3 Strategies for Overcoming Your Finance Interview Nerves

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Your mouth is dry, your palms are sweating and your heart is pounding. You’re convinced that your nerves will get the better of you in the upcoming interview.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. Use the 3 strategies below to overcome your finance interview nerves and land the job.

Know Your Resume

Knowing your resume inside and out can be one of the key ways to calm your nerves. You’ll feel an increase in confidence, answer questions more effectively and communicate clearly. This enhances the possibility that the interview will turn into a two-way conversation, building rapport in the process and relaxing you even more.

Research

When you research the company, the role and the person who is interviewing you, you’ll feel more confident and prepared. Look for areas of commonality with the person interviewing you by reading his/her LinkedIn profile. Pore over the job description and match transferrable skills with work-related examples that show your capabilities. Understand the challenges that the company is facing and think about how you could add value. All of this preparation leads to increased confidence and a decrease in your finance interview nerves.

Fit

Understand that part of your nerves comes from the perceived power imbalance of the situation. But remember, as much as they are interviewing you, you are also interviewing them to make sure that the role and company is a fit for your core values and career aspirations. Don’t be intimidated by someone with a fancy title. That can create nerves. Instead, remind yourself that he/she had to start somewhere and that they weren’t always a CFO. Take a deep breath, focus on your preparation, and ask relevant questions to make sure that your prospective employer is a fit for you.

Finance interview nerves can be alleviated through preparation, research and perception. Know that the more research and preparation you do, the more comfortable you’ll feel. You’ll ask intelligent questions, answer queries with confidence and determine if the role makes sense for you. Let go of the perception that the interview is a one-way street. Now go out there and land the job.