How To Overcome Interview Jitters

When you are applying for college scholarships or trying to get into your dream school or on your dream team, you are going to have a lot of interviews. You may interview with admissions officers, professors, alumni, and coaches. Going through the interview process can be nerve-racking. Confidence is key though to landing your spot in the school of your dreams. Here are some tips on how to overcome interview jitters.

Remember Who You Are

You are in the interview for a reason: You are a great athlete, a great student, and a hard worker. Do not lose sight of the things that make you an outstanding candidate. Focus on your accomplishments. If you need to, sit down and make a list of everything that makes you a great choice for their school.

Remember Why You Are Interviewing

Why did you want to attend this particular university? What programs are you interested in pursuing? What does their school offer that makes it a great fit for you? If you know about the school and why you are interested, you can convey that enthusiasm to your interviewer. Interviewers love candidates who know a lot about their school.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As an athlete, you understand the importance of practicing to perform on the field. Performing in an interview is no different. Practice with your friends, family members, and even your high school counselor. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with both pitching yourself and answering on the spot questions. If you practice before your interviews, when it comes time to succeed, you will shine.

Have A Backup Plan

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Have a lineup of dream schools and apply for a variety of scholarships. If you have a lot of opportunities, then you won’t put so much pressure on yourself. Furthermore, if something does happen during an interview and you make a mistake, it’s not a big deal because you have other options. Also, try to interview with multiple people from the same program. If you can interview with a couple of different people, then you will have more of a chance of having someone on your team pushing for your acceptance.

Interview jitters can be rough. However, if you plan for your interview and prepare yourself, you will be able to shine. So like with anything else, take the time to practice before an interview.