Freezing Up in Interviews? You’re Not Alone

Have you ever sat in an interview, heart racing, palms sweaty and then completely blanked when it was your turn to speak?
Maybe you knew exactly what you wanted to say before the call, but suddenly it vanished, leaving you staring into the void, silently panicking.

If so, you’re not alone. This is a common experiences I hear from job seekers. The fear of interviews is real, and it’s rooted in our biology. When we perceive a threat (even a perfectly friendly hiring manager asking, “Tell me about a project you’re proud of”), our nervous system can flip into fight, flight, or freeze. That’s why even the smartest, most accomplished professionals can find themselves tongue-tied.

Interviewing is a skill and skills need practice

We often forget that interviewing is a skill. It’s not something most of us do every day. It’s a specific type of storytelling under pressure, often about situations we haven’t revisited in years. If we’ve never actually practiced telling these stories out loud, why would we expect ourselves to be calm, confident, and clear in the moment?

That’s like expecting to get on stage and deliver a speech without ever practicing. Of course you’d stumble. Of course you’d freeze.

Practicing stories builds confidence (and calms our nerves)

One of the most powerful ways to override interview fear is by practicing. When you take the time to write down your key stories and then share them out loud with a friend, a coach, or even just in the mirror you start building neural pathways that say, “I’ve been here before. I know how to do this.”

Each time you repeat your examples, you’re training your brain and body to feel safer. It becomes easier to recall details, structure your answers, and even smile and connect with your interviewer. Over time, the panic gives way to confidence.

Be gentle with yourself

Most importantly: be kind to yourself. You’re learning a new skill. It’s normal to feel awkward, nervous, or unsure at first. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress.

So the next time you freeze up, remember: you’re not alone. With a little practice and a lot of self-compassion, you can turn interview fear into a skill you actually feel proud of.

Links for additional content on this topic:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0D5a6vuI1K7iRom9boPAcK?si=TpZ2DJbkTweTlykirxjKJg

How to Confidently Align Your Skills in a Job Interview

Hello from sunny Santa Teresa, Costa Rica!
I landed in this small surf town thanks to a friend who calls it home. It’s been the perfect backdrop to reflect on some of the coaching work I’ve been doing lately, including a session today that inspired this post.

I spent time with a client walking through one of the most important parts of interviewing: how to clearly align your skills and experience with what the company actually needs.

It’s not enough to rattle off your resume. You want to show them you get their challenges, and that you’re the person who can solve them.

Here are some practical ways to do that:

✏️ Ask targeted questions

Don’t wait until the end of the interview to throw out generic questions. Instead, weave in thoughtful prompts that uncover exactly what they’re looking for. Try asking at the start of your interview:

• What problems are you looking to solve by hiring for this role?

• What’s the biggest challenge your team is facing right now?

• In an ideal world, what would success look like for this person in 6 months?

The answers give you a blueprint for how to position yourself.

✏️ Position yourself as the solution

Once you understand their needs, explicitly connect the dots. Share how your background, skills, and approach make you the right person to tackle their biggest pain points.

Frame it as: “I’ve handled similar challenges by [specific example], and I’d be excited to bring that experience here to help you achieve [their goal].”

✏️ Identify the top 3 skill sets they need

Study the job description and listen carefully during interviews. What three skills or experiences seem absolutely critical?

Once you pinpoint them, prepare stories that show how you’ve excelled in these areas. The goal is to make it easy for them to see you checking every box.

✏️ Highlight your unique value

Don’t just stop at “I can do the job.” Show how you go above and beyond.

Say something like: “Beyond meeting the core requirements, I also bring [specific strengths, such as streamlining processes, building high-trust teams, or driving creative solutions], which can be instrumental to your success.”

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, companies want to know:

• Can you solve our problems?

• Will you make our lives easier?

• Are you someone we’d enjoy working with every day?

The clearer you make these answers, the more confident — and memorable — you’ll be.

If you’d like tailored support practicing these strategies, check out my interview coaching services or grab a spot for a free 15-minute confidence boost call. I’d love to help you land that next opportunity.

Freezing on “Tell Me About Yourself”? You’re Not Alone

Have you ever frozen, like I have, when asked, “Tell me about yourself?” It’s a question I didn’t prepare for, and whenever it came up, I found myself rambling trying to cover everything, but ending up saying nothing meaningful.

mock interview questions

mock interview practice

interview warm-up

https://www.cloudskillsboost.google/interview_warmup