Interview in 2.5hrs. Panicking and feeling completely overwhelmed

[whatjobs]

Hi,

I have a job interview in 2.5 hours and I'm suddenly feeling very panicked and anxious.

I do suffer with anxiety anyway.

The job I'm interviewing for is for more money annually, it's a step up on my career and would look much, MUCH better on my CV. It could open a lot of potential doors for me. It's also more responsibility.

The job I'm in currently is comfortable, although rocky. The company isn't doing well. They have made several redundancies over the last few months. We are struggling financially and things just aren't looking good. But I love the team I work with, and I know I can come into work, know what I'm doing and leave again. That said though, the workload is slow as nothings coming in to do, so I am VERY bored. I don't think the company will necessarily be here by this time next year unless a miracle happens.

I'm just so scared. I'm scared of leaving my comfort to go to the unknown. I don't have ANY self confidence, so I'm terrified that I'm going to get the job, the company won't like me / will think I'm not up to the role, and will sack me. Either this or I'm absolutely terrified that I will start there (providing I even get it!!!) and hate it and wish I could come back to where I am currently.

I really struggle with making decisions. Especially life changing ones. I go into a blind panic and retreat and pick myself apart. I'm fully aware I do this but I just can't stop

This is a great opportunity for me but I'm terrified and I just don't know what to do. Right now I'm considering cancelling the interview.

I excel in interviews, I've always been lucky in this sense. But when I get offered the job, I panic. I remember being the same when I was offered my current role.

Sorry that was rambly.
I just needed a safe place to vent. Spoken to DH and family about it today and they are all gutted that I'm backtracking now and think I'd be great at the job (if I got it)

I've worked really hard in this particular industry and it would be an incredible opportunity for me. But feels so scary and unknown.

Ahhh good luck OP!
Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you!
Anything that you're not sure about, ask!!! Don't even think past the interview and what the outcome may be and how you'll deal with it or what decision you might make!
Think of the interview and think of what you need to ask them :)

It is v much a candidates market out there at the moment. I bet they will bevrooting for you and willing you to do well. Don't forget they obviously like you, otherwise they wouldn't have invited you to interview. Good luck.

The fear of the unknown is always the greatest fear of all but I live by the mantra that success doesn't fall on my lap and opportunity doesn't always knock twice.

I completely changed direction in my career 5 years ago and I was terrified but thought FUCK IT.

Best decision I ever made. It gave me a new life, I don't have any money worries but best of all I love work and what I do. I don't get the Sunday night work dread anymore.

My advice would be attend the interview, one step at a time. If you get a bad feeling about it or don't think you'd fit in then fair enough but if your only reservations are fear of the unknown then JFDI (just fucking do it ).

Good Luck!

Thank you. I had a telephone interview with them earlier last week, which went really
Well and they were talking about me being in the job role, for example:

'you would be doing XYZ' and 'we would support you to do ABC'

They have effectively said they want me, and think I'm a great fit, but today is to meet the team and an interview to finish.

I just feel scared having to make a decision.

I've always struggled with decision making and would much rather others made them for me 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ I think that's why I'm stressing.

Anxiety is a MASSIVE thing for me, and my fight and flight response is high 24/7. If I don't feel settled it drives me into a frenzy 😬 I'm sos cared I'll make the move and it'll be a bad one. I've no reason to really think this. I think it's because where I am currently
I feel protected, safe.. it's like a family. But I'm well aware this job won't be here forever, as the company is failing.

I don’t like change, get very anxious and unfortunately am terrible at interviews. I did however manage to get a new job about 4 years ago after almost 15 years in the same place. The change was brilliant. Instead of knowing exactly what to do and when it gave me back that excitement of learning again. The enthusiasm. Don’t get me wrong sometimes I still think I wonder if I’d stayed. I do know however going out my comfort zone was the right thing to do. I’m back looking again, it’s given me the drive to keep trying because for the right job I will get there. I’m not unhappy I just want to progress. You get the best of both with this job so if you get it you should snap it up.

@Movingonup2023 that was really lovely to read! I'm so glad you made the jump and you're happy. It paid off!!

I know in my heart it's the right thing to do. I don't want to turn down the opportunity and then it'll be sods law that the company I'm
Currently with goes bust and I'm stuck with nothing, opportunity gone.

It feels like I saw this new job and applied for a reason. But I'm so anxious around the change.

I could have written your post word for word 😁My interview was today at 11am and while very challenging, was nowhere near as horrendous as I thought it would be. Whatever the outcome, this was definitely a good experience for me.
Best of luck to you OP! Let us know how you get on when you have time x

Practice your breathing, OP, to calm down your anxiety response. It's impossible to think clearly on the middle of an anxiety episode and very easy to wind ourselves up even more.

Try breathing in for four, pause, out for four. Then for five, hold the pauses a little longer.

The interview is only an interview. One step at a time.

Thank you all. The thought of the interview itself is fine! It's the thought of actually getting the job and the change that comes with it that's completely sending me into a frenzy. How will I fit in? What if I don't..? What if I regret it..

I think I have a big issue around change

OP, breathe.

I'm serious, just breathe in for 5 out for 8 ten times, Do some tapping too if you know how (online tapping vids teach you in a few minutes. It's very easy, with a message to yourself: even though I am very anxious about taking this next step in my career I fully and kindly accept myself right now.

And remember the classic advice that no one gets on in life with out doing things that frighten them. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway is a very good motto. Just go for the interview and shine, then start familiarising yourself with all the benefits it would bring and the skills you have and the ones you will learn if you are offered and accept it.

Men and unusually confident women apply for jobs above their skill level. Most women don't.

If you're anything like me, the first two weeks everything will be new and then you'll calm down and fit right in.
And if you back out you'll really regret losing the opportunity.

All very best of luck OP!

Going on any interview is brilliant practice - gets you more familiar, confident and relaxed in any out of comfort situation.

When we learn or do anything new we go through the 'conscious incompetence' phase which is a meh label but expresses how aware we feel of the newness.

You're aiming to get into the 'conscious competence' phase, which only happens through acknowledging the discomfort, facing it and going through it. That's when development happens.

Control your thinking: you're there because your background, achievements and skills are just what they're needing and seeking. And you impressed with everything they've seen so far.

Consider what they need and how you could help them achieve that.

Focus on them, not you.

Control your body: breathe from diaphragm not from chest, slow deep breathing to slow heartrate and racing mind.

Stay hydrated (go to loo just before!)

Sit up straight, shoulders relaxed, making eye contact.

Control your speaking: all the above will help. Nerves make us speed up, so make yourself speak more clearly giving yourself time to think.

This is a brilliant opportunity.

Let us know how it went!

Good luck! I did an interview in October (didn’t get it) and in December (did get it) for a promotion. Stay calm, remember it’s not the be all and end all, there will be other opportunities. Deep breaths. Confidence, eye contact, speak slowly and clearly. Don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat. Use examples. Let us know how you get on!

Good luck op. Nerves are awful. But remember if you get the job, the first week will be a doddle, setting up your email signature, meeting and greeting colleagues. No one will expect you to be fully functioning on day one.
The most relaxed I ever was in an interview was when I had someone close to me dying and I was sick with COVID (online interview). It was such a car crash situation I just relaxed as I didn't care about the outcome anymore... Got that job and love it! 🤣
Try to channel your inner 'who cares' and just deal with the rest as it comes. You'll drive yourself crazy with all the what ifs, and the pp be who said breathing and tapping techniques is on the money.

I'm three months into my current role. All that what have I done!!! stuff at the beginning was because of what I didn't know. Unfamiliarity. Not because I couldn't do the job, which I SO can.

So:

Learn the building. Get a map of it and know where everything is.

Learn the organisation mission, vision and values- they'll be on the intranet and website as a starter.

Learn the people structure - an overview of what the teams are, who the key people are, what your team does.

Get to know your line manager and team colleagues. 1-1s over coffee are useful.

Familiarise with your job description and performance objectives.

Take any training and e-learning.

That was my first month - yes, hard work and effort; which I really enjoyed because it was purposeful. And it's paying off because I know people and I'm delivering what they want.

Go in expecting all those 'I'm new' feelings, work to ease them.

Thanks all. I had the interview. It went really well. The job will be a challenge, there's no doubt about that. It's a LOT harder than what I'm doing now. It makes me wonder if what I'm doing now is actually too easy and not pushing me nearly enough.

Anyway. They said they're going to let me know the put me tomorrow. They asked how I'd feel if I was offered the job. Obviously I can't sit there and say 'extremely anxious and overwhelmed' haha! But that's exactly how I would feel.

Now in floods of tears wondering what I'm going to do. I have NO self esteem. I don't know if I can do it.

Ahh come on OP. You know you are not being stretched in your current job. You know the future of the company is uncertain so you have to move on. This new company sounds right up your street.

Just remember it's only unknown until you know it.
Good Luck and onwards and upwards.

That's the thing. My current company is falling apart.. but I just can't seem to let it
go 🤦🏼‍♀️😣

Anxious and nervous are exactly the same physiological processes as excited and anticipatory - we just label them differently as bad and good and put them in different boxes.

Instead of bearing yourself up with 'what if I can't,' ask 'what do I want to learn, improve, practice - so I can?'

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4716747-in-tears-over-potential-new-job-yes-im-probably-being-unreasonable?reply=122962740

@whatjobs old thread I know but did you get the job?