How to Turn Job Interviews Into Natural Conversations

Everyone’s had that first interview they wish they could forget. The shaky hands, the overthinking, the awkward pauses. Luke’s first real interview was a total disaster, and it changed everything about how he approaches the process today.

“The best interviews I’ve had have just felt like conversations with, maybe not a friend, but like someone you just met, like a normal conversation.”

His secret isn’t rehearsed answers. It’s learning how to stop performing and start connecting.

The Wake-Up Call

Luke’s first serious interview was for a Silicon Valley program during college. He went in confident. Too confident.

“I think I didn’t think I needed practice, which is crazy.”

At the time, he was a sophomore focused on “drink and like rush for our fraternity.” The interview? An afterthought.

“That interview went very poorly just because I was not prepared. I hadn’t practiced and I didn’t really know what I was getting into.”

The result: pure nerves and zero connection. That failure became the foundation for how he interviews now.

If you’ve ever had a wake-up call like that, read The Confidence Routine That Rebuilds You. It breaks down how to bounce back when things shake your self-belief.

The Big Shift: From Performance to Conversation

The change came when Luke realized interviews aren’t tests; they’re conversations.

“At the end of the day, in an interview or a HireVue, they’re just trying to learn about you. What are you good at? That’s the most important part. They’re not super pressed that you answer these very specific questions. They’re trying to get a story out of you.”

That one insight flips the whole experience. Once you realize they just want to understand you, the nerves start to fade.

The Breathing Technique That Actually Works

When you get stuck mid-answer, Luke says do one thing: breathe.

“If someone asks you a question and something doesn’t immediately pop in your head, take a second. Take a deep breath. There’s no rush. They’re not timing your response.”

It sounds small, but that pause changes everything. It gives you composure and signals confidence instead of panic.

The Mental Resume Trick

To handle tough questions, Luke keeps a “mental resume” in his head.

“Go into an interview with almost like a visual of your resume in your head. If you get asked a question that’s kind of niche, find something on your resume that relates. Talk about that, highlight what you did, then loop it back to the question.”

It’s simple but genius. It gives you a safety net and guarantees you’ll always circle back to something that makes you look good.

If you’re applying this kind of thinking to dating or networking too, check out How to Build Your Inner Circle. The same mindset — connection over performance — applies everywhere.

The Hype Song Method

“My other add to preparing for an interview is I pick like a hype song... recently it’s been ‘Out of the Woods’ by Taylor Swift. It’s what works.”

Luke swears by using music to shake off nerves. Whether it’s before an interview, a presentation, or a first date, that quick energy boost resets your headspace.

“We’ve all felt it. A hype song comes on and all of a sudden your legs don’t hurt as much as they did before. That’s a real thing.”

When Things Go Wrong

Even with prep, you’ll still mess up sometimes. Luke says own it.

“If you flub, be like, shoot, I’m sorry, and then make it more conversational. You can be chill about it.”

Recovering with honesty actually makes you look composed. It shows you’re human, not robotic.

That skill applies way beyond interviews. The One-Hour Rule for Bad Dates covers the same principle: grace and composure under pressure.

What Interviewers Actually Want

Luke puts it perfectly:
“They’re trying to get a story out of you or just something about who you are and what you’d bring to the company.”

They want to see:

• Who you are beyond your resume

• What experiences shaped you

• How you think and communicate

• Whether you’d fit on the team

They already know you’re qualified. They’re just deciding if they want to work with you.

The Conversation Framework

How Luke turns interviews into genuine conversations:

• Be curious. Ask real questions back.

• Share stories. Use examples, not theory.

• Listen. Don’t just wait for your turn.

• Find common ground. Make it feel like a normal chat, not a Q&A.

If you want to go deeper on mindset, read The Routine That Makes Work Feel Lighter. It’s about how structure builds confidence for moments like these.

The Bottom Line

Luke’s learned that interviews aren’t about impressing anyone; they’re about showing up as the real you.

“The best interviews I’ve had have just felt like conversations with, maybe not a friend, but like someone you just met, like a normal conversation.”

That’s what interviewers actually remember. Confidence, calm energy, and the ability to connect like a real person.

The more you practice that, the less it feels like a test and the more it feels like what it actually is: a conversation about your future.

Want more career advice that actually fits real life?
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