Apply, interview, get hired. These are the typical steps to landing a job, with interviewing likely being the most important. We’ve all done it and all will likely do it again, and although some of us are better at it than others, getting interview nerves is fairly universal.
Most career coaches will advise the more jittery of interviewees to combat those nerves with preparation. Ask a friend to do a mock interview with you. Prepare answers to some of the anticipated questions like the dreaded — and, in my opinion, totally useless — question: What are your weaknesses?
Particularly in competitive fields like international development, it can seem like an employer’s market. You prepare as best as you can, but ultimately it’s up to the employer to evaluate your suitability for the job.