Preparing for a Job Interview with Social Anxiety
Are you a recent graduate about to take the next daunting step into adulthood?
Could it be that you are a student who needs to a bit of spending money?
Maybe you are simply in need of change of scenery?
No matter who you are or where you are in you career, the idea of starting a new job can be a frightening one. For those with social anxiety, it can be an absolutely paralyzing thought. Whether you are experiencing pre-interview jitters or struggle with eye contact on a day-to-day basis, here are a few tips to help you prepare your mind for a job interview.
Recognize that fear is normal.
Before we discuss the more practical tips you need to understand that you are not weak minded, weird, or ridiculous for being scared. Being anxious over interviewing for a new job is 100% normal. Don’t beat yourself up over how you think you “should” be responding. (Ditch should from your vocabulary entirely.) Even those who struggle the least with anxious feelings and enjoy talking to any and every one often succumb to the fear that comes along with starting a new job. After all, who wouldn’t be even the slightest bit afraid? You are going into a room and asking to be judged. That is enough to send a nervous shiver up most peoples’ spine. Reming yourself that you are brave and freaking awesome for making the decision to go.
Research the company.
Do your research! Of course you’re going to be nervous if you don’t properly prepare. In fact, you OUGHT TO BE be nervous if you don’t prepare! A sure-fire way to lessen your concern over saying the wrong thing or being asked a question that you don’t have an answer for is to give yourself enough time to familiarize yourself with the company that you are seeking to work for. A few questions that you want to research prior to meeting with a hiring manager are:
What is their mission statement?
Do they have a strong company values? If so, do they align with your personal ones?
What are they already doing right?
What can be improved?
What value can you bring to the company?
Answer all of those questions and think of anything else you would want to know if you were interviewing someone for the same position. If you do not have a lot of experience in interviews, look up common questions that interviewers ask. Interviews are intimidating. Take as much control over the situation as you possible can.
Pick out your outfit the night before. (…or the week .)
It’s a known fact that clothes disappear when you need them most and nothing fits right when you don’t have time to change. (It’s been scientifically proven. I’m sure of it.) Save yourself the stress of having to rush out the door and worry about being late. It is incredibly difficult to calm yourself down once the anxiety has begun to set in. Instead of having to reverse the symptoms of an on-coming panic attack (ridiculously difficult, by the way; I have yet to be successful), try and prevent it altogether. No, having your outfit waiting for you isn’t going to change your mental health (I’m not a miracle worker), but it may help to keep you stable during that morning.
Practice in the mirror.
It does not matter how well-versed I am on a topic, my mind always goes entirely blank when I become scared. We could discuss how ridiculous and frustrating that is, (“How does that even happen and why does my subconscious enjoy embarrassing me?”), but we are not discussing my personal demons today.
Practicing in the mirror allows you to see yourself similarly to how your interviewer will see you. Make eye contact with yourself go over the questions that you previously answered. See which words you fumble over and can’t pronounce to save your life and see what makes you sound like you know what you’re talking about (because you do).
Get enough sleep.
This seems like an obvious one because I’m assuming you aren’t a vampire. (My “preparing for a a job interview as a vampire” article is still in the works.) It can be difficult to fall asleep when you know that you are going to walk into a new space where the primary objective is to have a person judge you and determine whether or not you are worthy enough for a position. (That is a clearly an anxious thought. Remember that not being offered a position does not define your credibility in your profession or worth as a person.)
If you know that your brain is going to keep you up all night with “what ifs,” create a course of action to shut that pesky anxiety right on up! This could include, but is not limited to:
· Journal. Put all of your worries on paper. Writing intrusive thoughts down can often show us how ridiculous they actually are!
· Exercise. Work off some of that anxious energy and replace it with happy endorphins.
· Drink wine. This one seems pretty self-explanatory. Don’t go overboard. It would suck to prepare this much and then miss your interview entirely because of a hangover.
· Meditate. Focus on your breath and take in all of the positive energy that you can possibly manifest.
· Prayer. Ask God to fill you with peace and remember that He says to be courageous and strong.
· Take melatonin. (Do not buy melatonin because of this article. This is only a recommendation for those who already use this supplement and knows how their body will react.)
· Do whatever else works for you!
Night/Morning Routine.
Show gratitude for waking up and being offered an opportunity to interview for a job. I know that it seems very ‘artsy-fartsy,’ but starting your day off with positivity can set the tone for the rest of your day! Make yourself a great breakfast and drink water. (Drink enough to feel alive, but not so much that you have to pee seven times during your interview. Gauge what that limit is for you.) After you get dressed, look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are an absolute BADASS! You landed an interview and prepared to the best of your ability. You have done all that you can do and you should be proud of yourself.
Be compassionate with yourself.
It is okay to be scared. It is okay to not feel entirely in control of your brain because anxiety sucks. None of that matters. What matters is that you try. So take a deep breath and go get ‘em!
