How to Walk into Your First Job Interviews with Confidence
Your first job interview can feel nerve-wracking. That is completely normal. The good news is that confidence is not an inborn talent but a skill you can practice. In this article you will find a practical step by step plan, concrete examples and practice scripts so you can walk into an interview well prepared and with self assurance. Along the way you will see how Nexie can directly support you, truly meant to help you move forward.
Why preparation makes the biggest difference
Recruiters often decide (sometimes unconsciously) within the first minutes whether they want to continue with you. That first impression is partly intuitive, but you can influence it. Preparation helps you gain clarity about who you are and what you want to share. It makes you calmer, helps you come across more clearly and allows you to show that you fit the role.
Two to three weeks before the interview
Prepare and study the job description carefully and highlight the most important skills and tasks.
Write a short introduction of one to two minutes about yourself.
Collect concrete examples from studies, part time jobs or volunteer work that match the required competencies. This where companies pay attention to.
One week before the interview
Prepare five STARR examples that show different skills.
Practice with friends or family and note both what goes well and what could improve. We can support you with this as well.
Prepare questions you want to ask the interviewers.
48 hours before the interview
Check practical details. Route and travel time for an in person meeting. Camera and internet connection for an online interview.
Choose your outfit and lay it out. Make sure it feels both neat and comfortable.
24 hours and the morning of the interview
Review your STARR examples. Practice your introduction aloud again, maybe with someone.
Do a short breathing exercise and make sure you have breakfast or coffee so you are sharp.
The best structure for your answers
Recruiters love structure. Use STARR for behavioral questions and a clear build up for content related questions. That is also the structure most recruiters use to guide the interview. Sometimes they will ask hypothetical questions, but those usually carry less weight as they cannot be backed up with real examples.
Example: introduction (1–2 minutes)
"I am Anna, I recently completed my degree in Marketing. During my internship at a local agency I worked on social campaigns and learned how to make them measurable. I get energy from achieving results and working with other disciplines. This role attracts me because I can continue developing measurement and analysis in a team with real client cases."
Example STARR: teamwork
Situation: "During my internship an important campaign got stuck a week before launch."
Task: "My task was to make the planning realistic again and meet the deadlines."
Action: "I created a priority table, redistributed tasks and scheduled short daily updates with the team."
Result: "The campaign went live on time and achieved 12 percent more engagement than the benchmark."
Reflection: "I learned that clear priorities and short check ins reduce stress and increase speed. Next time I would involve stakeholders earlier."
Use this model for at least five examples. Choose examples that cover different themes such as teamwork, problem solving and taking initiative.
Scripts for common interview questions
Tell me about yourself: "I am [name], recently graduated in [field]. During my studies I worked at [job] where I was responsible for [task]. I enjoy working in a results oriented way and learning continuously. I am looking for a role where I can use my analytical skills and grow further." This one is driven on intrinsic values, not about the company benefits or that it’s close to home. Sure, those are important practical considerations, but that shouldn’t be the only reasons to work somewhere.
Why do you want to work here: "Your focus on client projects appealed to me because during my internship I saw how much I learn from real cases. This role fits my interest in [field] and offers room to grow."
What are your strengths: "I am detail oriented, I like planning and I work well in teams. For example, during my studies I coordinated a project where four team members from different backgrounds worked effectively together."
What is your biggest development point: "Sometimes I want to perfect things for too long. I am working on this by prioritizing tasks and asking for regular feedback so I can adjust more quickly."
These questions appear very often. It is important to prepare them, but do not memorize them word for word. Always leave room for improvisation. That makes you flexible enough to answer questions you may not have expected. As with everything: good preparation is half the battle. And remember: these are just examples. Don’t forget to give your own twist to it. And if you’re sending out a lot of applications and doing a lot of interviews, AI can be useful to make it more practical. But as with anything, do it the right way.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Being too vague about your role. Avoid generalities and give concrete numbers or results.
Not asking questions at the end. Always ask at least two about the role or the team.
Retelling your entire CV. Use your introduction as the backbone and add examples from experience.
Speaking negatively about past employers. Keep it positive and professional.
Forgetting to schedule a session with Nexie ;)
On to your first job
We hope this gives you a boost in the right direction to succeed in your interviews and find a job that makes you happy. Of course, theory alone is not always enough. Interviewing is mainly a skill you develop through practice. And that is exactly where we can help. That can be with a free CV scan or by scheduling coaching sessions.
