To ask how to settle presentation/interview nerves

[mrlistersgelfbride]

See title- I genuinely feel sick with nerves. TMI but I feel like it's affecting my guts and I feel that I need to constantly go to the toilet but can't 🙁
I suffer with anxiety/I'm a worrier. I'm not holding out much hope for the day 😂
but can anyone tell me how best to manage the physical symptoms of nerves?

Know what you're doing. Practise, practise, practise.

Don't be yourself. Play the part of someone just like you who is good at interviews/presentations. Fake it till you make it.

Stand tall. Stretch high. Open your body. Deep breaths.

@MasterBeth Thank you! That's great advice about not being myself. I really identify with it.

I literally script difficult presentations and practice the shit out of it.

Practice. Sit on interview panels on the other side. A brandy (seriously. Works for me )

Me too. I have to run project working groups and then present to Exco members. I treat it like I’m an actor and write everything as a script so I don’t sound so wooden reading from a PowerPoint. I try and think of any questions I might be asked around timeline, budget and tasks so I have answers prepared too. If there’s something I don’t know I just say I don’t have the info to hand and that I’ll take it offline and send through. Seems to work. Everyone thinks I’m confident but really I feel sick doing it.

100% agree with all of this, especially the part about pretending to be someone else. I follow the Beyoncé concept and have an alter ego for presentations!

Other key thing is to start off strong, lead with a strong and hearty morning/afternoon all and a big smile, it'll really get you going and in the right frame of mind and sound like you know what you're talking about, which you do!

Thanks everyone!
I'm going to practise my answers in the car on the way home!
Beyonce is a good persona!

Depends on the severity of the nerves and anxiety. Preparation - and practice, preferably in front of a trusted friend - are essential and should help build your confidence but won't necessarily take away the nerves, if severe. You could ask the doctor for a beta blocker such as propranolol. I've known colleagues who took it and found it helpful. Check if there may be side effects or incompatibilites that mean you shouldn't take it.

Others I've known have a beer or spirits before hand. So long as you are not alcoholic or have other incompatibilities, such as allergy or maybe pregnancy, you could buy a miniature bottle of whiskey or brandy and a glug of that ten minutes beforehand would relax and warm you. You could achieve a similar effect by doing a fast mile run - subject to state of health, fitness etc - which would give you a glow and feeling of confidence from the increased circulation and oxygenation. Anxiety and nervousness constrict the blood vessels and circulation, while the alcohol or intense burst of exercise counteract that effect and give you an enhanced feeling of wellbeing, helping you to perform.

I sing the King George "you'll be back" song out of Hamilton to myself and pretend I'm an arrogant man narcissist who feels completely qualified for the world and doesn't really care about anything more than myself. It makes me temporarily feel confident and assertive which comes in handy sometimes.

Box breathing with your hand on your heart.

holding your tongue behind your front teeth for a few seconds to moisten your mouth.

rescue remedy (basically brandy)

You may not want to go down this route but Propranolol is brilliant for reducing the physical symptoms. It doesn’t address what’s going on cognitively but it works well to break the anxious thoughts - anxiety symptoms - more anxious thoughts cycle.

If I did a fast mile run I would be as red as a beetroot and as sweaty as a horse.

No don’t have alcohol!
If the interviewers haven’t been drinking they will be able to smell it on you. You wouldn’t want to employ someone who appeared to need a drink in the middle of the day.

I do run so I will go for a quick one in the morning.
I don't want to drink alcohol though, I know people actually recommend this but I wouldn't want anyone to be able to smell it!

You have to neutralise the alcohol smell of course. Plenty of ways of doing that: quick rinse with water or mouthwash, plus peppermint, cloves, strong pastilles or a dash of Olbas, etc. But yes, regular exercise is going to help you in managing levels of anxiety generally and before these stressful occasions.

MasterBeth, It happened to me when I went by train to an unfamiliar place for an appointment only to discover it was a mile from the station and there were no buses or taxis and there was nothing for it but to run. So i did and the effect was a revelation. All red and breathless of course but the feeling...you could conquer the world with that.

You haven't seen me run!

It's gotten worse tonight. I've practised so much but can't get words out. I'm tearful and shaky and have a knot in my stomach 😞 in so close to cancelling tomorrow. An interview is not worth this. Should I cancel?

You can do this!

How much do you want the job?

I love your user name btw. I’ve just rewatched the entire series!

@BillStickersIsInnocent I do really want the job!
Ah thank you 🤓 big red dwarf fan here! I wish I could watch them tonight to help me relax!

Good luck OP! I completely understand. I have an interview on Thursday and feel exactly the same. I'm terrified. I'm the worst interviewee imaginable. Dry mouth, racing heart, can't get my words out. I keep telling myself I don't want the job and the stress is too much and maybe I should just cancel. I'm going to do it though. I need to face my fears. Even if it's a total car crash, at least I'd have tried. I have to read a case presentation when I arrive and then present for 10 mins, as well as a 1 HR 20 min interview 😱