Any tips for interview nerves?

falko89

Just back for another interview and it certainly does't get any easier the more you have, for me I am a nervous wreck, I have social anxiety anyway which doesn't help.

For me from the moment I am invited for the interview its all I can think about, I run through all the possible scenarios in my head, and I've got a host of witty answers lined up for all possible questions, come the interview day while excited that this may be my chance of escaping hell I am a nervous wreck.

Come the interview all that I have ran over in my head for days prior is of little use as my mind goes blank I get that nervous, I end up stuttering, words come out back to front, my brain just refuses to work, I end up looking like a blubbering fool.

Once the interview's over a wave of fatigue sweeps over me as I've been that worked up by it all.

So as I say I really need to sort out my interview nerves as what I have been doing in the past is not working.

Mista_C

falko89 wrote: »

Just back for another interview and it certainly does't get any easier the more you have, for me I am a nervous wreck, I have social anxiety anyway which doesn't help.

For me from the moment I am invited for the interview its all I can think about, I run through all the possible scenarios in my head, and I've got a host of witty answers lined up for all possible questions, come the interview day while excited that this may be my chance of escaping hell I am a nervous wreck.

Come the interview all that I have ran over in my head for days prior is of little use as my mind goes blank I get that nervous, I end up stuttering, words come out back to front, my brain just refuses to work, I end up looking like a blubbering fool.

Once the interview's over a wave of fatigue sweeps over me as I've been that worked up by it all.

So as I say I really need to sort out my interview nerves as what I have been doing in the past is not working.

It takes a change of mindset which can be hard but I think of it as me looking to see if I want to work in that company, that environment and with this group of people.

A lot of nervousness in job interviews comes from people forgetting the interview process is a two-way thing. For much of our lives it's ground into us that it's all about whether you're good enough for the company so many walk into the interview with the feeling that they're being judged.
If you can adjust your mindset to recognise this is also your opportunity to interview representatives of the company and to see if you feel the company is worth your time and effort then it brings all parties at the interview onto an equal footing, a formal conversation.

Who you offer your time and efforts to should be just as relevant as to who the company want to represent them.

AP007

Witty answers are not good IMO


Treat the interview just like a conversation.

Do not save questions to the end and make sure you ask questions as you go along as they go through the job spec and relate it all to things you have done in the past.

Remember YOU are interviewing them too.

Beachview_2

AP007 wrote: »

Do not save questions to the end

Why do you say that? They always want questions at the end and if you ask them as you go along there'll be nothing left at the end. I didn't know you were allowed to do that. Sounds better though, more like a conversation and more 'relaxed'.

Beachview_2

Mista_C wrote: »

It takes a change of mindset which can be hard but I think of it as me looking to see if I want to work in that company, that environment and with this group of people.

A lot of nervousness in job interviews comes from people forgetting the interview process is a two-way thing. For much of our lives it's ground into us that it's all about whether you're good enough for the company so many walk into the interview with the feeling that they're being judged.

That's exactly how I feel. I haven't had an interview now in a while and I dread to think of answering the questions when I'm lucky enough to get interviewed again.

I worry most about giving examples of skills. Even trying to think up answers to those question in advance to learn off makes me worry.

AP007

Beachview wrote: »

Why do you say that? They always want questions at the end and if you ask them as you go along there'll be nothing left at the end. I didn't know you were allowed to do that. Sounds better though, more like a conversation and more 'relaxed'.

Didn't know you were ALLOWED to ask questions as you go along? Seriously?

If they are describing something to you would you wait till the end to go back an hour and say 'at the beginning you said I would have to do such and such, can you tell me a bit more about that'


Or they are saying we use this system and that system and you say nothing that relates to jobs you have done before.

Or course at the end most people ask 'is there anything else you want to know' and I say 'no as WE have covered everything but if there is anything else I will drop you and email' and or they say 'drop me an email if you want to know anything else'

And/or I give them opportunity to ask me anything else at the end too.

falko89

Beachview wrote: »

Why do you say that? They always want questions at the end and if you ask them as you go along there'll be nothing left at the end. I didn't know you were allowed to do that. Sounds better though, more like a conversation and more 'relaxed'.

I asked about salary at the end and got told in a round about way it wasn't any of my business.

AP007

falko89 wrote: »

I asked about salary at the end and got told in a round about way it wasn't any of my business.

You never ask in the interview about the ££

1 - know before you go

or

2 - wait for the 2nd interview or offer

And to be honest its not a real question

Mint1955

If you can just remember one thing and that's this

Breath......

When they ask a question the normal response when nervous is to gabble or dry up. You have also not realised you are almost holding your breath in anxiety of the situation.

so as soon as the question is asked quietly breath in very deeply and slowly let it out don't worry it's seconds they won't notice but the oxygen goes to your brain and allows thoughts to settle enough to answer and your speech to be normal.

I have been training for years and this is the one big thing people have thanked me for over and over it really works.

ILW

Getting drunk before the interview helps with nerves.
Best not to be sick on the interviewers desk though, and if you do, offer to clean it up.

CCFC_80

If you are stumped for an answer to a question, Just say if you can come back to it. You may have thought of something by then or better still, they may forget to ask you the original question.

Also a personal choice if asked to take a seat by the receptionist I prefer to remain standing when the interviewer arrives.