Stop Performing: How to Actually Nail Your Interview Preparation
By Nina — I'm the friend who tells you what you need to hear about your situationship. ·
Look, I love a good performance. I’m in PR in Brooklyn, so my entire life is basically curating an aesthetic and making sure the narrative stays on track. But there is a very thin line between being prepared for a job interview and auditioning for a role that doesn't actually exist—or worse, a role you don’t even want.
I’ve spent the last six months watching my friends panic-prepare for interviews like they’re studying for the Bar exam. They’re memorizing company mission statements, obsessing over their 'weaknesses,' and practicing their answers in the mirror until they sound like sentient LinkedIn posts. It’s exhausting, it’s fake, and honestly? It’s why you keep ending up in jobs that feel like a dead-end situationship.
Here is how you actually prepare for an interview without losing your soul in the process.
Stop Memorizing Scripts, Start Building a Case
If I have to hear one more person tell me they’re 'a perfectionist who works too hard,' I’m going to scream. You are not a robot, and the person on the other side of that Zoom call isn’t looking for a software update. They are looking for a teammate.
Instead of memorizing scripts, treat your interview like a pitch. In PR, we don't just list facts about a product; we tell the story of why the world is better with it in it. Do the same for yourself. Pick three specific projects from your past where you actually moved the needle. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), but strip out the corporate jargon. If you didn’t have a 'synergistic cross-functional collaboration,' just say you talked to the team in Sales to fix a bottleneck. Honesty has a way of cutting through the noise that 'professionalism' never will.
The 'Reverse Situationship' Check
We talk a lot about 'impressing' the interviewer, but let’s talk about the red flags. You know how you ignore the fact that he doesn’t have a bed frame because he’s 'an artist'? Stop doing that with your potential employer.
Your interview prep should include a list of questions that actually tell you if this place is a disaster. Ask them: 'What is the biggest challenge the team is currently facing?' and 'How does leadership handle conflict?' If they give you a vague, rehearsed answer about 'open communication,' run. You’re interviewing them to see if they’re worth your 40-60 hours a week. If you go in looking for approval, you’ve already lost. Go in looking for data.
Get Comfortable with the Silence
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is filling the silence. You get nervous, you ramble, and suddenly you’re telling them about your cat’s digestive issues because you were worried the pause in the conversation meant they hated you.
Here’s a secret: Silence is your best friend. When they ask you a tough question, take three seconds. Breathe. If you need to, say, 'That’s a great question, let me think about the best example for that.' It makes you look thoughtful, collected, and in control. People who are comfortable with silence look like they know their worth. People who ramble look like they’re desperate for validation. Guess which one gets the offer?
The 'Vibe Check' Prep
This is the part nobody tells you. Before the interview, do a 'vibe check' on the company culture. Scroll through their Twitter, their LinkedIn, and the personal feeds of the people who will be interviewing you. Do they seem like people who value human beings or just 'human capital'?
If the company vibe is 'hustle culture' and you’re currently in your 'I prioritize my sleep and my boundaries' era, don't try to shrink yourself to fit in. You’ll be miserable by month three. Preparation isn't just about getting the job; it’s about making sure the job actually fits the life you’ve been working so hard to build. If you have to lie about who you are to get the role, you’re just signing up for a breakup in six months.
Own Your Narrative
At the end of the day, you are the PR agent of your own life. You are the product. If you go into that room believing you are a high-value asset, they will treat you like one. If you go in begging for a chance, they’ll treat you like an intern.
You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to have a canned answer for everything. You just need to be clear about what you bring to the table and what you’re looking for in return. If they don’t get it, they aren't the one. Don’t settle for a bad professional match just because you’re tired of being single on the job market.
Take a breath, update your bullet points, and go in there like the absolute boss you are. And if you’re freaking out mid-prep? You know where to find me. Let’s talk through your talking points—I’ll be the one to tell you if you’re underselling yourself.
Catch you later,
Nina