Really low after failed interviews

[Abitlosttoday]

I had another interview yesterday and it didn't go well. This time it was civil service but most of the interviews I have had over the past THREE years have been NHS. I think it's been about 13 altogether. I have literally lost count. I leave each one feeling humiliated. The stakes are higher now because I am up for redundancy. I put everything into these interviews. I have spent the week rehearsing answers out loud, doing mock interviews, researching the organisation. This one was remote so I had loads of notes around my screen. I feel very tearful and desperate, really. Someone asked me afterwards what the questions were but I can never recall them all. I go into a daze. I have tried propranolol, exercise right before, some coaching. I have even had a glass of wine before a remote interview.
The feedback has never been helpful. I am usually holding back tears when they call and nobody seems prepared to give solid written feedback. What can I do from here? It's almost like a phobia at this point. One positive is that I pretty much always get an interview. I am a good application writer, a really good one, but I am just sentencing myself to one awful interview experience after another. My confidence is rock bottom and I am wondering whether I need to do something completely different because I can't get these jobs and I have two kids to support.

I am in the civil service and find a lot of people don’t fully follow the STAR approach. Too much time on the situation, and not enough action and result. Also many don’t ensure their example fits all the indicators for that behaviour. We never spend long on feedback to be honest, as there’s just not enough time when you’re interviewing multiple people and have to get the results in to HORC deadline. Maybe look at the examples you’re giving. Are they high level enough to the grade you’re applying for. Are you seeing the bigger picture, eg impact on wider organisations of your situation. Good luck, it’s not easy when you’re under pressure.

OP can you try the private sector - their interview process tends to be less of a slog.

I personally hate the STAR method bollocks, for me it’s really false; you are basically telling a rehearsed story. It just never suited me personally.

I’ve done much better in less structured interviews where my personality was able to come out more.

Could you try applying for similar roles in the private sector?

It doesn’t mean you “failed” the interview if someone else gets the job, it just means they were better in some way, which might not be interview style at all.

why aren’t you applying to private companies too?

Have you considered hypnotherapy? I’ve worked with people with this kind of anxiety and it’s been really effective to break the link between anxiety and performance.

Me neither, and in fact I decided a few years ago not to bother applying for any CS jobs. I just cannot be bothered. I am a very competent employee, but I don't actually think STAR helps that come through.

I think it’s probably showing that your confidence is low and perhaps the anxiety you’re feeling is squashing your personality. If you’re able to, give yourself a break from interviews themselves but invest in some interview coaching.

so much comes down to personality and team fit- I’d tend to employ a lesser qualified/experienced person who I felt had potential and the right soft skills/personality. I look for signs of resilience, flexibility, humour, humility and a positive attitude as the key boxes to tick. These can all be demonstrated within the STAR approach if skilled at interviewing.

Hi I'm in the Civil Service and the interviews can be tricky. If you are under threat of redundancy it's worth contacting your local jobcentre as they may have help available to coach you through the interviews via a short course. You would have to tell them about your redundancy to be eligible.

Also look up Smartworks who are an organisation who specialise in interview coaching for women. They offer a virtual service if they don't have a centre local to you.

I think my examples are good but my delivery is shit, and yes, I maybe don't spend enough time speaking about results. I am fully starred up though. One of the interviewers actually said in the interview yesterday that my first example was very good. However, I stalled shortly after. Still cringing.