Crap at interviews. How can I improve?

[LemonLime374]

I really want to move up to the next grade in my sector but am being seriously hindered by my habit of drying up in interviews, forgetting everything I've prepared, etc.

Finally managed to get an interview for a job I wanted (not easy in the current climate, employers in my sector are tightening their belts and not recruiting) and honestly I was shit. Totally lost my trail a few times and looked really stupid. Made worse by the fact that this was an internal job and I might bump into these people again around the place 😭

This isn't the first time this has happened to me.

How can I improve? It's not lack of preparation, it's nerves and an inability to think on my feet in that sort of situation. I even had loads of notes blutacked around my screen (the interview was remote) but still forgot all my examples.

I did tons of research! Internal post so I already know the organisation. Plus writing down STAR examples to illustrate relevant skills. My problem is nerves getting the better of me in the moment. My brain seems to freeze and I can't think on my feet. It's like a kind of stage fright.

Don't use ChatGPT to form and trot out your verbal answers. Interviewers are seeing more of it and it really doesn't go down well (IME anyway).

It sounds silly but be yourself, believe in your skills. You know you're capable. Someone else said treat it like a conversation and practice as much as you can.

I am completely the same. I got some help from a friend and the useful tips were.

Use star - that really helped me.

Prepare examples but the key thing was - read them out loud. This really helped me. You may think you have them straight in your head but when they come out verbally they don't sound the same!

I also spoke to others internally at the level you are going for - I had never thought to do it but company saw it as a positive proactive thing to do.

Their advice was don't talk about what you can do - you are internal they know that. Persuade them you can do the bits you don't do now.

Also - another piece of advice I got - examples don't have to be work related. Think of things in your personal life that relate to key competancies.

Eg I was going for a first time manager role and I have a ND child - this could be an example of adapting communication and leadership styles to manage different personalities.

Sorry and the last thing I did - instead of sitting a star example to each question they may ask I took scenarios - starred them and then made a list of questions it could apply to. This was as a lot of my example fell under more than 1 category and I didn't want to always end up referring back to same example.

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky thank you! You've given me lots to think about there.

I used to get terrible nerves and interview poorly. What seemed to fix it was going into an interview for a job I wasn't 100% sure I wanted and approaching it like I was interviewing them as much as they me and if I didn't fancy it it was good practice. It transformed the whole thing into a 2 way conversation, I got the reassurance I wanted that the culture was good and they got reassurance that I was a competent person who knew what I was talking about. No problems since.

Ditch the sticky notes, I can feel old interview me getting all flustered at the thought. You just need to know what you're talking about. Practice giving your answers while you're driving alone in the car.

@LemonLime374 I know - applying for jobs internally seems to be seen as such a private thing so it really took me out of my comfort zone. I basically spoke to people in the same lead role in other teams and just asked for tips - how they approached the role. Things to think about. Interview tips.

Also spoke to a senior manager a couple of levels up.

It may depend on company culture but impression I got was that it was viewed negatively if you hadn't done that.

I advised the OP to use Chat GPT to generate questions not answers. I’ve found it to be accurate in that respect.

Fair point, I was thinking more of the output.

@AgnesX @HateMyNewJobSoMuch don't worry, I get it! Wouldn't dream of using it for answers - as I said earlier, I've seen the results and it's obvious when people have used it for that.

Power poses and screaming silently to yourself in the toilets to take some of the nervous energy away. I also get spun out by interviews and this has helped.

Also not trying to match answers to questions before the interview. Have various good examples which could fit different questions and choose which one fits best in the interview. This helped me to think broader during the interview instead of panicking that my customer example didn't fit the customer question etc.

I get really nervous at interviews too, and have had some terrible ones in the past.

Honestly, what helped me most was taking a beta blocker (Propranolol) beforehand for the anxiety! I did this at my most recent interview, and was amazed how much difference it made. It stops the physical symptoms of anxiety (sweating/shaking/fast heart rate) - but what I didn't expect was that because I didn't physically feel anxious, it changed my attitude to the interview questions. I think because I didn't feel "under threat" I saw the questions as genuine enquiries, and was able to answer as a normal person!

Might be worth a try if you don't have any medical conditions that make beta blockers a problem.

If you're offered a glass of water, take it. Then take a drink if you get stuck, to give yourself a few moments to think.

Now this is the advice I am here for!

Did you get it from.your GP?

I really think this could be a winner. It's like a kind of awful stage fright that I don't get in any other situation, even presenting to a large group. It has really held me back over the years (not every time, sometimes I've done ok and I do have a job somehow)

I just googled and it can be prescribed for anxiety, so presumably one-off anxious situations too. I am.on blood pressure meds which may rule me out but I am going to explore this as an option with my GP, nothing to be lost by filling in a contact form. Thanks for the tip @StellaAndCrow

We've started sharing interview questions 48 hours in advance to enable each candidate the chance to prepare if they wish. Worth asking if they would do this?

Practice with a couple of friend over Zoom. Find two people and do two Mock Interviews.
Keep them as real and as formal as possible.
You can even record them. Honestly, you won't be half as bad as you think.
If you can't answer something say 'I wonder could we come back to that question later as I lost my train of thought' . That just shows that although you are anxious you are still in command as such.

I always ask for the interview questions in advance and it's really interesting to see the response - it actually helps me decide whether it's a company I would want to work for.

My reasoning for asking is that it helps me prepare. In the same way that if I was invited to a meeting I would expect to see the meeting agenda in advance so that I could prepare too.

Some companies will not share the questions because they perhaps see it as cheating?

Some companies willingly share the questions because they want you to do well, to show the best of yourself.

OP, I completely sympathise. I had the biggest, most promising job interview of my life on Friday and I think I messed it up. I feel I walked in there as their top candidate, and left as their last choice! I can’t stop cringing.

I hope you find ways of gaining confidence and giving interviews your very best shot. I think my only hope is to hire a lookalike to do the interview for me 😂 😭

I’m terrible in interviews. I get nervous, I sweat and I either don’t say enough or worry about saying too much. One of my friends reminded me that I was interviewing them as much as they were interviewing me, I was seeing if the job was suited to what I want. It changed my way of thinking a bit and took the pressure off. My current boss (of ten years) told me that I interview terribly but my knowledge, passion and experience was obvious so they offered me the job. Good luck OP, I hope you find the right place for you.

I interview terribly too. I never thought I could get beta blockers for interview nerves. Remembering that for next time.

I'd caution against blue-tacking notes around your screen, as interviewers can spot it a mile off and it just makes you look like a rabbit caught in headlights as your wide eyes desperately dart from one note to the other. Far better to pause and think about a good answer (which comes from being prepared).

Ive carried out many Teams interviews this year and my heart always sinks when I see this.

I was prepared! I was ultra prepared and always am. My issue is always nerves, not lack of preparation, which makes my mind go totally blank in the moment. I'm going to explore beta blockers as suggested by a PP as this has held me back all my adult life. The stupid thing is I can present to a room of people no problem.

I had 1/4 of a beta blocker before my interview. I like how they stop the physical symptoms of nerves (like the weird, reedy, cracking voice, and racing heart) but I still bombed. 😂