“I get so nervous when I interview that I freeze.” For many of us, interviewing is an unfamiliar, somewhat intimidating, and uncomfortable experience. It is natural that interviewees feel nervous. There’s a lot at stake. You have invested a great deal of time, effort and money in trying to take the next step in your career. You’re walking into a room all alone to meet a group of strangers who are going to ask you difficult questions and make judgments whether they like you, if you’re a good fit, if you’re qualified and ready. Your feelings of rejection are real. So, what can you do to calm your nerves and be effective?

You should take some comfort in knowing that the interviewers who are seated across the table have also been on your side of the table and empathize with your nervousness. They will be quite forgiving of a shaky voice and a little perspiration. But how do you avoid being anxious and freezing? My formula for shedding your nervousness is:

(1) educate yourself about each step of the interview process so that there are no unnerving surprises;

(2) know exactly where you are going and how to get there to avoid running late and the stress that will be generated;

(3) be prepared by anticipating many of the questions and practicing your answers;

(4) learn how to read and respond to the interviewers’ body language and non-verb clues;

(5) find comfort in knowing that your knowledge and skillfulness are well-developed;

(6) stay out of "your own head" (how am I doing; are they liking me) and try to stay in the moment by just focusing on answering the question;

(7) direct your response to each individual around the table one at a time (avoid looking at the group as a whole);

(8) plant seeds in your answers that will lead the interviewers to ask a follow up question for which you will be well prepared, thus gaining some control over the direction of the course of the interview.

An analogous situation might serve to illustrate my approach. I must confess that sometimes I get anxious when I travel. I imagine that the taxi is going to drop me at the wrong terminal; the flight will be over-booked and I’ll get bumped; the plane will leave late and I’ll miss my connecting flight; upon arrival I’ll find that my hotel reservation was for last week and they are now all booked up. However, I’m happy to report that over time I have figured out ways to alleviate most of my anxieties. I take a page from my own formula by preparing myself. I familiarize myself in advance with my ticket which identifies the terminal; I book non-stop direct flights; I re-confirm my hotel reservation; I research alternative connections and nearby hotels in advance; and if unanticipated problems arise, I have copies of all the documentation and contact phone numbers—you get the idea.

A good coach will walk you through the interview process step-by-step. You will learn what forms of body language to look for and how you should respond verbally and non-verbally. You will analyze and practice answering the most often asked questions. I can confidently predict at least 60% of the questions you’ll be asked. You will role play and have a mock interview. You will report back to your coach as to your actual performance and get feedback on how you might make adjustments. You will find comfort and self-confidence in the knowledge that you are well prepared, and as a result your nervousness will be minimized.