Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can’t bring myself to my interview even though I really want the job

31 replies

Htread · 17/08/2021 10:22

I’ve got an interview over Zoom at 2pm. I’ve basically prepared for 4 days (not all in one go, and maybe 4 hours per day). It’s my first time applying for a role such as this and part of me feels as if I don’t have enough experience anyway.

I was up bright and early practicing questions this morning but am now laying in bed wanting to cancel it :(

I work full time atm, in a low ish paid job. This job I am applying for is a progression from what I am doing now (same company) and will enable me to go onto very highly paid jobs in the future.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I always cancel interviews but usually days before. It will look terrible to cancel now. I feel like crying, I think it will be horrendous and I won’t be able to answer anything

I am not happy in my current job, and I’d love this job. This stage always makes me want to cry though.

Waiting another 4 hours is just going to make me nervous

What do I do in the meantime

OP posts:
SprogletsMum · 17/08/2021 10:25

Go and do something completely absorbing, whatever you like to do that takes you away completely.
I suffer with severe anxiety and the only thing to do with things like this is to do it anyway. Feel the fear, accept it, tell yourself you're wrong and you can do it, then do it. It's so hard but you can do it and doing it is the first step to conquering it.

Hoppinggreen · 17/08/2021 10:27

Come on OP, you can do this.
The worst possible scenario is that you don’t get the job and nothing changes but imagine if you DO get it?
What can you do for the next 4 hours to distract yourself?
Come back later and tell us how it went but please please don’t cancel

HumunaHey · 17/08/2021 10:27

Do you have a full day off? If so, watch a film to take your mind off things then spend an hour before the interview doing last minute prep. Just do something to distract yourself for a while instead of tying yourself in knots. Don't let fear get the better off you. Once the interview actually starts you'll be fine.

Good luck!

changeyourname11111 · 17/08/2021 10:29

Just do it. My current job I am in I was convinced I hadn’t done well at the interview, only to be called later that day and offered the job.

Best of luck Flowers.

Sarahlou63 · 17/08/2021 10:29

Absorb yourself in this list and try to work out which ones you're using - Fortune Telling should be easy!

maryandhersheep · 17/08/2021 10:30

Go for a long walk and clear your head. When you come back you'll be ready to go for it. The thought of something is always worse than the reality, once you've started the interview, you'll surprise yourself I bet! Good luck!

Roundearth · 17/08/2021 10:30

oh do it ! the worst outcome would be that you didn't get it (and you wouldn't anyway if you didn't attend) so you gave absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain!

LadyDanburysHat · 17/08/2021 10:32

You've had some great advice already. Don't let the anxiety and possible imposter syndrome stop you. You can do this. We believe in you, so believe in yourself.

ElizabethTudor · 17/08/2021 10:32

You can do it Op. You’ve done all the prep, now you just need to have the chat with them. They’re not ogres, they just want to find out about you.
As for the next few hours.
Go for a long walk and listen to a podcast.
Come back and clean your house for an hour.
Then have a bath and get ready for your interview.
That should waste enough time.
THEN SMASH IT!!!
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

MedusasBadHairDay · 17/08/2021 10:32

I read something a while back about how men apply for jobs if they hit something like 60% of the criteria, and women won't apply unless they hit 90%. So don't be so harsh on yourself OP, take a chance.

Beelzebop · 17/08/2021 10:34

Go for it OP! Think how amazing you'll feel after, having managed to do it!

TheStirrer · 17/08/2021 10:34

Head out for a walk or tidy some drawers. You have prepared really well so I suggest you let them know you are a bit nervous and see it as a learning curve. You might not get this job ( but you just might after all your hard work!) but you will be more prepared for future interviews. Wishing you best of luck.

SMaCM · 17/08/2021 10:34

If you don't interview, you won't get the job, so what's the worst that can happen if you do interview? Try and calm down, take the pressure off yourself and just see how it goes. If you don't get it, it doesn't matter.

TrueRefuge · 17/08/2021 10:34

Do you know what? I'd have a really good cry now, get it out your system! Then as others have said, do something really distracting to take you to 15 mins before interview; run/walk with podcast, shower, prep dinner, play a game on your phone/watch a shortish film....

Then go to the interview and whatever is meant to be will be.

Good luck OP, were all rooting for you!

custardbear · 17/08/2021 10:34

You've
Clearly done a lot of work so you're prepared.
You say you've less experience than a job requires but that's normal, who does a job they know inside and out - they progress.
Remind yourself of those things you can do, and perhaps remind yourself how you'd rise to challenges you perhaps have
Limited experience with but have got transferable skills.
Have a coffee or tea now, and just let those things you can do drift into your brain, forget about what you can't do, that you can get from colleagues as you learn the new job
Above all do a superhero pose in the mirror - apparently it helps 😉
GOOD LUCK !

Roselilly36 · 17/08/2021 10:35

It’s normal to feel nervous, interviews usually fill people with nerves, the interviewers will be used to that.

If you want the job, the only way to get it, is by attending the interview, and I mean that kindly OP.

My advice would be to try to distract yourself until the interview, you have done your prep, you will be fine. Do a task that will focus your mind, baking, art, word search, watch a film, box set, go for a walk in the fresh air, ring a friend, whatever you enjoy.

Usually anything we dread, is down to the anticipation, the actual event is never as scary as you think it will be.

Good luck, keeping 🤞for you.

OverweightPidgeon · 17/08/2021 10:37

Go for the interview, please don’t cancel, they obviously think you can do it otherwise you wouldn’t have been invited to the interview in the first place!
Go for a walk or deep clean your house - anything to stop you overthinking.
You’ve got nothing to lose - he who dares wins Rodney !!

Northernsoullover · 17/08/2021 10:37

I applied for a job waaay above my experience. I am qualified but not experienced. Well they must have seen something they liked because I only went and got it. I was terrified too. I did admit to being a little bit nervous () I think that helped.

plodalong12 · 17/08/2021 10:42

Go for it OP. To be honest, if you suffer with this level of anxiety, this might be the BEST time to interview, at least you’re in your own territory, surrounded by your own home comforts and familiarity, and not face-to-face in a possibly busy workplace staring down an interviewer, or an interview panel.

Divebar2021 · 17/08/2021 10:46

In the nicest possible way are you planning on spending your whole life running away from things you’re nervous of?

Zealois · 17/08/2021 10:47

You can so it OP. Break the cycle of cancelling now.

Distract yourself beforehand and do some breathing exercises in the minutes before the interview. You've done the prep, you know what to say - you just need to go in and have a chat with them now!

The worst that can happen is that you don't get the job - which is the same outcome as not attending the interview. The best that can happen is that you do!

Whycangirlsbesonasty · 17/08/2021 10:54

Fake it until you make it. Go in there pretending to be the confident, competent, smiley person you want to be (and are, underneath the panic). Get past the ‘oh dear god what did I get myself into, I can’t do this, I’m shit’ which pretty much everyone who ever applies for a job feels, put a smile on your face go in there and fake not being nervous. There will be cringey things that you say, there will be aqwkward pauses, you will take shite sometimes. This happens to me every time (and I am very good at interviews…).

TLKlover · 17/08/2021 10:58

It's hard but the job I'm in now before the interview I'd prepared loads but something inside me just felt calm on the day and I focused on everything but the interview until about half an hour before.

I think because I was so relaxed it helped me think clearer and answer the questions properly.

They even joked with me at the end.

Before this I had done 4 interviews for similar roles & my nerves went haywire & I couldn't get my head round it.

Do something you love - read, catch up on some TV shows, dance around the living room, whatever makes you happy and then get your interview head on.

You'll be fine & if all else fails, you still have your current job and may get a chance at it again but with experience of interviewing for it.

Good Luck 👍

Original poster
Htread · 17/08/2021 16:45

Thanks everyone Smile I did it!

I messed up the last question and I don’t think I’m impressed at all... and had to have a nap after haha but I did it

OP posts:
plodalong12 · 17/08/2021 16:46

@Htread

Thanks everyone Smile I did it!

I messed up the last question and I don’t think I’m impressed at all... and had to have a nap after haha but I did it

YAY! Well done OP please keep us informed when you hear back, so glad you didn’t cancel or purposely miss it