The Classic Rock Guide to Rocking Your Interview

Interviewing is one of the most stressful parts of the job search process. A candidate is put under scrutiny to answer questions about their past job experiences and performance in addition to questions about their skills and abilities. There can be a lot riding on this one conversation and so how to calm the nerves and come across as the confident, capable candidate that you are? Music can motivate and inspire during the job search process, so here are some classic rock suggestions for some pre-interview listening and zeroing in on rocking your interview!

 
“I won’t back down, hey baby there ain’t no easy way out, I won’t back down” (Tom Petty, “I Won’t Back Down”). The job search process is not easy and takes a lot of work. This is a reminder that persistence is key to success.

 
“Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest” (The Band, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”). When examining what worked well in past interviews and what didn’t, this is the time to take the positives and learn from the things that did not work to move forward to rocking your interview.

 
“Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time”. (Cake, “The Distance”) Many people do find themselves reluctantly in a job search, with a lot of adrenaline flowing when it comes to the actual interview. The key is to focus this energy into something positive.

 
“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes well you just might find you get what you need”. (The Rolling Stones, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”). The job search process can be a revealing time for many individuals. As you apply for jobs and start interviewing, many people find that they discover things about themselves that helps them focus their search on new industries or career types.

 
And lastly, “Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right” (Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”). You have made it this far! You have successfully communicated your skills and abilities on paper, and now it’s one more step to mastering this verbally. Listening to songs that focus on the positive progress you have made so far will help keep that vibe going into the interview.

 
Being prepared for an interview always includes addressing attitude and positivity. These songs touch on elements of motivation, focus and attitude that are crucial to successfully rocking your interview. Music can be a great way to motivate and prepare one’s mindset before an interview, so creating a playlist just for you is the best way to start! For more information about preparing for interviews, visit our interviewing blog archives.