Interview on Friday - chuffing bricking it :-(

martin2345uk

Hi guys,

I've been invited to an interview this Friday for an internal vacancy at my work. It's in a different department in a separate building so feels almost like it's not even internal if that makes sense.

I just get so so nervous at interviews, I've not had one since 2007, and our company uses leadership capabilities where they say things like "please describe a time when you had to do something for the first time" and you're meant to use the STAR technique and all that...

I'm terrified my mind will just go blank in there... I know I could do the job, it's just about coming across as more than a gibbering buffoon in the interview which is where I'm scared I'm gonna fall down :-(

Any calming techniques or advice would be much appreciated!!

Argh

bubble13

I know it's easy to say but please try not to worry so much!

A couple of weeks ago I was in the same situation but with an external interview. I over-thought everything, prepared answers and memorised them, and was just a clammy, nervous wreck.

I didn't get the job, but I had an interview for somewhere else a week later, and I found out last week that I secured the job.

I think this is because I changed my mindset after the first interview - I prepared rough answers to general questions and used breathing techniques to relax if I was thinking too much.

I felt much better after thinking I had 'nothing to lose' giving that I already had a job, and just acted like myself.

I also asked as a final question 'is there anything you would like me to go into in more detail?' as I always come out of interviews thinking I could have said more.

Fingers crossed for you.

iclayt

It might sound stupid but the only thing that gets me through interview nerves is smiling. Not like a loon with a fixed grin from start to finish, but smiling as much as I can just makes me feel more positive in general and it helps me feel a little less like I'm being interrogated. If I let nerves get the better of me I sit there with a terrified expression, clammy, trembly voice etc. Someone else suggested smiling more and weirdly it helped me a lot, I can remember more answers, examples of what I have done, etc. and it helps it feel more like it's just a conversation about me than a Big Scary Interview.

Bantex_2

martin2345uk wrote: »

Hi guys,

I've been invited to an interview this Friday for an internal vacancy at my work. It's in a different department in a separate building so feels almost like it's not even internal if that makes sense.

I just get so so nervous at interviews, I've not had one since 2007, and our company uses leadership capabilities where they say things like "please describe a time when you had to do something for the first time" and you're meant to use the STAR technique and all that...

I'm terrified my mind will just go blank in there... I know I could do the job, it's just about coming across as more than a gibbering buffoon in the interview which is where I'm scared I'm gonna fall down :-(

Any calming techniques or advice would be much appreciated!!

Argh

Half a bottle of Vodka immediately before the interview should do the trick.

FBaby

The more prepared you are, the less anxious you will be so spend time to go over a number of scenario you can apply to a number of questions, write them down, memorise them, practice them in front of the mirror.

My experience is that 5 minutes before the interview, I think I have forgotten everything, but then find that as the adrenaline kicks in and the questions are asked, it all comes out without me doing much thinking.

BillJones

Remember, this is as much about you deciding if you'd be interested for the job as it is about them deciding if they want you, so try to consider it as a slightly formal chat, where both sides find out a bit more about the other.

This tends to be a far more relaxing way to look at things than going in viewing it like an exam.

iSlideOnItConstance

Good luck

I was scheduled a group interview with 4 people friday just past, however, i was the only one who attended the interview :eek: Needless to say, i got the job, lucky me

Jitterbug123

One thing someone once told me about and really works for me is that when you're offered water say yes. That way if you feel yourself freaking out in the interview, then just calmly pick up the cup and have a sip whilst you calm down. It makes such a difference just to have that little bit of time.

macca1974

I agree with the other posters, preparation is the key (as well as accepting the water!). One thing that helped me once was a recruitment person suggesting to me that I goggle "competency based interview questions" which it sounds like are the sorts of things that they might ask. They want you to come up with examples of when you have done certain things that might be relevant for the job. If you have some example questions, then I found thinking about 4/5 scenarios where I had "shown leadership", "overcome difficulties" etc was really useful and having thought about them before the interview meant that I could tailor those examples to the questions.

I also didn't get a job once because I was ever so nervous (and it was the final interview of 3 for the job...) and they said one of the reasons that I looked nervous was that I didn't undo my suit jacket buttons and looked all trussed up.

martin2345uk

Some great advice here thank you people... I still feel like I'm going to the gallows tomorrow, I don't know what's wrong with me. My productivity has gone through the floor this week. I wish I could do some kind of bodyswap with my cat until tomorrow evening. He's got such an easy life it's not fair! What I wouldn't give to lie around on the sofa all day and only get up when someone brings me food.
ARGH

tea_lover

I often feel like that about my cat... I do ask him most mornings if he fancies swapping lives for the day but he pretends he can't hear me.

Hope it goes ok tomorrow.... thinking calming cat thoughts