To think I can’t do the interview

[Eviebear9]

I applied for a job that I’m very interested in and have been contacted about an interview that will be on Friday. I would love the job but I let myself down in interviews and I don’t think I can do it. I get anxious, stumble on my words, don’t say the things I prepared to say, everything just goes wrong and I mess up. I just don’t think I can do it. Aibu to cancel?

Definitely do not cancel, you really have nothing to lose, if it goes great well it was meant to be and if it doesn't just put it down to experience, good luck 🤞

You can do it!

my top tip is allowing space for you to think of your reply. You can say something like “oh great question, let me think about that for a sec” pause, deep breath and answer.

If you cancel you definately don't get the job.

If you do it, there is a chance you get the job and you get further experience doing interviews.

This is just the scared bit of your brain talking. Logically, you know it's right to do the interview - which is why you applied for the job and why you are questioning your instinct to cancel here.

Do not cancel! If you go to the interview you stand a chance of getting the job.
If you cancel there is no chance at all.

Don't cancel. Then you've definitely got no chance.

Go, take a few deep breaths before you start and don't let yourself panic

Better to try and potentially not get it than not try and definitely not get it

Rope every person you can into help you to interview prep. Practise practise practise your responses and it’ll help overcome some of those nerves and you will have rehearsed answers.

And go to the interview, the worst that can happen is you don’t get it (and you also won’t get it by not going).

When you walk in, let the interviewers know you are a bit nervous in interview scenarios and that you’d appreciate their patience as you’re really excited about the opportunity.

Write down the interview question you’re asked before you answer it, and let them know you’re doing it so you don’t forget the question, but it buys you a few seconds before you need to start answering to collect your thoughts.

But honestly, practising interview questions is the BEST way to feel prepared and it helps rewire your brain to stop it thinking the interview is a new, scary, high stakes situation - instead it’s just what you’ve been doing every day with a small variation.

The worse that can happen is you don’t get the job, which you won’t anyway if you forfeit the interview.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a notebook in with you, with a few notes in it of things you really want to say. You can also write down key words from their questions to ensure you cover what they’re asking for in your answers. It’s normal to be nervous, and it’s fine to take your time answering. Good luck, you can do it! Anything that may go wrong you can learn from xx

I agree. Don't cancel it. If you go for it you have a chance, if you cancel you have no chance.

If you don't feel comfortable saying 'give me a moment to think', have a bottle of water handy and take a sip slowly. That gives you a moment to think without it being so obvious. I've gone through nearly a litre of water in an interview before now.

Also, from the other side of the table, being the interviewer isn't easy, so they will be concentrating on your answers more than any of the surround.

You have been offered an interview, so they obviously think you are worth the time talking to. Have confidence, you can do it 💪

And if you don’t get it, you’ve had one more official ‘practise’.

Depending on how small your sector is, I’d also recommend maybe putting yourself in an interview scenario a few times a year and applying for jobs you might like but no problem if you don’t get them.

The way to overcome it is by taking the fear and panic out of the situation, which you can only do by letting your brain realise it’s not a life or death situation so doesn’t require a fight or flight response. And making it familiar and low stakes is the best way to do that, or at least it has been for me.

Come on, you can do it, positive mental attitude! Most people get nervous at interviews, take a breath before answer the question, take a few simple notes or keywords on a pad next to you do you can refer to them, make sure you have questions for the panel, think of it as just a conversation with some weird questions!

I hate interviews as well and I've nearly talked myself out of going to one - on the day as well. On the way there I was actually hoping for a minor accident that meant I had to cancel 😳

I still fluffed an answer and then remembered what I should have said when the interviewer responded - I'm sure I looked like a twit but they gave me the job anyway.

If it goes badly you'll never see these people ever again so it doesn't matter, that's what I tell myself. Best of luck OP

I totally sympathise @Eviebear9 I’m in the same position!! Only I’ve not even applied yet - it’s internal and I know I’ll get through to interview stage though.

What always stops me is that I am so bad at interviews my brain shuts down and my mouth just babbles with a shaky voice while I’m trying to stop myself having a panic attack.

In normal circumstances I am an excellent relaxed speaker, have to present to my exec board every month telling them what I’ve found they’re doing wrong - and I do it with confidence >> yet I cannot do an interview!

I am like this in interviews and I hate it, but, still go for the interview, prepare as much as you can, and practice answers to potential questions. Can you ask if you can have the questions written down for you during the interview? This has really helped me to stay focused previously. Good luck!

Congratulations on getting the interview, if you really want the job prep for the interview- Google techniques, practice talking through your cv and experience, and also approach it as you meeting them to find out if it is really right for you.

Nerves are part of life...preparing can really help. There is a great podcast called how to own the room which has top tips from famous women on how they approach tricky moments and other nerve masterclasses... vivgroskop.com/how-to-own-the-room-podcast/

It's free have a listen

Don't cancel. Something must have made you apply for it and your application must be good to be offered an interview.
I was like you but found preparation and practicing answers to questions really helpful.
Write down what questions you think you will.be asked, tbhnk about the answer also write that down then practice out loud time and again.
If it's a competence or skill based interview it's quite easy to think of questions just go through everything they asked for in the advert and prepare an answer try and think of two examples for each skill they ask for you won't need everything but if you know you are prepared you will feel better.
Also practice an answer to general questions like why did you apply for the job etc.
Also I found even if the exact answers you have practiced don't come you will normally be able to use what you have prepared in some way
If you feel confident enough (I never have done) ask a friend to mock interview you.
The more you practice answering though even if just to yourself the better you will feel.
Finally rescue remedy is helpful. Just before the interview.
Good luck, you can do this

Practice your examples out loud all week.

Get a small notebook to take in. Write the main points of your examples down in bullets. One example per page. Read it before you reply.

Have 2 or 3 'spare' examples at the ready in case they are needed.

Interviews are horrible. No one likes them.

I have a tendency to ramble in interviews and over explain, so for competency based questions I would explain in too much detail about what my role was before going into the STAR system. Earlier this year I applied for a job that I really should have got, I got to the interview stage but was unsuccessful. The job was advertised again recently and I really had a think about competency examples and pared them right down to basic information. This stopped the rambling. I was a bit worried that the examples would come across too basic but I got the job. So Keep It Simple and Good Luck!

I hate interviews and I'm bad at them. But if its a job you really want you have to try! Hopefully your passion for the job will shine through and even if you don't get it its hopefully a useful experience for next time? Good luck :)

Definitely don't cancel - but do spend every moment you have thinking about, and (most importantly) practicing saying, answers to common/potential interview questions. Try to think of good examples of your work that might have relevant points across different questions (e.g. things that show leadership skills, communication etc - depending on what is relevant for the role), and practice talking about it (out loud), and what your role was.

I'm going for an interview this morning and feel the exact same. They wouldn't have shortlisted you for interview if your experience and skill didn't match the role so the fact you have been offered an interview shows they thing you are capable of the job.

I was falling in the hole of seeing so many scary interview questions online and im nervous about thinking on my feet and saying something stupid so I seen online to use chat GPT. So Google chat gpt and type in "I have applied for x job at x company. This is the job spec (paste job spec).
Please create 10 interview questions"
Once it created the questions I could easily answer all of them and they were so specific to the job role. It may not be what is asked in practice but has given me a lot of confidence about my abilities.

Thank you everyone for your lovely advice. This is all so helpful. It’s been a while since I’ve had an interview. I will just try my best and like you have said it’s good practice too if I don’t end up getting the job.

@Beseen22 good luck for your interview this morning!

I’ve interviewed people a lot. LOADS of people stumble, freeze, ramble… so don’t think you’re the only one or that you’ll stand out particularly for that! If you freeze or realise you’ve rambled right off, try to smile and say, “I’m sorry - I’m feeling a bit nervous, can I just start that answer again please?”

Do not imagine that everyone else is super slick and acting like a TV presenter!

If I’m recruiting you to put you in charge of communicating with a hard nut customer, I might think you’re the right fit. For pretty much every other role - I’ll try to make you feel more comfortable during the interview, and not assume you’ll be like this all the time!

Go for it - however it goes, the practice is worth it!

Have a look at this thread and see if propranolol might work for you. It stops the symptoms of panic attacks and doesn't leave you with a drugged or drunk feeling so lots of people use it for one off big events like interviews/presentations.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4902308-propranolol-presentation#:~:text=I%20would%20try%20it%20out,in%20turn%20calms%20you%20down.