How to deal with being nervous during interviews.

[NurseNerdy]

Hi everyone. I'm a new grad turning into an old-new grad (graduated with ASN May '11, passed NCLEX in July '11) still trying to find a first nursing job.

I have managed a few interviews, but none have gotten me a position. I was finally able to get some feedback from some of the nurse managers who interviewed me, and a common themes seems to be that I "give the right answers" and do seem smart and friendly, but appear nervous/shy/timid during them. Which doesn't surprise me - I am introverted (but can socialize and be outgoing just fine with some effort), and am shy by nature. I've worked really hard for years now to get over my shyness, and usually I can hide it or fake being confident, but I guess in interviews I get nervous enough that it shows anyway.

I'm sure others have dealt with this too. Does anyone have an ideas or advice on how to work on my nerves and not appear timid during interviews? Or a way to address the fact that I may look timid at first but I'm usually not and am not afraid to do things like advocate for a patient if needed, that would sound better than randomly saying "I know I can come off as looking X at first meeting me but I'm actually not, like in clinicals I once *example of time I did advocate for patient*." I almost wish that they would ask me the stock "tell me your greatest weakness" question so I could answer it with that!

I'll hopefully be doing a mock interveiw soon with a nurse educator who does interviews sometimes for the hospital my mother works at, so she can give me some feedback and advice, but I could use all the help I can get on this. I already have the fact that I won't have my BSN until May '13 the earliest and that I'm a new grad working against me for finding a job, I don't need being a terrible interviewee added to the mix.

[fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN]

the biggest thing for me was realizing that i am interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing me. i'm also introverted, but i am confident in myself and my abilities. if they don't like me, then i don't want to work for them. those are just some things i keep in mind in the interview, and i usually have no problem becoming nervous. you kind of just have to force yourself to think of it this way, in order to get yourself over it. good luck!

[wrenRN06]

i get so nervous that i have to take propranolol before interviews to calm my nerves. i am not at all shy in my everyday life but the pressure and being put on the spot makes my nerves flare up. that being said, i usually dont give myself the time to freak out...if i sit and dwell on the questions i might be asked or my answers i am likely to mess up so i just dive right into the interview..no hesitating at the door or sitting in the bathroom twenty minutes before the interview haha :) maybe just be blunt about it...acknowledge to the interviewer that you may appear timid and shy but you are always able to speak up and advocate when the time counts. just think of it like this...if you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone for 15 minutes during an interview to land a job then it is just a short period of time and is worth it. just be yourself x 10 for those 15 mins :)