Body Language and Demeanor

Unless you have a great deal of experience, you are probably going to be nervous. Even seasoned interviewees occasionally get butterflies. Being nervous weighs you down, makes the interview seem interminable, and makes you look uptight. More importantly, it prevents you from being who you are—a bright lawyer with personality and charm. Although being nervous is not something you can easily control, you can learn to mask it.

Remember that practice makes perfect. The best preparation for an interview—aside from reading this book, of course—is to sit down for a mock interview. Pretend it is the real deal: have your “interviewer” ask you questions, practice your answers, do not crack jokes, and replay less-than-perfect answers until you get them right. This preparation will be invaluable when you are at the real interview. You will stop worrying and start thinking, and you will instantly know how to answer even the most difficult questions.

Make a conscious effort not to be nervous. We will stop short of asking you to picture your interviewers naked, as we are not sure this advice actually works. But do use the techniques that work for you. Whether it is praying, working out, being thoroughly prepared, or reminding yourself to relax, find what helps you be less nervous. Studies show that physical exercise helps reduce nervousness, which can improve your interview performance. This is because the exercise helps you reduce the level of adrenaline in your body. So take the stairs or walk to the interview.