Interview and soooo nervous!

[Gemi33]

Hi everyone

I have an job interview tomorrow and I have so anxious I feel sick. I haven't slept properly for days. I have obviously tried to prepare as much as I can but I suffer with anxiety and just can't stop panicking! I don't think I will get the job but I just don't want to make a complete fool of myself. Does anyone have any tips for calming down and just trying to relax a bit? I feel like I'm going to spend all day today in constant anxiety and I'm exhausted!

xx

How about, if you don't think you are going to get the job, thinking of it as something other than an interview and treating it differently? Remember that you are worth them meeting and can do the job so they need to impress you too.

My husband interviews a lot of people. He's a really nice man. Just think that, the people who are interviewing you are just people, like you. They are no better than you, the interview is just them trying to find out about you in a short amount of time.

If you don't get the job, the world won't stop turning, you won't even remember it in 3 months time and, being interviewed is good for yourself - pushing yourself, each interview is a learning experience that will benefit you.

I also have anxiety, don't let that bugger hold you back. Don't let it stop you doing things that put you out of your comfort zone because that's how we grow.

You've prepared all you can, now say to yourself, 'there's nothing more I can do about this till tomorrow' - and try your hardest, when it comes into your head, to bat it away.

Good luck, think 'lucky them if they do get me' - it can work both ways.

Remember the people on the other side of the table will also be nervous as they have the responsibility of treating everyone fairly and making a good decision. So treat them as you would anyone else new that you have to put at ease - be warm and friendly to them.

Do you have anyone you can role play answers to the obvious questions with today? If not, practise saying out loud answers e.g. to "tell us about yourself", "why do you want the job". Once you've started the conversation strongly, you should be able to relax in the room.

Anxiety is a pain, my sympathies. Get all your interview clothes, bag etc. ready this morning, then see if you can physically exhaust yourself this afternoon to help sleep - perhaps a good long walk if that's your thing?

Good luck!

Hi all

Thanks so much for the advice. I have tried to think of obvious questions and possible answers but to be honest I don't know what they will ask and I'm not great at thinking of things on the spot. I think what I'm most worried about is that I know the people interviewing me (I already work at this organisation) - they are very senior, important people and I am worried that I will completely fall apart or just make a fool of myself because I'm nervous and then I have to see them afterwards and they'll think I'm an idiot!

xx

So, excuse me if I tell you things you've already thought of, but I've been interviewer for seven new positions this year, so I've seen a lot of interview performances!

On the preparation side, if there's a Job Description for the post with a Person Specification and tasks listed, then thinking of examples of these tasks you've carried out in the past - or how you would like to approach them in future if you've not yet had the opportunity - is a good foundation.

There's lots of good sites on the web if you Google 'standard interview questions' to help you think about what you might be asked.

Also asking questions yourself of the panel about how the role and company will develop over the next few years lifts you a bit from the rest.

Good luck for tomorrow!

Set yourself a certain amount of time to prepare today, say 1hr. Try not to prepare for specific questions, instead, maybe mindmap the reasons you'd be good for the role? What do you want to get across in the interview? Look again at your application - be ready to expand on points you made.

For the rest of today, do whatever makes you happy: gym, a movie, seeing people, a long bath.

When you interview, remember to smile at the interviewers at some points. People can often look furious when they are nervous/ under a little stress!

Thank you - I was going to spend all day today going over and over possible questions but I actually think I'm getting more and more stressed - I might try and watch a film later and distract myself a bit!

I'm trying to think of a good answer if I'm sked about my greatest weakness - I always think everyone says they are a perfectionist so even though I am I feel like I should think of something else but it's really hard!

xx

It's impossible to prepare for every question they may ask you. There was a phase a while back (not sure if it's still being done as much) for asking questions that are extremely unlikely to be answerable e.g. how many piano tuners are there in the UK. These questions are designed specifically to see if you can think on your feet, and the best answer I found was "I don't know off hand, but I could use x and y resources to find out".

The most likely questions will be based around the required skills for the role "give us an example where you did this, or where you applied that skill". So go through the job spec and think about tasks you have done that fit those requirements - doesn't have to be a different example for each one!

Make sure you have your clothes etc laid out tonight, stuff like spare tights, tissues etc - nothing worse than going in feeling unconfident because you have a large ladder in an obvious place . Leave contigency time in place, if you get there a bit early that doesn't matter.

You might try sniffing lavender before you go in, this can have a calming effect. The first time you feel yourself panicking in the interview stop, apologise and explain you are rather keyed up because this new job would mean so much to you. Don't feel you have to launch into words as soon as they finish asking you a question, you should be able to take a few seconds to compose yourself & make sure you have the right answer clear in your head.

And lastly, don't look on this as the be all and end all. Try to think of it as just practice.

I interviewed people in last job and let me say, I’m sure I was as nervous as the interviewee the first couple of times.

They are interested in you, and want to meet you. They’ll want to bring out the best in you so don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat questions, or rephrase them.

My tips would be - Today: think of some examples of challenging situations you’ve been in, consider your strengths and weaknesses, research the company (their values, ethos etc), consider why you have applied for the job, watch some You Tube videos of interviews in your field and tell yourself that if you don’t get the job it wasn’t for you.

Tomorrow: Give yourself time to get ready, wear something you feel comfortable and confident in, take some Rescue Remedy, arrive a few minutes early, shake the interviewers hand, smile and make eye contact.

GOOD LUCK! You’ll be great.

I will definitely have to remind myself to smile - when I'm anxious I know I look miserable! I was looking online at possible questions and one was about describing a time you made a mistake - no idea what to say to that sort of question! Of course I'm not perfect and I'm sure I've made mistakes at times but none particularly come to mind and I assume you'd also want one you could put a positive spin on- what sort of things do people say to these kind of questions??

xx

Use the STAR technique for your questions.
S - situation
T - task
A - action
R - results

If you can't think of a mistake I don't think you'd be unreasonable saying that? The people that interview would be best to confirm that. If it were me I'd context it with the acknowledgement that I'm not perfect, there will have been mistakes, fortunate that none have been serious but I don't negatively dwell on mistakes I've made. Once it's rectified with plans/procedures in place to make sure it doesn't happen again then move on. Dwelling isn't productive and I'm confident in my ability to do a consistently good job?

I’ve always found interviews hard and went on at least 15 before I got my current one which is a band higher than the last. The one that threw me was ‘what do you understand about this role’ I hadn’t researched it enough and thought I had blown in straight away. Google the STAR technique as it’s very useful. Good luck.

I keep re-reading the job description and I know I have experience that meets each of the points but I feel like I will be so nervous I won't be able to remember anything when I get in there!

Of course you will. Try and relax and think about it that they know that you have the abilities they need to fill the job, or else you wouldn't be interviewing, so this is more about checking you out in person to see the fit for the organisation/department. They want to see the best of you too so hopefully won't be setting you up to fail.

Another recommendation for STAR. It really helps frame your answers and keeps you on track.

Do everything yoj can to prepare like know where you are going and parking and what your are going to wear etc so no panicking trying on loads of stuff !
Good luck you can do this 💪🏼

How did you get on @Gemi33?

I didn't get the job. Feeling quite upset at the moment, I'm not happy in my job and been looking for something else for a long time but can't find anything. I wanted this so badly and just having a little cry now.

Thank you all for your help

xx

Awwww I'm sorry to hear that. Take some time to process it. It's natural to be upset! Take care of yourself.

Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Once you've had a chance to get over your disappointment, can you ask for feedback? Or do your own appraisal of your interview performance - write down the questions and think back to your answers. Was there anything you would do differently if you had the same interview again? Did you give the best/strongest example, etc.

You got the interview - for whatever reason you didn't get the job. You were worth them seeing so you are worth other people seeing and you'll hopefully be less anxious next time.

I've had feedback but that's made me feel worse - I knew I messed up the task, it's something I could totally do but in my nerves I think I misread the instructions did the wrong thing and by the time I realised I didn't have enough time to do it again. The feedback was that that was the only thing I did wrong and everything else was really good and would have got it based on that. It makes me so annoyed at myself and upset because I've completely messed up this chance because of something so stupid. I feel really down today because I would like to stay working here but in a different jobs but jobs come up so rarely that there is now not likely to be anything suitable for a very very long time so now I'm stuck.

xx

You're not stupid - it's a pressurised situation and you were flustered. That's the kind of thing you can prepare for in future. Always read the instructions through right to the end, then re read them and highlight the important bits and if necessary number the order to do them in (sounds like it was an in tray type exercise, though it might not have been). There will be other opportunities and you can look at other organisations too. Keep looking x