Relax

I know, just telling you to relax when you're sitting in an interview isn't going to make you relax, but... try? If you're relaxed, you'll pay attention more easily, you'll recall information more easily, and you'll perform better in general. Here are a few things to keep in mind that should help you relax in interviews:

1. You Probably Aren't Getting This Job

Everyone interviews at way more companies throughout their careers than they'll ever work for. I've personally only had 4 programming jobs, but I've been an interviewee at least 50 times.

It's just a numbers game. Don't get too attached to the idea of working for the company that you're interviewing with. If you do, the pressure will be on, and you'll be more likely to make mistakes.

Instead, just think of it as a conversation. You're just getting to know each other. By all means, show enthusiasm for the company, but go into the interview with a mindset of connecting with the interviewers, practicing your interviewing skills, and learning a bit about the professional world of software development.

2. It's Not a Waste of Time

After an interview, if you find out that you didn't get the job, the time spent was not wasted. In fact, it was super valuable practice that you got for free.

1. You'll get practice solving technical problems and communicating your solutions
2. You'll learn what more interview processes look like in the real world
3. You'll learn about the company and what they do with their software
4. You'll learn about various tech stacks used in the industry, and which ones you need to study up on
5. You'll figure out some of your own weaknesses and knowledge gaps that you can work on for the next interview

3. You'll Get More Chances

This isn't your one audition for America's Got Talent. If you don't make it, there are hundreds of other interviews to be conducted. It's most important that you're getting out there consistently and practicing your interview skills.

The better a job you do with your applications, the more interviews you get. The more interviews you have, the less pressure you'll feel to nail the one you're in.