A few years ago I was given the task of interviewing law students in a local law school to select the candidates who would return for additional interviews and potentially be selected as a law clerk for the firm where I worked as an attorney. I was barely out of law school a couple of years, and was actually younger than several of the candidates I was interviewing. Since I had recently been in their shoes, vying desperately for a limited number of clerking positions against multitudes of competing law students, I was sympathetic and tried to make the interview process as painless as possible. Still, a few candidates seemed petrified throughout the interview, their voices and hands shaking. I admit, I hesitated before recommending these frightened candidates for additional interviews. After all, if they were scared of little old me, I wondered if I could feel confident sending them to the courthouse to speak with court personnel or get entries signed by judges—people far more imposing than myself.

Nervousness plagues many interviewees, and it can be the kiss of death when it causes an interviewer to question your ability to perform the job competently. Employers are often seeking candidates who can be assertive when it’s required in order to get the job done. Appearing confident during an interview can be crucial to landing that job. Here are a few ways to feel more confident (or just appear that way) during an interview.

1. Practice, practice, practice.

Remember that preparation is the key to a successful interview—and this doesn’t just mean having enough copies of your resume and transcripts. If you are concerned that you will be too nervous during the interview or that you won’t be able to respond well to questions under pressure, try practicing the interview with a sympathetic friend, preferably one who has attended a number of interviews or even has HR experience. Tell your friend about the job for which you’ve applied and the duties it entails, and let her ask questions you are likely to face in an interview. Wear your interview suit and pretend you are experiencing the real thing. If you have already gone through the motions of walking up to the interviewer with a confident smile, shaking her hand, and answering probing questions coolly and confidently in a friendly environment, it will be much easier to do so when the date of the real interview arrives.

2. Be aware of your appearance ahead of time.

If you discover on the morning of the interview that your suit no longer fits correctly, you won’t be able to focus on anything else when you are in the interview; you will feel uncomfortable and wonder if the interviewer has noticed. To prevent this discomfort, prepare ahead of time to look fabulous. Get a haircut, do your nails, Try on your interview clothes and make sure everything fits and looks great on you. The better you feel about your appearance, the easier it will be to relax during the interview.

3. Be aware of body temperature changes when you’re nervous.

Some people get hot when they’re nervous, and perspire. Others feel so cold that they shiver. Both perspiring and shivering can make you look even more nervous than you are! You can alleviate the sweats or the shakes by being aware of the way your body temperature changes under pressure, and dress for it. If you are likely to overheat, select an interview suit with a lighter fabric and consider wearing a short-sleeved blouse underneath. If you are likely to freeze, consider wearing thicker fabrics and long sleeves to help you feel more comfortable.

4. Sit comfortably in your chair.

Of course, slumping is never advisable during an interview, but there’s no rule that says you can’t be comfortable. Sitting stiffly on the edge of your seat can make you appear terrified rather than attentive. It can also cause you to feel more nervous, because the position is so uncomfortable and rigid. Instead, try sitting all the way back in your seat, and lean against the back of the seat to gather your confidence. Simply getting comfortable and adopting a more relaxed posture can help you to feel more composed. It can also help you feel safer because it puts a bit more space between you and the interviewer. Then, when you’re ready, you can occasionally lean forward to demonstrate your interest in a topic or issue.

5. Be aware of your hands.

If your hands tend to shake when you’re nervous, they can create a vicious cycle: you notice your hands shaking, you worry whether the interviewer has noticed, you desperately try to stop them from shaking only to discover that this makes it worse. Sound familiar? If this sounds like you, try resting your hands on your knees until they stop trembling. Another trick is to hold a pen in one hand. It’s harder for your hand to shake when it’s holding something, and a pen is a perfectly appropriate object to hold during an interview.

6. Wear something that has special meaning to you.

No, you can’t wear your old soccer uniform or your favorite pajamas, but if you have a piece of office-appropriate jewelry or other small item that has emotional value to you, it can help you feel more secure. If your mother or best friend gave you a small string of pearls for your last birthday, wearing it can remind you of how much she believes in you—and help you feel more confident in yourself.

7. Fake it till you make it.

If nothing else works and you are still feeling anxious, pretend you’re an actress playing a role. Put on a big smile and behave like nothing scares you. The magic of this trick is that the more you pretend to be confident, the more confident you will begin to feel.



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