Stage fright or interview nerves? Here's how to overcome both

I used to compete in piano. I’ve broken piano strings and broken my nails from hours of practice. Then came the real test—stepping on stage, where every movement, every pause mattered.

What I didn’t realize at the time is that same process applies to acing interviews and giving presentations.

Breaking It Down—Step by Step

In piano, you don’t start by playing at full speed. You break it down:

1. Slow before fast
2. One measure at a time
3. Layer in notes, pedal, dynamics.

Interview prep, including presentation interviews, works the same way. Instead of jumping into mocks:

1. Solve case prompts step by step, without time pressure.
2. Build structured thinking muscle memory before layering in speed.
3. Practice your thinking first before combining thinking, talking, and typing.

For presentations:

1. Start by deeply understanding your content and audience.
2. Refine your messaging before worrying about slides.
3. Practice your delivery.

Skipping these steps doesn’t make logical sense, because you wouldn’t try to play Liszt before mastering scales.

Making Excellence Feel Effortless

In piano competitions and performances, ideally your hands just know where to go.

You don’t have to think about every note—it feels organically automatic.

That’s why, even under pressure, your fingers keep playing.

Same with interviews:

• If structured thinking is 2nd nature, you can stay grounded under tough questions.
• If strategic thinking is ingrained, you won’t make random decisions.

And with presentations:

• If you’ve internalized your key points, interruptions won’t throw you.

Beyond the Basics—Perfecting the Details

Before every piano competition or performance, I’d practice:

1. Walking on stage
2. How and where to bow
3. And even how to style my hair, to better fit the music

It’s more than just playing the instrument.

The whole show matters.

For interviews:

1. Recording yourself to confirm the sound quality is clear.
2. Check your lighting, background, and setup ahead of time.

For presentations:

1. Timing your pauses—they shape how people absorb your message.
2. Rehearse with gestures, pacing, and eye contact.

Turning Pressure Into Confidence

And just like how my piano coach had us perform every month, sometimes in noisy locations before competitions, it’s always a good idea to stress test:

• Practice breaking down a case while being distracted by Netflix.
• Practice your delivery while managing a unpredictable baby. 👩‍🍼

The best performers make it look easy—because they prepare intentionally.

🎤 How might you add intentionality to your interview and presentation prep?