Being the first interviewee

[Clue1ess]

I have been invited to an interview and I have seen the interview schedule. Knowing that I am the first to be interviewed has already put me off from attending. Is it true that interviewers place candidates in order of preference with the best candidate last to be interviewed?

I have had interviews but they are always followed by rejection. Feedback is usually that I did great but they need someone who can hit the ground running (I have been out of work for a while)

I know I should attend and add it to my interview experience but my confidence is shattered and the fear of rejection is making me not want to attend. Even if I do attend the interview, I feel that being first has already negatively impacted my confidence walking into the interview.

Am I over thinking this?

In the nicest possible way - you are totally overthinking it! It is categorically not true that the candidates are scheduled in order of preference. It's usually just random or if somebody lives far away they get put later.

Think about it this way - going first has advantages because the interview panel are fresh.

Can you do a mock interview with somebody, even if it's just a partner or a friend? I think that's the very best way to prepare for an interview.

I've never scheduled interviews in order of preference, people get slotted in where it's most convenient for us in the first instance, and for them. If I were to schedule by preference, I'd probably put the most promising candidates first to see if I could just hire them straight off and save myself a bit of time (our company is always in a disastrous rush)! Don't cancel, relax and go for it!