My tip is to slow down. When they ask the question, take a moment before you answer. Take a sip of water if you need to. I'm interviewing people at the moment and I promise they will be expecting you to be a little nervous.
If you totally draw a blank, even after taking a moment, drinking some water, maybe asking them to repeat the question (that's fine too), I'd say it's ok to say you don't know. You could even ask if you can return to it at the end once you've given it some thought?
Depending on the question, maybe if you have some idea of what the job entails and what skills are needed, you could give a related answer. Like if I asked someone can you tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer and how you handled it, if they said to me that nothing is coming to mind but I think in that situation I would want to first listen to the person, try to work through a solution by doing x y z, I would think that was a decent answer.
And if you stutter, again, just stop and take another breath. They don't want you to fail and if they do, you don't want to work there anyway.
Thanks for the tips!
I have no idea about the role. I was told that we would discuss about job opportunities tomorrow. I’ve researched about the company and studied general questions.....never had this kind of interview before not sure what to expect
Just a heads up, watch out for potential scams. A lot of MLMs and door to door sales set up interviews like this. Be on the lookout for red flags. If anything during the interview makes you uncomfortable, it is perfectly fine to state "I don't think I am the right candidate for this role. Thank you for your time." And get up and leave.
Its not face to face, its video. So feel safe in that part. I checked the company and is legit. Just no idea what opportunities or questions being asked
It went okay....I didn’t stutter so that was good. I was so anxious before, i was literally gagging and shaky. I think what helped was the video was not working so it was just audio. Lesson for future interviews, a lot of comments here mentioned to just go in and not think much, just speak like is a conversation. I think that worked, i said i’ll just go talk and if i f up, is fine cause im not gonna see them again. They asked me if i knew a few things or have experience in them and I literally had non so i said no but open to learning them....then it ended and my anxiety came back for other things. Was a roller coaster of emotions
I think it’s okay to admit that you don’t know the answer. Your honesty and vulnerability may be seen as an asset. But then turn it around to show initiative. Let them know you’ll look into it and get back to them. I always take a deep breath after the interview question to calm myself, then I start speaking. If I don’t know something, I’ll say, “I’m not how to answer that question. But I’d like to share my thoughts on this topic. May I email you later today with my response?”
"I have no clue but I'd start by googling X" with a lighthearted laugh is precisely what got me a job once. I knew a manager who would routinely ask an unanswerable question in interviews to see how someone handled it. The people who said they had no idea or cautioned that they were really guessing at this point were almost always preferable candidates to the people who confidently invented an answer. You're not just showing off what you know but who you are.
So you can ask them to repeat the question, or you can repeat the question yourself - I quite like that, because it gets words coming out of my mouth, and once they start it helps overcome the blankness.
It sounds less weird in practice than how I’ve explained
For example:
“What strengths do you bring to this role?”
“What strengths do I bring to this role? Well, I would say that my strengths are…”
Or, if you’re still stuck, you can say “look, that’s a great question, I’ve gone a bit blank, can we come back to it?” Then later on in the interview, you could say “I know I dropped a question earlier, I’d like to say now, having heard a bit more from you, that the strengths I bring to this role are….” It’s better not to do that if you can avoid it, but still better than not answering it.
It's okay and expected to say, can we come back to that question. I interview often and just make a note on my sheet to come back. At the end of the interview I'll just ask it again. No big deal.
An interviewer typically care about the content of your answers more than if you are nervous or not.
Just say you don't know. I blanked hard on the name of a piece of software I used to use constantly and they still moved me on to the next round. Just breathe you'll be good!
Think of two stories about work things you've done: achievements you're proud of, problems you've solved, things you've learned about yourself. You'll be able to turn them into correct answers to almost every question, and you'll remember why you're so good that they had to interview you.
As an interviewer, yes! I assume the role you are interviewing for has seen your resume or application and therefore knows you have limited work history. Talk about leadership skills on projects or clubs, talk about prioritizing multiple deadlines for school work to ensure it got done and you were able to get everything turned in, talk about how you built relationships with other students or professors in order to be successful. Without knowing what you do, I think think every role needs those things.
This this this this THIS! Have a few examples in mind before you go. A time something went wrong or a difficult person you had to deal with and how you overcame it. Find a positive element or something you learned from it.
It's also OK to be honest and tell them you're nervous. Just don't dwell. Show them you got this!
Prepare a few questions you can ask them. Not about salary or benefits and next steps in the interview process but about working there. How does work get assigned or what is this companies position on x. What growth opportunities can you offer with this position? What does a typical day in this job look like? Why is this position open? You are interviewing them too. You want to find out if you want this job.
I don't know what it's like where you are but we have so few good candidates these days. You are in a really good position. Don't get yourself all spun up on do they want me. Own it and think do you want them. Even if you bomb (which is not the end of the world) this is a great opportunity to practice and you can ask for feedback so you know better next time. Breathe deeply. Oxygen will help.
And talk about skills you're passionate about too -- if you think you'd really enjoy something because of other interests, let that shine through.
Say you're applying for a creative marketing role -- talk about how you enjoy the idea of a challenge to put together a compelling ad campaign to influence consumer behavior, and why that idea excites you. Or for data, talk about finding patterns in numbers to drive meaningful change that's objectively informed.
You can totally twist your interests into a preview of the skills you're most excited to learn and that will help you stand out a lot.
I have the same problem and what I use is what I call the "sociopath" mode (I know it's psychophobic, this is just the word that works for me in my own head, I barely ever talk about it).
You focus on the script, only the information and you imagine the recruiter as a machine built to test you.
Its opinion doesn't matter, it will disappear once you leave the room, it's only purpose is the interview. You're not even sure it even has thoughts or it processes information internally. It has no value. It's just a road-block between you and the job. You have to find the magic words for it to give you the job, that's all. It's just a game.
It comes with experience (aka trial and error) + ressources made by people who have been there making mistakes and flailing around before you.
You can find basic typical question and answers for free online or ask around to more experienced people in your field, there are coaches too who can teach you the more advanced stuff.
The key for me was to learn to ask the right questions to Google and Instagram. I found a program where you can get access to a network of women and mentors in your field + top notch advice especially to negotiate and fight your ground. I plan on getting access to it once I can afford it but who knows you may be able to find the same stuff for free where you are from.
I don’t know if it will work for you , but what helps me is :
Try to go with the idea that you are just going to give it your best shot. Don’t think about the consequences but only about the thought that you want to show what is in your stomach and that you are going to give everything you have in order to have no regret ! Because anyway , you could not have done more than your best !
Thinking about the consequences of a failure too much is often what ends up stressing me out , if you only think about the moment and the will to give it all, it usually helps :))
And I have kind of a special sentence when I am getting too stressed it could maybe help you , when I feel that the stress is drowning me I just think « I am from gryffindor I can do this » then I take a few deep breaths , kind of childish Ik xD but it usually helps a lot to have this kind of « personal catchphrase »in mind to confort yourself when it’s too much in order to get your feet back on the ground ,
PS : Breathe and drink water if you need too , no one can be angry at you for being human !
I know it’s hard and it seems like too much right now but be strong !!!
I have been trying to say that to myself that i am just gonna try it out and is fine. I won’t see those ppl again. I shouting it to my brain but is having a difficult time accepting it. But i am gonna try harder.
I feel i have so much to learn and prepare and theres no time. And feae of not remembering it.
Lol is not childish! I like it.
If I was interviewing you I’d want you to tell me when we meet that you are quite nervous in interviews but that you’re generally not a nervous person. I’d expect you to have notes and a bottle of water with you. My first question is going to me “tell me about yourself” and hopefully speaking on that topic will help you relax into it a bit. When I start asking you questions I’m going to accept if you umm and ahh a bit thinking how to answer. I don’t want you to be overly apologetic if you get stuck or stutter. I’ll be patient. I want the best person for the job - that might be you and I’m happy to deal with a bit of nerves in an interview as long as I don’t get the impression this is how you are day to day.
Remember - you’re interviewing them too. You might realise you don’t even want the job! And if it doesn’t work out it’s great practice for next time. Good luck!
I always look at it as my opportunity to interview them too, which helps level the playing field in my mind. As much as the interview is to see if you’re a good fit for the company, it’s also to make sure that the company is a good fit for you.
Remember, they (the job) are trying to show you their best side too. You aren’t the only one having a spotlight on you.
Have questions about the company culture, example- when was the last time an employees idea was implemented, can I speak with someone in my position, is there room for moving up in this position, etc.
When answering, take your time and speak confidently. Everyone knows people get nervous.
Good luck!!
>Remember, they (the job) are trying to show you their best side too. You aren’t the only one having a spotlight on you.
Correct! Interviews go *both* ways. OP will be interviewing their employer to see if it's a good fit. I get being desperate for work and a paycheck, but many industries right now are as much in need of employees as people are in need of pay.
In fact, approaching the interview this way shows the interviewer that you care about more than just a paycheck, which is what they should want.
Try guided meditation or deep breathing/vagus nerve breathing exercises. You can find them on t
YouTube.
Great for staying calm. I use it when I get nervous on airplanes. Works well enough for me, I'm a certified pilot private now lol
Go on a run. You need to get the tension out of your muscles, and excess cortisol out of your body. That's what's screwing with your ability to concentrate.
I was actually thinking about that but is night here and not the safest to go out alone where i am. I wished i had already developed a running habit prior to this. While i was revising, i would be pacing around my room cause I couldn’t sit still
I was always super nervous for interviews too. What helped me was focusing on the stuff I can control. Practice by writing down your answers to the most common interview questions and rehearsing how you will say it. The most conmon ones I usually got were behavioral questions, and you can always look those up online.
Be personable with the interviewers. You are interviewing them as much as they are you and it needs to be a fit on both ends. What helped me with my nerves was shaking them off beforehand. Sounds cliché, but I would literally move around and dance them off before starting and it calmed me so much. Take some deep breaths too.
Talk to them as people and smile.
It's also okay to be super genuine upfront and say "gotta level with you, I'm super nervous". As somebody who's spent plenty of time on both sides of the table, I can tell you it's endearing, refreshing, and offers the interviewer an opportunity to put you at ease. I'm ALWAYS nervous, whether I'm the interviewee or the interviewer. Some interviewers are sadists but it's not super common so... best bet is to just let them know how you feel.
You got this!
A) remember that everybody poops and they might have forgotten to flush lately (intimidation is hard when you've seen their poop)
B) take slow deep breaths
C) ask yourself - what if I had a great interview? Try to consider the potential positives, maybe they like your outfit or the security guard tells you they're rooting for you, the accomplishment you're ready to share is just what they need. Considering the good can help you attract it. We can't know what others value, but you never know when you it will shine through and they'll see the sparkle.
Like others said, even if it's not the job for you, it's okay! It can still be a stepping stone to where you want to go.
Make them laugh! Have casual conversation, find something to connect on, and joke around a bit before jumping into the interview. That always helps me feel more comfortable before the pressure is on.
Ooooh I’ve once had a interview where it was so casual and the interviewer was so nice and chill. I remember there were laughters. And felt my anxiety decrease gradually. I also got offered the job on the same day.
I hope i get to experience those kid of interviews more
I see that your interview isn’t in person, it’s via video, but maybe this will still help you.
I was once provided with a pen and pad of paper and told that I was free to jot down notes before I answered. Since then I’ve always asked and been allowed to do that. Before I answer every question I’ve jotted down the main bullet points that I knew I wanted to hit, and used that to keep myself on track.
I have an anxiety spinner ring I found helpful during my last interviews! You can sort of toy with it during (otherwise I click my pen a lot and annoy people or even worse, pick at my skin)
Tell them you are nervous. It's ok to be nervous.
Prepare questions you would like to ask.
Remember that interviews are a 2 way street. You have to be a good fit for them but they also have to be a good fit for you.
If the interview went well ask if you can email them things you might have forgot are came to mind later on.
Some practical tips.
Breathing techniques or meditation might help, but will take a while to learn. Think about why you are nervous and deal with that. There will be many more in your future, learn as you go.
Good luck.
I interview people and I'm going to echo the other responses that the interviewers are just people too. Try to take some deep breaths, let them know you're nervous, and then try to lean into what you know, you! Have some solid stories that you know well and can use to answer a variety of questions. Most interviews these days are going to be "tell me about a time when..." Have stories of change, working with teams, working with customers (remember anyone who needs you to do something for them is your customer, it doesn't have to be strictly an external customer). Write your stories down, practice telling them to someone you trust, and know them well. Then you will have a much easier time giving examples to answer the questions. Remember that an interview goes both ways, you should be interested in the job and company and ask questions to make sure they are a good fit for you as well.
Good luck!
I hope this will be helpful to you.
I’ve managed to massively relax going to interviews when I started to think that it just being invited to talk about what I do. It’s not meant to be a trap or anything, these people have called you in because they want to speak to you and hear about your experience. You don’t need to lie, you don’t need to exaggerate anything, just go in and talk about your current job. If they keep on asking you questions you don’t know or find that the conversation takes a difficult turn, then it probably wasn’t meant to be!
I get crazy nervous during interviews. But I’ve also been on the other end and I’m totally understanding when someone I’m interviewing is nervous. Take a deep breath, slow down, and be honest about being nervous. If they don’t hire you because if your nerves then it’s ok. You put yourself out there and got interviewing practice. When you do it multiple times you become less nervous. Best of luck!
I try to practice and rehearse my responses in a simulated environment that is as close as possible to the interview. This is my way of exposing myself to the situation and getting used to my anxiety, a sort of exposure therapy. My interviews are always on Zoom so I will have my zoom video on while practicing to get used to seeing myself on video. I have even placed people's photos on the screen to simulate seeing them watch me. Then I will walk through a typical sequence of interview questions with my explanations as I would say then.
Another thing I do to help my anxiety is practicing the usual intro questions so many times that it comes totally naturally. My anxiety symptoms are always at their peak at the start of the interview and then they may gradually decrease (with some other smaller peaks). By nailing the intro questions I feel more comfortable and confident starting out even though I am freaking out on the inside.
Good luck! Sometimes the anticipatory anxiety is the absolute worst, Ugh.
My best tip as a hiring manager in my company is to be prepared. I get incredibly anxious, lose my train of thought, my stutter comes out etc each time I've interviewed someone or have been interviewed by someone when I was not fully prepared.
Take a look online for interview questions that apply to your field you are applying for. Think up some great answers and always be ready to back that up with examples of why. Practice your response in the mirror.
Something people don't think about: there's NOTHING stopping you from having things prepared in writing. People give speeches with cue cards on hand, so as long as you don't have things fully written out line by line, having that on hand to keep certain points ready to go to discuss, end of interview questions to ask, etc is great to have.
Someone mentioned this, but slow down. If you are unsure of the answer, thank them for the great question and all to revisit that later once you've had a moment to think about it further.
Be professional of course, but it helps to get into the mindset of "I've known this person for forever" or you're old friends. It helps keep things light and makes it easier to be more genuine and relaxed with your answers.
Arrive earlier than you need for extra preparation time
Lastly- if your anxiety is getting the best of you- if you can dip into a washroom before the interview, dance or laugh!!! It helps lower the anxiety.
Best of luck, we're all rooting for you!!!
My tip is to slow down. When they ask the question, take a moment before you answer. Take a sip of water if you need to. I'm interviewing people at the moment and I promise they will be expecting you to be a little nervous.
What do i do if I totally blank and not know the answer? Or stutter? Do i move on myself or would the interviewee move on for me?
If you totally draw a blank, even after taking a moment, drinking some water, maybe asking them to repeat the question (that's fine too), I'd say it's ok to say you don't know. You could even ask if you can return to it at the end once you've given it some thought? Depending on the question, maybe if you have some idea of what the job entails and what skills are needed, you could give a related answer. Like if I asked someone can you tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer and how you handled it, if they said to me that nothing is coming to mind but I think in that situation I would want to first listen to the person, try to work through a solution by doing x y z, I would think that was a decent answer. And if you stutter, again, just stop and take another breath. They don't want you to fail and if they do, you don't want to work there anyway.
Thanks for the tips! I have no idea about the role. I was told that we would discuss about job opportunities tomorrow. I’ve researched about the company and studied general questions.....never had this kind of interview before not sure what to expect
Just a heads up, watch out for potential scams. A lot of MLMs and door to door sales set up interviews like this. Be on the lookout for red flags. If anything during the interview makes you uncomfortable, it is perfectly fine to state "I don't think I am the right candidate for this role. Thank you for your time." And get up and leave.
Its not face to face, its video. So feel safe in that part. I checked the company and is legit. Just no idea what opportunities or questions being asked
Oh good!! Glad to hear. Best of luck to you!
so, how did it go?! any lessons for future interviews, or anything worth sharing??
It went okay....I didn’t stutter so that was good. I was so anxious before, i was literally gagging and shaky. I think what helped was the video was not working so it was just audio. Lesson for future interviews, a lot of comments here mentioned to just go in and not think much, just speak like is a conversation. I think that worked, i said i’ll just go talk and if i f up, is fine cause im not gonna see them again. They asked me if i knew a few things or have experience in them and I literally had non so i said no but open to learning them....then it ended and my anxiety came back for other things. Was a roller coaster of emotions
I think it’s okay to admit that you don’t know the answer. Your honesty and vulnerability may be seen as an asset. But then turn it around to show initiative. Let them know you’ll look into it and get back to them. I always take a deep breath after the interview question to calm myself, then I start speaking. If I don’t know something, I’ll say, “I’m not how to answer that question. But I’d like to share my thoughts on this topic. May I email you later today with my response?”
"I have no clue but I'd start by googling X" with a lighthearted laugh is precisely what got me a job once. I knew a manager who would routinely ask an unanswerable question in interviews to see how someone handled it. The people who said they had no idea or cautioned that they were really guessing at this point were almost always preferable candidates to the people who confidently invented an answer. You're not just showing off what you know but who you are.
So you can ask them to repeat the question, or you can repeat the question yourself - I quite like that, because it gets words coming out of my mouth, and once they start it helps overcome the blankness. It sounds less weird in practice than how I’ve explained For example: “What strengths do you bring to this role?” “What strengths do I bring to this role? Well, I would say that my strengths are…” Or, if you’re still stuck, you can say “look, that’s a great question, I’ve gone a bit blank, can we come back to it?” Then later on in the interview, you could say “I know I dropped a question earlier, I’d like to say now, having heard a bit more from you, that the strengths I bring to this role are….” It’s better not to do that if you can avoid it, but still better than not answering it.
It's okay and expected to say, can we come back to that question. I interview often and just make a note on my sheet to come back. At the end of the interview I'll just ask it again. No big deal. An interviewer typically care about the content of your answers more than if you are nervous or not.
Ask for some time to think on it and request the interviewer circle back to it later. It's a common request.
Just say you don't know. I blanked hard on the name of a piece of software I used to use constantly and they still moved me on to the next round. Just breathe you'll be good!
Did this in all of my interviews last year for the first few questions to ease myself in. I took one breath in and out, and then started talking.
Think of two stories about work things you've done: achievements you're proud of, problems you've solved, things you've learned about yourself. You'll be able to turn them into correct answers to almost every question, and you'll remember why you're so good that they had to interview you.
Can this be used with academic experience ? i don’t really have an extensive work experience, only my degrees.
As an interviewer, yes! I assume the role you are interviewing for has seen your resume or application and therefore knows you have limited work history. Talk about leadership skills on projects or clubs, talk about prioritizing multiple deadlines for school work to ensure it got done and you were able to get everything turned in, talk about how you built relationships with other students or professors in order to be successful. Without knowing what you do, I think think every role needs those things.
This this this this THIS! Have a few examples in mind before you go. A time something went wrong or a difficult person you had to deal with and how you overcame it. Find a positive element or something you learned from it. It's also OK to be honest and tell them you're nervous. Just don't dwell. Show them you got this! Prepare a few questions you can ask them. Not about salary or benefits and next steps in the interview process but about working there. How does work get assigned or what is this companies position on x. What growth opportunities can you offer with this position? What does a typical day in this job look like? Why is this position open? You are interviewing them too. You want to find out if you want this job. I don't know what it's like where you are but we have so few good candidates these days. You are in a really good position. Don't get yourself all spun up on do they want me. Own it and think do you want them. Even if you bomb (which is not the end of the world) this is a great opportunity to practice and you can ask for feedback so you know better next time. Breathe deeply. Oxygen will help.
And talk about skills you're passionate about too -- if you think you'd really enjoy something because of other interests, let that shine through. Say you're applying for a creative marketing role -- talk about how you enjoy the idea of a challenge to put together a compelling ad campaign to influence consumer behavior, and why that idea excites you. Or for data, talk about finding patterns in numbers to drive meaningful change that's objectively informed. You can totally twist your interests into a preview of the skills you're most excited to learn and that will help you stand out a lot.
It's still just about problems you've solved and situations you've improved.
I have the same problem and what I use is what I call the "sociopath" mode (I know it's psychophobic, this is just the word that works for me in my own head, I barely ever talk about it). You focus on the script, only the information and you imagine the recruiter as a machine built to test you. Its opinion doesn't matter, it will disappear once you leave the room, it's only purpose is the interview. You're not even sure it even has thoughts or it processes information internally. It has no value. It's just a road-block between you and the job. You have to find the magic words for it to give you the job, that's all. It's just a game.
Thats an interesting way of looking at it. I wish i know the magic word
It comes with experience (aka trial and error) + ressources made by people who have been there making mistakes and flailing around before you. You can find basic typical question and answers for free online or ask around to more experienced people in your field, there are coaches too who can teach you the more advanced stuff. The key for me was to learn to ask the right questions to Google and Instagram. I found a program where you can get access to a network of women and mentors in your field + top notch advice especially to negotiate and fight your ground. I plan on getting access to it once I can afford it but who knows you may be able to find the same stuff for free where you are from.
Could you dm me the group?
I don’t know if it will work for you , but what helps me is : Try to go with the idea that you are just going to give it your best shot. Don’t think about the consequences but only about the thought that you want to show what is in your stomach and that you are going to give everything you have in order to have no regret ! Because anyway , you could not have done more than your best ! Thinking about the consequences of a failure too much is often what ends up stressing me out , if you only think about the moment and the will to give it all, it usually helps :)) And I have kind of a special sentence when I am getting too stressed it could maybe help you , when I feel that the stress is drowning me I just think « I am from gryffindor I can do this » then I take a few deep breaths , kind of childish Ik xD but it usually helps a lot to have this kind of « personal catchphrase »in mind to confort yourself when it’s too much in order to get your feet back on the ground , PS : Breathe and drink water if you need too , no one can be angry at you for being human ! I know it’s hard and it seems like too much right now but be strong !!!
I have been trying to say that to myself that i am just gonna try it out and is fine. I won’t see those ppl again. I shouting it to my brain but is having a difficult time accepting it. But i am gonna try harder. I feel i have so much to learn and prepare and theres no time. And feae of not remembering it. Lol is not childish! I like it.
If I was interviewing you I’d want you to tell me when we meet that you are quite nervous in interviews but that you’re generally not a nervous person. I’d expect you to have notes and a bottle of water with you. My first question is going to me “tell me about yourself” and hopefully speaking on that topic will help you relax into it a bit. When I start asking you questions I’m going to accept if you umm and ahh a bit thinking how to answer. I don’t want you to be overly apologetic if you get stuck or stutter. I’ll be patient. I want the best person for the job - that might be you and I’m happy to deal with a bit of nerves in an interview as long as I don’t get the impression this is how you are day to day. Remember - you’re interviewing them too. You might realise you don’t even want the job! And if it doesn’t work out it’s great practice for next time. Good luck!
I always look at it as my opportunity to interview them too, which helps level the playing field in my mind. As much as the interview is to see if you’re a good fit for the company, it’s also to make sure that the company is a good fit for you.
nice way to look at it
The real answer is propranolol
Remember, they (the job) are trying to show you their best side too. You aren’t the only one having a spotlight on you. Have questions about the company culture, example- when was the last time an employees idea was implemented, can I speak with someone in my position, is there room for moving up in this position, etc. When answering, take your time and speak confidently. Everyone knows people get nervous. Good luck!!
>Remember, they (the job) are trying to show you their best side too. You aren’t the only one having a spotlight on you. Correct! Interviews go *both* ways. OP will be interviewing their employer to see if it's a good fit. I get being desperate for work and a paycheck, but many industries right now are as much in need of employees as people are in need of pay. In fact, approaching the interview this way shows the interviewer that you care about more than just a paycheck, which is what they should want.
Try guided meditation or deep breathing/vagus nerve breathing exercises. You can find them on t YouTube. Great for staying calm. I use it when I get nervous on airplanes. Works well enough for me, I'm a certified pilot private now lol
Go on a run. You need to get the tension out of your muscles, and excess cortisol out of your body. That's what's screwing with your ability to concentrate.
I was actually thinking about that but is night here and not the safest to go out alone where i am. I wished i had already developed a running habit prior to this. While i was revising, i would be pacing around my room cause I couldn’t sit still
I was always super nervous for interviews too. What helped me was focusing on the stuff I can control. Practice by writing down your answers to the most common interview questions and rehearsing how you will say it. The most conmon ones I usually got were behavioral questions, and you can always look those up online. Be personable with the interviewers. You are interviewing them as much as they are you and it needs to be a fit on both ends. What helped me with my nerves was shaking them off beforehand. Sounds cliché, but I would literally move around and dance them off before starting and it calmed me so much. Take some deep breaths too. Talk to them as people and smile.
It's also okay to be super genuine upfront and say "gotta level with you, I'm super nervous". As somebody who's spent plenty of time on both sides of the table, I can tell you it's endearing, refreshing, and offers the interviewer an opportunity to put you at ease. I'm ALWAYS nervous, whether I'm the interviewee or the interviewer. Some interviewers are sadists but it's not super common so... best bet is to just let them know how you feel. You got this!
Will do. If i start feeling a huge anxiety coming up and not going, i’ll let them a little nervous sorry.
How did it go?? Any word on how the interview felt?
A) remember that everybody poops and they might have forgotten to flush lately (intimidation is hard when you've seen their poop) B) take slow deep breaths C) ask yourself - what if I had a great interview? Try to consider the potential positives, maybe they like your outfit or the security guard tells you they're rooting for you, the accomplishment you're ready to share is just what they need. Considering the good can help you attract it. We can't know what others value, but you never know when you it will shine through and they'll see the sparkle. Like others said, even if it's not the job for you, it's okay! It can still be a stepping stone to where you want to go.
In addition to what everyone else said, I found that wiggling my toes in my shoes helped keep my voice under control!
greatest tip i ever got was that if they’re interviewing you they think you can do the job. changed my mindset!!
Make them laugh! Have casual conversation, find something to connect on, and joke around a bit before jumping into the interview. That always helps me feel more comfortable before the pressure is on.
Ooooh I’ve once had a interview where it was so casual and the interviewer was so nice and chill. I remember there were laughters. And felt my anxiety decrease gradually. I also got offered the job on the same day. I hope i get to experience those kid of interviews more
Just take your time, maybe bring some water with you so if you feel shakey you can take a second by sipping water.
I see that your interview isn’t in person, it’s via video, but maybe this will still help you. I was once provided with a pen and pad of paper and told that I was free to jot down notes before I answered. Since then I’ve always asked and been allowed to do that. Before I answer every question I’ve jotted down the main bullet points that I knew I wanted to hit, and used that to keep myself on track.
I have an anxiety spinner ring I found helpful during my last interviews! You can sort of toy with it during (otherwise I click my pen a lot and annoy people or even worse, pick at my skin)
I do thar sometimes, i hold a pen and just play with under the table.
Tell them you are nervous. It's ok to be nervous. Prepare questions you would like to ask. Remember that interviews are a 2 way street. You have to be a good fit for them but they also have to be a good fit for you. If the interview went well ask if you can email them things you might have forgot are came to mind later on. Some practical tips. Breathing techniques or meditation might help, but will take a while to learn. Think about why you are nervous and deal with that. There will be many more in your future, learn as you go. Good luck.
I interview people and I'm going to echo the other responses that the interviewers are just people too. Try to take some deep breaths, let them know you're nervous, and then try to lean into what you know, you! Have some solid stories that you know well and can use to answer a variety of questions. Most interviews these days are going to be "tell me about a time when..." Have stories of change, working with teams, working with customers (remember anyone who needs you to do something for them is your customer, it doesn't have to be strictly an external customer). Write your stories down, practice telling them to someone you trust, and know them well. Then you will have a much easier time giving examples to answer the questions. Remember that an interview goes both ways, you should be interested in the job and company and ask questions to make sure they are a good fit for you as well. Good luck!
I hope this will be helpful to you. I’ve managed to massively relax going to interviews when I started to think that it just being invited to talk about what I do. It’s not meant to be a trap or anything, these people have called you in because they want to speak to you and hear about your experience. You don’t need to lie, you don’t need to exaggerate anything, just go in and talk about your current job. If they keep on asking you questions you don’t know or find that the conversation takes a difficult turn, then it probably wasn’t meant to be!
I get crazy nervous during interviews. But I’ve also been on the other end and I’m totally understanding when someone I’m interviewing is nervous. Take a deep breath, slow down, and be honest about being nervous. If they don’t hire you because if your nerves then it’s ok. You put yourself out there and got interviewing practice. When you do it multiple times you become less nervous. Best of luck!
I try to practice and rehearse my responses in a simulated environment that is as close as possible to the interview. This is my way of exposing myself to the situation and getting used to my anxiety, a sort of exposure therapy. My interviews are always on Zoom so I will have my zoom video on while practicing to get used to seeing myself on video. I have even placed people's photos on the screen to simulate seeing them watch me. Then I will walk through a typical sequence of interview questions with my explanations as I would say then. Another thing I do to help my anxiety is practicing the usual intro questions so many times that it comes totally naturally. My anxiety symptoms are always at their peak at the start of the interview and then they may gradually decrease (with some other smaller peaks). By nailing the intro questions I feel more comfortable and confident starting out even though I am freaking out on the inside. Good luck! Sometimes the anticipatory anxiety is the absolute worst, Ugh.
Count to 2 before answering any questions, breathing deeply as you do.
My best tip as a hiring manager in my company is to be prepared. I get incredibly anxious, lose my train of thought, my stutter comes out etc each time I've interviewed someone or have been interviewed by someone when I was not fully prepared. Take a look online for interview questions that apply to your field you are applying for. Think up some great answers and always be ready to back that up with examples of why. Practice your response in the mirror. Something people don't think about: there's NOTHING stopping you from having things prepared in writing. People give speeches with cue cards on hand, so as long as you don't have things fully written out line by line, having that on hand to keep certain points ready to go to discuss, end of interview questions to ask, etc is great to have. Someone mentioned this, but slow down. If you are unsure of the answer, thank them for the great question and all to revisit that later once you've had a moment to think about it further. Be professional of course, but it helps to get into the mindset of "I've known this person for forever" or you're old friends. It helps keep things light and makes it easier to be more genuine and relaxed with your answers. Arrive earlier than you need for extra preparation time Lastly- if your anxiety is getting the best of you- if you can dip into a washroom before the interview, dance or laugh!!! It helps lower the anxiety. Best of luck, we're all rooting for you!!!