Interviews - how not to avoid them!?????

SouthernBelle

Active member
Hi there, Im 29 and (obviously suffer from SA)
The past 2 interviews i have submitted my CV with all good intentions, but then the night before i get so anxious i make myself feel sick and then i make up an excuse not to go in the morning....

the last time i did that (a couple of months back), i ended up having a 'setback' for a month and feeling really depressed for getting myself into such a state of worry and beating myself up for not going...

Any helpful tips on how NOT to avoid Interviews and get through the door?

thanks!
 

black_mamba

Well-known member
I'd suggest 3 things:

1) Prepare as much as possible for potential questions they may ask you. If you're prepared, you're more likely to feel ready for the whole event.

2) Practice speaking with a friend, get them to ask you typical interview questions.

3) Beta blockers. I guess you need to speak to a doctor for those. 8O

I rarely do #2 because it makes me nervous ( :lol: ) but I always do 1 and 2 now, it helps a lot.
 
black_mamba: 8O :) :lol: :lol: Wonder if I read that the way you meant it...

SouthernBelle: Preparation is key, but also know that you aren't the first nervous person that a hiring manager has seen... Years ago I managed a retail store and had to do interviews (sometimes I think I was as nervous to have to interview the person as they were to be interviewed :oops: ), and it was rare to speak to someone who wasn't nervous. Of course, the self-confident ones freaked me out so they usually didn't get the job :lol:

One thing I do whenever possible: pick out an outfit that feels soft against the skin and makes you feel good. It's comforting, sort of like the favorite blanket or stuffed animal you probably had as a kid. It helps me anyway...

One other thing to practice that is very, very important: the handshake. Practice that with your friends to be sure it is firm, but not a death grip, and keep it brief. Such a little thing, but it leaves a big impression and somehow knowing that you have a good handshake also increases your confidence in yourself.

As for making yourself go through the door, is there a special treat you could promise to indulge yourself in after the interview, to reward yourself for making it through? Ice cream always works for me :wink:

Good luck and keep us posted, 'k?
 

young

Well-known member
black_mamba said:
I rarely do #2 because it makes me nervous ( :lol: ) but I always do 1 and 2 now, it helps a lot.

Not me.. I do number 2 a few times a day. It really cleans out the ol' colon. I do 1 more If I drink a lot of liquid during the day...


For interviews they are kinda tricky. And that's the way they are supposed to be to route out all the bad hires. When I had an interview a few years back, was actually when my anxiety got worse.

A piece of advice would be to be yourself. Relax as hard as that sounds. But you got too. Remember you don't have anything to lose. Since you're looking for a job. Try and get a prepared as you can. Think of questions that they may ask. Google up interviews. I'm sure there are some faqs here.

And if worse comes to worse, and you bomd the interview. Learn from it. All the things that stumped you. Write down. So you can better interview the next time.
 
Have someone go with you and wait in the car while you interview. Carry some bottled water with you in case you get a dry mouth. Also carry some ricola cough drops in case of an itchy throat.
 

SouthernBelle

Active member
Thank you

I will try all of these things..............EEK........its so easy to say yet so hard to do isnt it..........I just dont wanna let myself down and avoid it all together you know? Thats worse than doing it badly!
I have prepared in the past, know what questions will come up (im an executive assistant), but find it hard to focus in the actual interview, like, i know the answers, but am so 'frozen' i cant get them out..........i hear Neuro Linguistic programming helps with this.......maybe i should try that in the future

Thanks for all the support, xx
 
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