The five minute walk from your car to your (hopefully) future office can be minutes filled with anxiety or minutes spent getting you in the right frame of mind.
A zillion things race through your head as you check yourself in the mirror, grab your resume and work samples (whew- you remembered to bring them!), and begin to navigate an unfamiliar parking structure and find the elevator bank.
You’ve prepared for this interview for days. You know that you are a savvy, smart professional who can list his/her accomplishments with efficient ease, and gosh darn-it, people like you. So, once in the room you know you’ll be fine. But, how do you transition yourself from road weary to interview ready in moments?
Answer: a sweet playlist.
Music plays a large role in influencing mood and is an emotional experience that can definitely adjust one’s attitude. So, I suggest clearing your mind and firing up your MP3 on your way from the parking lot to the elevator. Whether you are nervous, low on energy, or just sick and tired of repeating your “three best attributes” over and over in your head, the right song can really be a difference maker.
I conducted an informal survey (informal=I asked my co-workers and my sister Sarah in Boston) and found that different professionals look to different types of music to get them mentally prepared to interview. Many need inspiration and an energy boost, some just want their socks rocked off, others want the steady beat and confident lyrics of a hip hop song, while a certain few went for alternative rock to get them on track.
Of all, these are (in no particular order) the top ten tunes to get you revved to interview like a rock star:

MGMT “Kids”
Kanye West “Stronger”
Tom Petty “Free Fallin”
Katrina & "The Waves “Walking on Sunshine”
The Strokes “Last Night”
Metallica “Enter Sandman”
Radiohead “Lucky”
The Killers “Somebody Told Me”
Muse “Nights of Cydonia”
MC Hammer “Can’t Touch This” or C & C Music Factory “Gonna Make You Sweat” (same effect)

Pretty random, but my empirical, scientific research data doesn’t lie. Try them and see for yourself.

And have a great interview!