydrated.

Ask for water. Try to be careful.

Step 3.  Ins and Outs.

The first 10 minutes of an interview can feel a bit stilted on your end, until you get in to a flow. A good interview will probably result in the interviewer forgetting the questions and just talking over your experiences in relation to the role.

Other interviewers can be nervous themselves or want to give all candidates the same experience and so stick rigidly to the questions they have set out.

Either way, before starting your answer, breathe deeply in for a second and breathe shallowly out for 2 seconds. The shallow breaths just make it seem like you are more in control of your breathing and don’t appear nervous.

Step 4. Bring attention to shared experiences.

If there is a natural lull in conversation whilst someone steps outside to make a call or a theme of questions has run out, change the subject. Focus on something in the room, in the news or something industry related that can break the mold of the interview process.

The likelihood is that the interviewer have set their own agenda in their head. They are trying to compartmentalize your answers and compare it to any other candidates answers, or what they personally want in their next hire. Their brains are running just as fast as yours and it might mean that they aren’t always 100% focussed on what you’re saying.

So you need to find a quiet moment in order to sell yourself as much more than a potential candidate. Showing your valuable traits such as humour, kindness, knowledge or wit can be a great way to show that you are someone they would like to work with, and will shake off the tension in the room. Bonus points if you can tie it in with something related to the role. It will also make you feel there is a better balance of roles in the conversation.

Want more advice on getting your next job in cyber security? You can read our advice paper “The cyber security skills gap – practical advice” for more information.

Looking for your next role in cyber security? Email us today to at careers@acumin.co.uk and one of our consultants will get in contact about our current availabilities.