To disclose anxiety before an interview

[pudding24]

I have well-controlled anxiety, I'm good at my job and people mostly wouldn't know, but in interviews, I get adrenaline spikes, croaky voice, dry mouth, shaky hands, sweating. It's beyond frustrating, as that's not how I am in my job, but I always get feedback that 'you seemed nervous' and 'we weren't sure if you'd have the confidence needed'.

WIBU to flag that before the interview - to say look, this isn't me day to day, it's just an anxiety in this specific situation?

Then at least if they give me that feedback again, I have some recourse to what is a medical condition that I presume they have to make reasonable adjustments for? My anxiety isn't a lack of confidence or resilience or mental strength - I have all of those. It's the result of a physical condition - adrenaline rushes that are just beyond my control.

Isn't that how lots of people are at interview? I know I am, and I would imagine the interviewers are aware of how stressful the process is. I mean, you could disclose it but I don't know if that would make any difference to the outcome.

Hmm, tough one. I can see why you would want to disclose, and also why you'd hesitate!
Have you been prescribed beta blockers?

theonly I don't think your comment is. Wet helpful. Personally I'm excellent at interviews. Not everyone gets nervous to the point that the interviewer comments about it.

Often in interviews, if I feel my voice cracking or know I look visibly nervous, I will say, apologies for my sweaty appearance / strange voice, I'm just nervous, I really want this job! and then smile. It's defused tension for me a few times and let's them know you really care.

If there's a specific part of the job which is similar like client meetings or audits you might mention you have day to day experience of those so you don't find them at all intimidating.

We run our own business so I interview quite a lot of people! I would expect a certain amount of nerves at an interview however, if you feel yourself getting particularly anxious I wouldn't think badly if you simply said "bear with me I'm feeling anxious in this situation ". If your qualifications and answers to the questions were all in line with what I was looking for it certainly wouldn't put me off offering you a positron! Good luck!

Well, my comment wasn't intended to be "wet helpful" so I'm relieved about that anyway.

Good for you that you're excellent at interviews, DeadGood. Have a for such a "wet helpful" comment yourself. The point is, lots of people are anxious in interviews and interviewers do expect it.

I wouldn't mention it in advance as I would be scared I might be perceived as being neurotic or attention seeking, but as others have said, I might mention it casually during the interview if I thought it was necessary.

Thanks everyone, good idea to maybe just mention it if I feel it becoming conspicuous in the interview.

The irony is that I frequently interview others! So I could easily tell you what a great interview looks like. But when it comes to replicating any of that myself when the tables are turned, I just crumble!

I second the beta blockers suggestion. Works a treat for me.

I don't think you should mention it beforehand, or mention it during the interview in a way that says "I have anxiety". That feels like you are using it as an excuse in case you didn't perform as well as you wanted.

Many people to get nervous in interviews, with anxiety or without anxiety, it's the nature of the process. Any decent interviewer would notice this and try and reassure you to keep your calm.

Either you mention it on your disability questionnaire, understanding that it will be including like any other disability in the long run, or don't mention it at all. You can't just throw it in half way through the interview if you feel like you aren't doing well though.

Well you could, but I think it would really send out the wrong message.

I don't think declaring anxiety before an interview will help you at all!

Just say you're a bit nervous.

If it's normally well controlled then don't start beta blockers just for an interview, think they take a while to kick in.

I wouldn't mention it if the job requires you to stay calm under pressure, talk to clients, cope with stress etc. Or if you do mention it say it's interview anxiety.

I have anxiety and for interviews my GP prescribes 2mg diazepam. It takes away all my nerves and I feel calm and centred. I think being calm and confident in interviews has helped me to get jobs, without it I shake and my voice gets all squeaky!

I would start of the interview with a smile and say 'I get irrationally nervous at interviews. I don't know why'. This will clarify that it won't happen in your actual job. There are no adjustments they need to make so mentioning it beforehand might come accross as a bit needy? I get so nervous in interviews - I was nearly in tears before my last one and I was being interviewed for an internal position (which I had been reassured was 'in the bag' and just a formality - no other candidates) by people I knew really well and felt comfortable around!

That's interesting winterview , I wonder if my GP would also be able to prescribe something.

I get IBS when I'm nervous too, so interviews just aren't fun times!