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.

One thing to remember - they want you to do well.

People think interviewers are trying to catch you out or trip you up. The opposite is true nice done a LOT of interviews from the other side and trust me, we want you to do well. I want each person who walks in to do well and be the one I want to hire. I'm willing them on in my head.

Also it might help if you read the job desc again and write down some short answers or examples of relevant experience to some of the duties, also have the dreaded questions (what can you bring to this role/why do you think this role will be suitable etc) written down ie I would bring my experience of xyz and I think it would be transferable to this role etc. Good luck.

OP, will you let us know when you're about to do it so we can cheer you on? And then immediately once it's done?!

Good luck!!!!

Definitely don’t cancel. What’s the worst that can happen? You do horribly and don’t get the job. You’re no worse off than now then. So might as well go for it!

I applied for a job last month, I’m on maternity leave and have hardly had an intelligent adult conversation in a year. I nearly fainted when they asked me for an interview (I also had to do a presentation on a requested topic, which is standard for interviews in my field). The interview actually went pretty badly (or so I thought!). But they offered me the job. And it’s a very significant promotion over my previous role.

I’m now so glad I did it even though it was terrifying.

Be brave. You got this. The beauty of a phone interview is that you can keep your crib notes to hand. But try to relax, listen carefully to the interviewer, pause to collect your thoughts before answering and you’ll soon find you won’t need them. And even if you don’t get the job, every interview is good practice for the next. Good luck!

What Shinyme said- stand up for the call. You will sound more authoritative straight away.
Good luck!

Do not cancel! Do the interview and see what happens - you might get the job! And if you don’t, or if you do make a total tit of yourself, you can look at it and say well next time I won’t say that, what could I say instead? (I speak from experience - first job interview in 10 yrs last month, rambled and waffled and just didn’t do very well, but I came out and wrote down the questions they asked and came up with better answers for next time. Unsurprisingly, I did not get the job.)

Every time you step out of your comfort zone, it gets a little bit bigger. Do it! And good luck.

I have done interviews over the phone. They will be just as nervous as you! I doubt it’ll go straight into hard questions but rather a quick chat from both sides to break the ice. Trust me, if they were going to laugh at you then it would have been at cv stage (I’ve seen some corkers!), but you’ve passed that. Well done! I have the same issue with word garbage. It’s really embarrassing sometimes. But remember it’s ok to pause, drink some water. Repeat the question if you need some thinking Time. Go through some practice questions beforehand so there are no surprises. Also try and convince yourself it’s a chat with an old friend and try and get into the flow.

You’ll be fine. Interviews suck but the jobs I’ve succesfully got I messed up the interviews. First one I got lost and had to turn up late (and flustered and sweaty), second one had a test and I failed at the very first part so couldn’t get any further. Scary at the time but I obviously made some sort of impression. 2nd one I got in touch after and said the test wasn’t indicative of my skills and could I have another chance!
My point - even if it goes horribly wrong, it may still be fine.

I think phone interviews are nicer than in person interviews, actually. As long as you feel prepared (think of answers to common questions in advance like ‘why should we hire you’ etc - search online for common questions) you’ll feel more comfortable. Do your best to stay calm and collected, take time to think about the questions if you need. Think of it as a practice run before a in person interview where there may be multiple interviewers and they can see your appearance etc - in some ways an in person interview could be more intense.

As far as your voice, they’ll be hearing it anyway in person so it’s nothing you need to keep secret. I’m sure the interviewer feels like they sound weird over the phone too - everyone does when hearing their voice from another perspective - it sounds distorted to the person, but normal to everyone else!

They use telephone interviews to further shortlist candidates, you can imagine some NHS roles can be very popular to where it’s impossible to interview everyone in person. Hence it’s important to further narrow candidates down. The interviewer will have probably carried out phone interviews 100s of times before, so they’re not personally honing in and judging every aspect of you, it’s just a routine task for them (asking the same set questions etc).

Good luck! Much better to give it a go and fail, than not give it a go and never know. I bet you'll pass with flying colours!

Night before last I applied for five jobs. But that was with my CV and now there if them have sent me forms to complete. I'm very form-phobic and haven't even opened them. I should take a leaf out of your book

Yes, definitely accept the telephone interview, MyOh !

I get very nervous too, and have quite crippling social anxiety, so I do understand how you feel. I have done a telephone interview too, and found it got easier once I got going. The anticipation was worse than the experience itself.

I also had a face-to-face job interview on Monday. I was so nervous I was skulking in the entry foyer downstairs beforehand, literally wringing my hands and trying to psych myself up to get in the lift. This woman entered the building and walked to the lifts, and then said to me "Are you perthmom, here for your interview" !! I was so shocked and embarrassed but admitted that it was indeed me. Totally threw me for the remainder of the interview and I felt I'd done terribly as I was so nervous. BUT..... I GOT THE JOB!!!! I am still getting over the shock!

So I just wanted to show that even looking like an awkward nervous wreck did not spoil my chances, and you should definitely go for it.

Please report back on how you go, and very best of luck x

Please don't cancel. You'll be fine - you really will. Write prompts and notes to yourself on stickies and have a few dry runs just talking to yourself. Get yourself a cup of tea for the interview and relax. The interviewer could very well be nervous themselves! take a breath and be brave. X

When is the interview OP?

I pulled out. Sorry. I couldn't do it. It was too overwhelming. I feel so relieved but angry at myself and sad.

It’s ok OP, anxiety is so horrible