To cancel a telephone interview because I'm too nervous.

[MyOh]

I've applied for an NHS role and I've been contacted to call back for a telephone interview but I feel sick. I can't go through with it. I'm not good at these things. I sound like an idiot on the phone. I have social anxiety which doesn't help either. I really just applied thinking that would be a nice job thinking no chanve would I be even shortlisted.

@MyOh - Be brave, don't cancel. It's so hard doing things outside your comfort zone but you'll feel so great when you've done it. I suffer from social anxiety too so I know how you feel. However the thought is ALWAYS so much worse than the reality. Have a glass of water to hand and a mint (I find sucking a mint helps anxious nausea) and think, yes I can do this!!

Don't cancel! Don't be your own worst judge either. Let the people who want to interview decide. I agree with having a drink to hand, also maybe make some bullet point notes If you might need to.

I have visions of not knowing what to say and mumbling and getting my words mixed up. I really really can't do it. Its the second interview I'll be turning down in the last few months.

DO NOT cancel! You will regret it massively if you do. You can do this.

If you do the interview and make a mess of it, the worst that will happen is you won't get the job.

But if you don't do the interview, you won't get the job either.

I'd bet you don't sound even a BIT as much of an idiot on the phone as you think you do – would you be willing to give yourself the chance of being pleasantly surprised?

What if it went really well?!

Telephone interviews are pretty great, all things considered – you can wear your most confidence-boosting clothes, whether that's your jammies or a superhero costume, you can lie on the floor or pull power poses while you talk...

I'd say go for it – and come on here right beforehand so we can all cheer you on

You won't mumble, just take your time if you think you're stumbling. As @AssassinatedBeauty mentioned, pop some good examples down on a piece of paper as triggers.

I have anxiety too. You will feel so good if you do it. Even if it doesn't go well, it's a great leap forward. Good luck.

Don't cancel. It's your only chance to get a job (most companies will do a first filter this way) so it's well worth a few minutes discomfort for.

Everyone is nervous and a bit weird in telephone interviews, so you'll be just a variation on all the others the interviewer will speak to.

If you don’t do it I think the anxiety would grow if you were in this position again thinking “I couldn’t do it last time” Can you view it as a practice interview? The pluses are you could get a job, if it is bad you will never have to see the person. NHS applications are separate, nothing would be noted about you so you could use the experience for another application. I don’t think cancelling will make you feel great, doing it, knowing you have achieved going through with it will. Completely agree you should come on here for support, there are probably people who could tell you what to expect from the interview.

I'd hate to do this but I'd suggest that you do it anyway! If it goes horribly wrong then it doesn't matter - it'll be no worse than not doing it. You may surprise yourself and it'll be good practice regardless.

Don't cancel.

I hate talking on the phone, it makes me really anxious so when I have to do it at work I have a notepad next to me where I jot down the points I want to make (otherwise I get tounge tied) and I also doodle on it to give my fidgity hands something to do during the call.

Maybe worth a try?

Can you practice doing an interview with someone and do it a few times it really helps.

I really just applied thinking that would be a nice job thinking no chanve would I be even shortlisted.but op you have been shortlisted so this is great!! As I said you should sit down and practice doing an interview with someone. Look through your cv make and have it to hand when doing the phone interview. You can even write down some key phrases on paper and have them ready too.

Also, as a good icebreaker, tell the caller you ARE nervous because you really want the job , and you've not done a telephone interview before.

What sort of job do you do at the moment? Without even realising it I'm sure there are things you do at work currently which will have prepared you for this. You wanted the job, you applied for it, you would be very U to cancel the telephone interview. The way to handle anxiety is to face it. Tough but true.

tell the caller you ARE nervous because you really want the job , and you've not done a telephone interview before

This!

I did a fair bit of hiring over the years and people who were up-front about feeling nervous came across as very emotionally intelligent, responsible and trustworthy.

I also once met a woman who had a series of phone interviews with different companies she applied to – she lined her DC's teddies up on the table in front of her and assigned each voice she could hear to one of the teddies Took some of the fear away!

If you've got a telephone interview, it means they like the look of you as an applicant. That's in your favour already, OP! Don't give up. You will feel so proud of yourself afterwards for going against your anxiety's wishes.

Good luck.

Aaargh! You lot are such great support! ok I'll bloody do it. They'll let me know there and then if I've made it through to the face to face interview stage. A whole other level of scary!

The tips have been so useful. I'll have some water to hand and some key phrases etc and my CV and a notepad to doodle. I get really fidgety when nervous so I think doodling will help too.

goodwinter
I know you say that I've done well to even just get shortlisted for this but I have such negative self talk . Its unreal. My head is telling me that they're calling everyone anyway and I've no chance of getting through.

Good luck OP, so pleased you've decided to do it! You've nothing to lose and everything to gain!

I have this problem with telephone interviews I just fall apart, speak with your gp they might be willing to prescribe you something just to get through the interview, and even if you don’t get the job see it as practice for the next time! I had a panel interview before my anxiety was awful at the time had GAD and I was a wreck mixing my word up going blank but they were really patient and I still got the job!!

in some ways a phone interview is a blessing in disguise. no-one will be able to see you fidgeting, sweating, pulling weird faces or even hugging your teddy if you need to! you can also look at your notes much more easily than in a face-to-face interview, prepare the best you can & have them spread out in front of you to avoid any audible shuffling. even though they won’t be able to see you, get yourself a bit “ready” as it’ll boost your confidence. you could also have a mirror nearby to watch yourself speak, remind yourself to slow down, make yourself remember to smile etc.

good luck!!

When is it? I have crippling anxiety/nerves so my GP prescribed beta blockers. I take them for presentations.
Even if you can't go down that route I second (third?) the advice to tell them you are nervous. It will really help.

donajimena Well I need to call them either tomorrow or Friday. I'm assuming they will do it there and then.

I don't know why but I feel more confident on the phone if I sit in front of a mirror. I feel like I can regulate my expressions and therefore tone of voice more if that makes sense? Have some notes and the job description in front of you and feel free to fiddle with a pen or something if it helps your trail of thought. Good luck!

My tip for important phone conversations that I'm nervous about is to stand up, and SMILE, and also stand in front of a mirror.