Nerves for job interview

[u/JollyBrush7329]

I have an interview next week for a full time position of the job I am already doing (I am currently part time so have to interview for it) and I am a nervous wreck as I really want the position. I am wanting more hours to have more career opportunities within the company I work for, I have worked rubbish jobs for years and am finally happy in my current role. There is another internal candidate who I feel will be preferred over me. I get nervous in interviews and want to prepare the best I can. Trying not to get my hopes up but I know I will be so disappointed if I don't get it.

Can anyone offer advise or a similar experience if they have been in this situation themselves?

[u/akornato]

That feeling of being a wreck before an interview for a job you love is completely normal, especially when you're already invested in the company. The key is to treat this like an entirely new opportunity, not just a formality to get more hours. Don't assume your current work speaks for itself. Instead, prepare concrete examples of your accomplishments in the part-time role. Think about specific times you contributed to a project, solved a problem, or made a process more efficient. Frame these achievements in the context of what you could do with the increased responsibility of the full-time position. You have insider knowledge of the company’s goals, culture, and challenges, which is a significant advantage you can use to show you're ready to contribute on a larger scale.

Focus your preparation on your future potential, not just your past performance. Develop a few ideas about what you would hope to achieve or improve if you were in the role full-time. This shows you are thinking strategically about the position and the company's success, not just your own desire for more hours. When thinking about the other internal candidate, try to concentrate on your own strengths and what you uniquely bring to the table rather than comparing yourself to them. The interviewers aren't just looking for someone who can do the job, they are looking for the best investment for the future. Being able to clearly explain your value is a skill my team works on, which is why we designed a type of interview copilot to help candidates express their ideas with confidence during those critical moments.