How can I prepare for my first job interview?

You got the interview. Now you're nervous about what to say, what to wear, and whether they'll take you seriously.

• Interviews feel like judgment; they're really a conversation about fit.
• First-timers often haven't been shown the basic format.
• Nerves shrink dramatically with rehearsal.

Before you decide anything, take four slow breaths — in for 4, out for 6. You think more clearly on the other side of a calm breath than in the middle of a fast feeling.

1. 1Prepare three stories: a time you were reliable, a time you solved a problem, a time you worked with others. School and family count.
2. 2Practice the standard questions out loud: tell me about yourself, why here, what's a weakness, questions for us.
3. 3Handle logistics: clean neat clothes, arrive 10 minutes early, phone off, know the manager's name.

Write your three stories and say them out loud once.

Play it forward. If you take this step, what happens tomorrow? Next week? What does it protect — your peace, your grades, your relationships, your future? Leaders think one move ahead.

• One-Minute BreathingSlow your body down in 60 seconds with a longer exhale.
• Positive AffirmationsWords that steady you before you step out.
• Get HelpCrisis resources and a personal safety plan.