Why You Hate Interviewing
Written by Charity Washington- 10/11/2021
If the thought of interviewing leaves you with knots in your stomach and has you running for the hills instead of facing it head-on, rest assured that you are not alone. In fact, 93% of individuals experience nervousness during the interview process (JDP, 2020). The major culprit: fear of not being able to answer difficult questions. This anxiety is why so many people hate interviewing.
From a young age, we’ve been indoctrinated to not speak to strangers (McCarthy & Goffin, 2004, as cited in Ayres, Keereetaweep, Chen & Edwards, 1998), and yet the core of the employment interview process is just that: talking to strangers about ourselves, our work ethic and how we bring value.
The good news is that these feelings can be managed. Here are three tips.
Breathe. This may seem simple, but applying deep breathing techniques can reduce stress and increase feelings of calmness.
Think positively. Examine how and what you think when you’re nervous. If you find that what you’re thinking and speaking to yourself is not uplifting but negative in nature, express the opposite things to yourself.
Practice, Practice, Practice. This is one that we all know but do not always implement. The more you prepare, the more confident you’ll be, and that, my friend, will show.
It’s ok to be nervous, but we must find ways to combat these feelings. It can be done, but we must do the work.
Sources:
JDP (2020). JDP 2020 Interview Survey. Retrieved from https://www.jdp.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-interviews-2020/
McCarthy, J., Goffin, R. (2004) Measuring Job Interview Anxiety: Beyond Weak Knees and Sweaty Palms. Personal Psychology, 57, 607-637.
