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It's normal to be nervous for a job interview. In fact, a slight case of nerves can help you do well in an interview if it causes you to prepare in advance and strive to do your best. If you're too relaxed you can come across as aloof, whereas if you're slightly nervous, you'll probably convey interest and will seem like you give a darn.

But being too nervous makes it difficult to be your best in an interview. If you're sweating, shaking, stuttering or staring at your shoes, the interviewer is going to be distracted and won't understand how you'll be an asset to the organization. You want the interviewer to connect with you, not feel sorry for you.

The irony is, if you worry about being nervous, that's just going to make you even more nervous! The key is to work on being more self-confident, instead of trying to be less nervous.

A Confident Approach

Here are some suggestions to help you build confidence and make a good impression in your interviews:

• Prepare for your interview in advance. Make sure you understand what the company does and what the job is about so you can convincingly describe why you're interested in the position. You will inevitably be asked to talk about this. You will also be asked to talk about the information you put on your resume, so make sure you review your resume and can easily speak about everything you included in it, even that job you had four years ago!

Another important way to prepare is to think about the experiences you've had that you want the interviewer to know about. What accomplishments are you most proud of? What unique and interesting things have you done? How have you contributed to the organizations you've been a part of? Recall these kinds of experiences you've had, practice telling these stories aloud, and you will sound more polished and prepared in your interview.

Recalling your accomplishments should give you confidence. Interviews are not a time to be modest. It's okay to be proud of what you've done. Go ahead and give yourself that pat on the back and bring that good feeling with you into your interview.

• Understand that the interview is a two-way street. If you approach an interview like a puppy in the dog pound with a mindset of "I hope they pick me," that attitude is going to make you more nervous. Instead, remember that you are evaluating them as much as they are evaluating you.

  Before your interview, think about what you're looking for in your first job, and what you're seeking in an employer. Make sure you prepare your questions in advance and bring them to the interview. As you're talking with the interviewer, try to ascertain if that organization and opportunity fits your aspirations. Remember you're probably going to be working in that organization for at least a couple of years - is the position likely to sustain your interest? Do you like the people you've met? Do you understand the rewards and challenges of the position and are they acceptable to you?

• Build rapport with your interviewer within the first 5 minutes. First impressions count and set the tone for the rest of the interview. When your interviewer comes into the waiting room and calls your name, walk toward that person with confidence, make eye contact, smile, extend your hand for a handshake and say, "Hello I'm (insert your name here)." If your interviewer makes small talk with you on the way back to the interview room, participate fully - don't just give yes or no answers. And it's okay for you to make small talk too - ask him if he's having a good day at Berkeley, etc.

  Interviewers are humans too, and they like to know you're interested in them. So it's usually okay to ask your interviewer questions about their own experiences with the company, about their role in the organization, and such. Of course you have to take cues from your interviewer - just like with other humans, some are friendlier than others, and you have to work with what you get.

Another technique shy people can use to increase confidence is to focus your attention outside of yourself. If your focus is on that little voice in your head that's shouting, "Don't blow this!" you're going to be nervous. You can focus on the interviewer instead - think about the first impression she makes on you. What do you notice about her? You can also focus on the opportunity to learn more about the company and the position. Think about how you're looking forward to getting good information from the recruiter. When you're focused on the other person you will come across as enthusiastic and you will seem more interesting and confident too.

Additional Resources

Interview Advice from Employers - Part 1

Interview Advice from Employers - Part 2

Successful Interviewing (PDF)