For most, a job interview is not a common occurrence. When we step into the unknown our subconscious checks for danger, looks for a frame of reference and then sends emotional signals to our body so we know how to react.
This process is completed within milliseconds.
This is why public speaking and job interviews rank high for worst fears. Your subconscious ask “how should I react” when you receive your interview invitation, to answer the question the brain finds a “frame of reference” this for most people is your most memorable “public speaking” experience – the negative experience in school when you were asked to read in front of the class, after getting the words wrong the whole classed laughed at you and made you feel upset.
The brain replicates these same negative emotions, associating them to the forthcoming job interview – no wonder we feel so nervous when it comes to a job interview. Other worries then build on this fear, creating in some cases phobia of job interviews and public speaking.
Concerns That Double Your Interview Fear – I’m not good enough
People believe they are living a lie.
We often feel we got to the position in our career because of good luck not our own skills or abilities. When applying for a new position in a new company we wrongly believe our lie will be found out.
We simply feel we are not good enough to be offered the new position, so why bother?
This limiting belief will increase your interview anxiety killing any hopes of a job offer. To combat this growing fear, you need to consciously think about your success and career highlights as this will subconsciously challenge your negative interview beliefs;
- reread positive job evaluations
- write a list of your career strengths and skills
- compare your rise through the career ranks to others who haven’t been as successful
- reflect on your work ethic and attitude
- write a list of strengths that your colleagues would say you possessed
Concerns That Double Your Interview Fear – what if I don’t know what to do?
Interview fears
Interviewees, before even being offered the job role will try to second guess the job duties that they will undertake. This seems like a good idea, especially as a task like this can help your predict the job interview questions.
But the anxious interviewee takes this process one step to far and predicts job duties that they cant possible do, even though they haven’t been mentioned on the job specification.
This negative second guessing only increases anxiety. To combat this process think about previous roles where you have undertaken a new role, task and duty and where you have learnt and develop this new skill to become the expert that you are today.
Remember we all grow by learning new skills and we all get bored in a career that offers no variety at all. To learn you have to make mistakes, the trick is to frame each mistake as a learning curve not a negative experience.
Concerns That Double Your Interview Fear – what if they don’t like me
Imposter Syndrome
One of the common worries for interviewees is the thought that the interviewer wont like them.
When we focus on other peoples opinions and second guess their thoughts we only create worry and concern.
You have no way of knowing what the interviewer will think of you, and if your not a good match, you wont work well together, then isn’t it better to learn that in the interview rather then 6 months down the line?
When you focus on other peoples thoughts, you take the focus away from your task in hand – preparing for the job interview. When this thought passes through your head, ask yourself “what 3 things do I need to do to prepare for my interview?”
This question takes the focus consciously back to the job interview preparation
