Interview anxiety
Hello to anyone who reads this! A little backstory, I graduated high school in June 2023 and instead of going to college like I was supposed to, I decided to take a gap year and get my first job to save money for college because the tuition was out of my budget and didn't want to take any loans and have student debt on my back for years. I've been putting the application progress off for months because I've never really had a job before, just some side jobs of babysitting for family friends and neighbors. Just last month I finally finished my resume, but I still put off applying to jobs because I was terrified of the interview and actually having to talk to new people everyday. Also, the realization of growing up and actually being and adult was completely scary on another level. I recently started applying last week and I got my first ever interview tomorrow, but just thinking about it is making my hands shake and heart beat faster. I currently can't sleep. It also doesn't help that I have to step out of my routine and go on a new bus route. Does anyone have any tips to calm my nerves? Or any tips for the interview? It's a good job with tuition benefits as well, but when my anxiety is heightened I can't function, I stutter, my hands shake uncontrollably, I kind of sweat, and my mouth is very dry no matter how much water I drink. I'm worried I'll flake on the interview and won't get the job. Anyways if you read this thank you, I need tips any kind will help significantly :)
@sensitivestar2020 just calm down sweetie. It's gonna go really well, your gonna do great ❤ new things are always scary, but never turns out as bad as you thought. Huggs you and wishes you good luck ❤
@sensitivestar2020 you've got this 🦾. Remember that its the hard things in life that are often the most worth doing. One first tip is to take the pressure off yourself. You can start this by remembering its totally fine if you don't get this job. Maybe the point of this interview is get some interview practice? It often happens that you need a bit of interview practice and then you're better prepared for the next one. No one in the world aces every interview (myself included) so don't pressure yourself into thinking you have to have to get this job (even if it feels like that right now).
And the person interviewing you isn't someone to put up on a pedestal either. You're just heading across town to have a chat with someone new. The chat is going to be about a shared interest you both have (the job and the area the job is in). Hopefully you'll learn something new from the chat. And its totally fine if thats all that comes from the chat.
The other thing is that job interviews are actually about relationship building. Focus on sharing your authentic and best self. What often happens is that you might not be a fit for this role (totally fine and not your fault), but they may call you up in a few weeks when a role appears that is a good fit. Focus on the long game. This interview is just one step on your journey.
Best of luck and we all believe in you 👏
@sensitivestar2020
Interviews are stressful for everyone. there are many prep tools and videos and while some find useful i find them not realistic.
Honesty is a BIG plus tell them right out you have not had many interviews....sometimes interviewers are also novices since many may not have done much of it........ people tend to focus on getting the job and feel pressure that any mistake or such will be the end of the world ... it won't.
I try to view every thing like interviews/ or changing route i normally go on etc as a chance for all sorts of possibilities .....
example when i went to an interview (i did not really want that job) i found the area i had not been familiar with had a bunch of businesses looking for employees and i eventually ended up in one of those ... i would have never known that business was there.
Other times I found other things along the way like a restaurant i never saw before that my partner and i tried. etc. If you view it as an adventure instead of a dreaded new item... makes it easier.
