Job interview and I feel completely overwhelmed

[ChickenSoupForTheHmm]

Got an interview for a dream job really similar to my current but much more senior.
I didn’t think I’d secure an interview but I have next week.
I couldn’t sleep last night already panicking about the sheer volume of work that needs doing beforehand.
I need to prepare a ten minute presentation and prep for job- numerous strategies and documents I need to go through.
I’ve huge deadlines in current role for this week and next.
And I’ve got 2 children I’m desperately trying to entertain.
I’m so nervous I’m going to embarrass myself at this interview it’s making want to cancel,I don’t think I’ll get it- I made myself sound really good on application but don’t think I can match that confidence to pull off the interview.
If by some miracle I actually got it think I’d be sick with nerves!
The money would be life changing for our family though so i feel pressured to do well. I’d jump from 24k to 42k so it would make a big difference.

This is imposter syndrome, rearing its head. You feel like you don't deserve the opportunity but you do! Is there anyone you can reach out to who could provide a bit of child wrangling so that you can just get your head down and power through?

My Dh is off this weekend which will give me two days. I’m kind of wishing I’d not been shortlisted now would be easier.

Just tell yourself that the actual interview is a practice run for the future.
Do your best and if nothing comes of it , well your life hasn't changed has it !
Let us know how it goes. Good luck.

Thank you both! I need to get my head around it a seems so daunting right now but will try my best :)

Definitely don't cancel! Is the interview face to face or online? Do as much prep as you can and keep telling yourself that you deserve it, because you do! Good luck

I totally get this (and actually get really annoyed at businesses that make you do presentations for jobs at the moment when a lot of people are in home schooling + full time job hell). But I read something recently that said ‘do not self reject’. So if you don’t go ahead with the interview then you’ll definitely not get it!

Can we help with the presentation at all?

Agree - imposter syndrome. You know the old story that a women reads a list of ten criteria for a job and think "I only have experience at 8 of those, I'd better not apply" whereas a man reads it and things "I have experience doing 4 of those things - I'm prefect for the job!" Do NOT fall victim to this mindset.

Park the kids in front of the TV, defer as much work for your current job as you can until after the interview, and get cracking. As well as prepping your presentation and doing all the background research you can on the company, write down a list of all the questions they might ask and rehearse answers, either in your head or to your DH, until you fee comfortable answering them. But above all, believe that you can do the job. The bits you don't know how to do now, you can learn on the job.

If you don't get the job, the main thing is to come out feeling that you have it your best shot, and that it's good practice for next time a role comes up and you interview for it. And you never know, you might just get the job!

Pull on everyone's support this week and prioritise headspace to prepare. Tell your husband you want a decent shot at it because it will be worth a lot to the family. And congratulations on getting shortlisted, that's huge. Tell him to be ready with the champagne to celebrate or commiserate!

Spend as much time in planning as you can. Can you go for a long walk with the kids so they'll happily watch a film on the TV later, so you can plan?

Don’t know if it’s imposter syndrome I think over egged my skills on application worried I can’t back it up.
I’ve got all the qualifications and skills but one key skill I’m wobbly on and that’s a big part of the presentation.

Agree - imposter syndrome. You know the old story that a women reads a list of ten criteria for a job and think "I only have experience at 8 of those, I'd better not apply" whereas a man reads it and things "I have experience doing 4 of those things - I'm prefect for the job!" Do NOT fall victim to this mindset.

This!!!! I came on here to say that there’s no way a man would withdraw in these circumstances.

Try and take some pressure off yourself. I know that’s easier said than done, but when it comes down to it, an interview is just a conversation. And why shouldn’t you get it?

If you’ve been shortlisted the recruiter will have thought you have a good chance of doing the job successfully and they’ll have seen something on your application that they like.

That you all for the pep talk. I’ve been finishing off presentation this evening - feel much happier with it than I expected.
Interview on Thursday. There’s an internal candidate whose strong going for it also but I’m happy that I’ve tried my best.
If nothing else I’ve learned an absolutely loads so that’s a big a big positive.
Thank you again for giving me a push :)

Good luck op you can do this!

Sounds like a v healthy attitude.

Good luck OP!

I had pretty much the same experience including presentation, thinking I didn't have enough of the relevant skills large increase in salary, and wanting to cancel. Single parent, full time job with high workload at the time too. Just did my best with the presentation and interview and hoped for the best. I got it ! I've been there over 18 months now and I love it. You can do it.

Thank you good to hear :)
Well done @arewen that’s brilliant

All you can do is your best. Aim to leave the interview knowing that you couldn’t have done any more, and then it’s out of your hands. You can’t control for who else is in the bag, the opinions of the panel, all you can do is show them who you are and what you can do.

I had this with an interview last year for a job I really wanted. I was successful, but I left the interview knowing I had given it everything I had, and was proud of my performance (note: that doesn’t mean it was perfect, it wasn’t, but it was a solid performance). Good luck!

Lots more prep to do Tomo but presentation is better than I expected so need to work on interview questions next please keep your fingers crossed for me Tomo at 4pm thank you 😊

How did it go, OP? Been thinking of you!

Thank out for thinking of me ms :)
Much better than I thought it would I’m tealt starting to get my hopes up hence this thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4176776-For-getting-my-hopes-up-Would-you?watched=1&msgid=105049958#105049958
But please keep everything crossed I’ve managed to fall even more in love with the job than before ❤️❤️❤️

Nothing yet but waiting by the phone 📞

Good luck OP! I hope you get some good news before the weekend starts.

When did they say you would find out?

Best of luck OP!

‘No later than monday’
They said- was hoping today but I think I’ll have a nervy weekend ahead.
Starting to question myself now and maybe it didn’t that well 🤯😬