Interview nerves: a practical way to prepare

Which part of the interview gets difficult?

You might be comfortable talking about your work until someone asks an unexpected question. Or the difficult part might come hours earlier, when you keep picturing yourself getting it wrong and struggle to prepare.

As a hypnotherapist, I would start by asking you to describe a particular moment. What do you notice? What do you say to yourself? What happens next? That gives us something specific to work with.

My experience in logistics and operational leadership makes the practical side of this important to me. You have an actual conversation to prepare for, often alongside a job and other commitments. A useful starting point should fit into that life.

Have something concrete to say

Choose one requirement from the role and one real example that shows how you have met it. Make brief notes about the situation, your action and what happened. Then say the answer aloud, using your own words.

The National Careers Service explains the STAR structure if you want a way to organise your examples. Keep the emphasis on what you actually did, and leave room to answer a follow-up question.

For one practice round, ask someone to change the wording of the question. Notice whether you can choose the relevant part of your example. If you cannot, that tells you what to practise next.

Rehearse getting back into the conversation

Try a short practice that includes a difficult moment. Picture or describe being asked a question, noticing some nerves, taking a moment to think and finding your first point. Keep your eyes open if you prefer. If imagery feels uncomfortable, simply talk through the steps.

You could practise saying: Let me think of the most relevant example. Then continue. The action you are rehearsing is returning to the question when things feel imperfect.

A study by Feiler and Powell tested positive imagery and externally focused attention for interview anxiety. Both approaches reduced reported anxiety and increased interview self-efficacy, but interview performance scores did not improve. That distinction matters: feeling more able and getting a particular interview result are different outcomes. Read the study abstract.

Try one manageable practice round

Keep the first round short enough that you will actually do it. Afterwards, choose one adjustment: perhaps a clearer opening sentence or a more specific description of your contribution. Practise again when you have the time and attention.

If your mind goes blank, use the recovery phrases in the next guide. You can include one in your practice.

Where hypnotherapy can fit

In sessions, we can explore your response to the interview and agree what you want to do differently. With your agreement, that can include hypnosis, imagery, suggestion and rehearsal. Before the session ends, we review your experience and agree any practice to try. If we agree another appointment, we review how that practice went then.

Interview preparation still includes understanding the role and explaining your experience. The National Careers Service has free practical interview guidance. My focus is the nerves, self-doubt or pressure that you want support with.

If that is the part you are struggling with, read how I work with interview nerves in Rugby and online. It explains the first session, fees and introductory call.