Is it okay to tell an interviewer you are nervous? (2024)

It’s completely normal to feel nervous before a job interview. However, deciding whether or not to admit your nerves to the interviewer is a common dilemma many candidates face. There are pros and cons to acknowledging your nerves that are important to consider.

Quick Answers

Here are some quick answers to common questions about mentioning nerves in a job interview:

• It’s generally okay to tell an interviewer you’re nervous as long as you keep it brief.
• Mentioning your nerves shows honesty and humanity if done appropriately.
• Focus on taking deep breaths and thinking positively – don’t dwell on your nerves.
• Keep body language confident and avoid fidgeting even if you say you’re nervous.
• Shift quickly back to your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role after mentioning nerves.

The Pros of Admitting Nerves

There are some potential benefits to briefly acknowledging you are a bit anxious:

• Shows honesty: Admitting your nerves demonstrates you are willing to be upfront. This can build trust and rapport with an interviewer.
• Highlights humanity: It shows you are human just like everyone else. The interviewer may find this humility and vulnerability appealing.
• Tempers expectations: If nerves are affecting your performance, it provides context and may reduce pressure slightly.
• Opens communication: The interviewer may provide reassurance and advice to help you relax.

As long as you keep it brief, acknowledging nerves can build connection and show you are self-aware. However, dwelling on anxiety or using it as an excuse is not recommended.

The Cons of Admitting Nerves

There are also some potential downsides to think about when deciding if you should tell an interviewer you’re nervous:

• Shows lack of confidence: Excessive focus on nerves can raise doubts about your ability or readiness for the job.
• Wastes interview time: Spending too much time discussing anxiety takes away time to highlight your skills.
• Ruins first impressions: Leading with anxiety focuses on a negative instead of making a great first impression.
• Comes across unprofessionally: Dwelling on fears may show immaturity rather than polished confidence expected for most roles.

While an occasional acknowledgement is understandable, an overemphasis on nerves can leave the wrong impression. It’s important to minimize time spent discussing anxiety.

Best Practices for Mentioning Nerves

If you want to briefly open up about interview jitters, keep these tips in mind:

• Bring it up quickly and move on – don’t belabor it.
• Say you’re excited or eager, which casts it in a positive light.
• Emphasize your interest and preparation for the role.
• Make clear you still feel capable of performing well in the interview.
• Avoid apologizing or dwelling on anxiety excessively.
• Use confident body language and steady voice tone while discussing nerves.
• Pivot swiftly back to selling yourself and your qualifications after mentioning anxiety.

The key is acknowledging nerves without making them the focus. Keep it brief, stay positive, and transition smoothly back to why you are an excellent fit for the job.

What to Say When Acknowledging Nerves

Here are some examples of ways to briefly and positively mention interview anxiety:

• “I’m really excited for this interview – I have to admit I have a bit of nervous energy since this is such a great opportunity!”
• “I’m eager to share all the qualifications that make me an excellent fit for this role. I have to say interviews always make me a little nervous, but I feel ready to have a great discussion about my background.”
• “I’m feeling very motivated about this position, although these interviews always bring out a few first-date jitters! But I’m confident we’ll have a productive conversation about my skills.”

In each case, the nerves are mentioned but not dwelled upon excessively. The focus shifts to positivity, excitement and capabilities.

What Not to Say About Nerves

Some phrases about anxiety are better to avoid, such as:

• “I’m really nervous – I hope that’s okay.”
• “I’m sorry I’m so anxious, interviews make me really stressed.”
• “I’m pretty nervous. I’m probably going to mess this up.”
• “Honestly I’m extremely nervous right now. I’ve never been good at interviews.”

These overly apologetic or doubtful statements linger too long on the nerves. This frames anxiety in a negative light rather than shifting quickly back to positive reasons you are a strong candidate.

Nonverbal Cues Matter

Even if you mention being anxious, be sure the rest of your body language remains confident and calm:

• Steady, lower-pitched voice tone
• Good eye contact
• Upright, open posture
• Relaxed facial expressions
• Engaged listening
• Avoid fidgeting

This shows nerves aren’t truly interfering with your ability to communicate effectively. Nonverbals aligned with your words builds trust and rapport.

Set the Right Tone from the Start

Ideally, it’s better to avoid mentioning nerves in your very first remarks when entering the interview. This prevents anxiety from flavoring the first impressions you make.

You have time to get a feel for the tone and build some rapport before assessing if it feels right to acknowledge nerves. Pay attention to cues from the interviewer – in some cases, it may be better not to mention anxiety at all.

When unsure, focus your first remarks on positive excitement and appreciation for the opportunity.

Connect Nerves to Enthusiasm

One effective approach is pivoting quickly from nerves to why you want the job:

“I have to admit I’m a little nervous – this role seems like an excellent career move I’m really excited about!”

Framing anxiety as stemming from enthusiasm about the position is constructive. Just follow up with why you’d thrive in that role.

Speak With Your Actions

Even if you mention being nervous, you can quickly counterbalance that with calm, thoughtful responses that demonstrate readiness for the job:

• Ask perceptive questions based on research about the company.
• Provide thorough examples of achievements relevant to the role.
• Present a clear understanding of how your skills would benefit the employer.
• Speak knowledgeably about the field and industry.
• Exhibit warm, professional interpersonal skills.

Your overall performance is what matters – a brief nervous mention can be overcome by showing your capabilities.

An Occasional Acknowledgment is Understandable

It’s perfectly natural to feel anxious in high stakes interviews. A passing acknowledgement is unlikely to single-handedly tank your chances if handled maturely. However, dwelling excessively on anxiety can leave the wrong impression.

With practice over time, those interview nerves tend to diminish. Gaining experience and confidence makes anxiety less likely to be an issue that needs addressing. But while you work to manage a nervous disposition, an occasional brief mention is understandable.

Focus on Controlling Nerves

Preparation and mental attitude adjustment are your best tools for managing interview anxiety:

• Thoroughly research the role, company, and likely interview format and questions.
• Practice your responses out loud until they feel polished but natural.
• Review your qualifications and accomplishments so they are top of mind.
• Visualize yourself calmly answering questions and connecting with the interviewer.
• Arrive early to get settled – rushing can heighten nerves.
• Use breathing, affirmations, or other techniques to stay centered in the moment.
• Go in with a positive mindset – focus on showing your best professional self.

Proper planning and mental preparation help minimize nervousness. Having more control over anxiety reduces the need to mention it during interviews.

Consider Alternatives to Stating You Are Nervous

Some other options to acknowledge anxiety without directly saying “I’m nervous” include:

• “Thank you for the water – my mouth always gets dry in these formal interviews.”
• “Whew, these rooms get warm when you’re in the hot seat, don’t they?”
• “Sorry, would you mind repeating the question? My mind blanked for a second.”
• “I really appreciate you taking the time to interview me today.”

With creativity, you can respond to anxiety subtly without having to directly announce you are nervous. Just quickly pivot back to the substantive answers.

When Is It Best Not to Mention Nerves?

Some situations when it may be better not to acknowledge anxiety include:

• Very formal, strict interviews where nerves may be frowned upon
• You have severe anxiety that will significantly hinder performance
• The interviewer seems impatient or short on time
• It’s already apparent you are anxious based on shaky voice, sweating, etc
• You cannot move quickly past it to focus on positives

Every interview has a different tone. If nerves threaten to excessively sidetrack or undermine the discussion, it may be safest not to mention them.

Offer Reasons You Will Perform Well Despite Nerves

To demonstrate anxiety won’t interfere with your work, you can follow a nervousness mention by stating:

• “Even though interviews make me nervous, I’m extremely interested in this role and well prepared to take it on. Here are some top qualifications…”
• “While I have butterflies, I know I can get the work done based on my track record of success. For example…”

With reassurance, you can still pivot smoothly to selling your abilities, despite brief nerves.

Should You Admit Nerves if Not Asked Directly?

Whether to offer up feeling anxious if the interviewer doesn’t explicitly ask is a judgement call. If nerves are interfering with your performance, it may be worth acknowledging proactively.

However, if you are keeping composure well, it may be better not to raise anxiety as an issue. Let your confident responses speak for themselves.

Consider if saying you are nervous would negatively cast doubt or take up valuable time better spent highlighting your assets. If unsure, sometimes less is more.

Change the Narrative About Nerves

Rather than viewing nerves solely as a negative, look at anxiety as an indicator you care about doing well and landing this opportunity. Reframe it as the positive symptom of motivation that it often is.

Let that energy fuel you to put your best foot forward, not hold you back. Anxiety doesn’t have to be a barrier – harness it productively.

Remember: Interviewers Expect Some Nerves

It’s easy to forget interviewers are very accustomed to candidates being anxious. A small show of nerves is nothing they haven’t seen before.

As long as you keep your cool overall and shift focus to your abilities, a passing nervous mention likely won’t be a deal breaker. Don’t let anxiety spiral by assuming you are the only one who experiences it.

Should You Tell a Recruiter You Are Nervous?

Generally it’s better to be honest about nerves with a recruiter before the interview than spring it on the interviewer unexpectedly. The recruiter may be able to provide coaching or reassurance.

However, be brief and frame it productively:

“I’m really excited about the role! I have to say I’m always a bit nervous before interviews, but I’m prepared and looking forward to connecting with the team.”

Stick to quick mentions to the recruiter. Use interviews to focus on qualifications, not anxiety.

Conclusion

It’s understandable to feel anxious before big interviews. Whether to tell the interviewer depends on weighing brief honesty against spending too much time on nerves versus strengths. Keep mentions concise, pivot quickly and let confident actions speak louder than words.

With practice, anxiety tend to decrease. But while managing nervousness, view anxiety as stemming from caring, not as a sign you are doomed. Remind yourself interviewers expect some jitters and look past them to focus on abilities.

Strike a productive balance between acknowledging anxiety and selling your skills. With preparation and a positive mindset, nerves can fuel success rather than hold you back. Go in ready to put your best foot forward.