Fear of Interviews - A few strategies to overcome

 

You've got an interview scheduled, and from the moment you receive that notification, the idea of being interviewed becomes a constant presence in your mind. Whenever the HR personnel ask for a suitable time, we often find ourselves postponing it to the next day or even later, all in the hope of securing ample time to prepare. However, during this delay, numerous other tasks tend to take precedence, causing us to miss out on preparation time. Consequently, we end up dedicating the entire day before the interview to frantic last-minute preparations, often regretting why we didn't utilize our time wisely and even wishing for a postponement. Some individuals may go to the extent of contacting HR and requesting a postponement, citing reasons such as a sudden medical emergency.

If the thought of facing an interview makes you nervous, rest assured you're not alone. Studies reveal that a staggering 93% of people experience pre-interview jitters.

Now, let's delve into the reasons behind this nervousness. Why do you think interview anxiety is so prevalent? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

In my view, there are several contributing factors, though not in any particular order:

The Significance of the Job: The job might be of paramount importance to you, and the prospect of securing it is crucial.

The Uncertainty of Questions: Interviews often resemble exams where you encounter questions you could never have anticipated.

Constant Evaluation: The feeling of being under constant scrutiny, from your speech and presentation to your behavior, can be intimidating.

Lack of Confidence or Self-Doubt: This applies to even the top performers in their fields because everyone has their own unique level of self-assurance.

So, how do you handle this situation? Here are some strategies:

Anticipate Questions: While you can't prepare for every possible question, familiarize yourself with common ones like "Tell me about yourself," "What are your strengths/weaknesses," "Why this job?" and "Why are you leaving your current job?"

Comprehensive Resume Review: Understand that your resume sets the context, and interviewers often base their questions on it. Prepare to elaborate on each point in detail and avoid exaggerating your achievements.

Company and Role Research: Gain insights into the job you're applying for and think about how you can contribute to the company in that role. Research the company to show your genuine interest and prepare questions for the interviewer.

Know Your Interviewer: If possible, research the person who will be interviewing you by checking their LinkedIn profile, projects, and interests. Find any commonalities and use this information to your advantage during the interview.

Visualization: Imagine yourself in the interview, anticipating questions and providing answers as if it were the real thing. Familiarize yourself with the interviewer's photo to create a more realistic scenario.

Active Listening: During the interview, actively listen to the interviewer's remarks and respond accordingly. Connect with relevant points to engage in meaningful conversations.

Once, during an interview, the interviewer asked me where I was from, and I replied, "Hyderabad." The interviewer then mentioned that they had been in Hyderabad in the year 2000 for a few months. Now, at this juncture, I could have simply acknowledged this with a casual "Okay" or "I see." However, I decided to engage further by saying, "Wow, that was the year when I took my IIT JEE exam, and it's a milestone year in my life." This led to a more dynamic and engaging conversation, steering it towards discussing my experiences and achievements related to that period. The key takeaway here is that active listening involves not only hearing but also responding and connecting with relevant points. It can turn a simple question into a meaningful conversation.

Introspection: Get to know yourself thoroughly by documenting important life events, achievements, failures, and significant incidents. This helps you identify your strengths, weaknesses, and anecdotes to share when asked questions.

Remember that practice makes perfect. Consider conducting mock interviews with friends or career coaches to refine your answers and receive valuable feedback.

I hope these insights, drawn from my personal experience of conducting(1000+) and participating(100+) in numerous interviews, prove helpful. If you need further guidance or have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. I'm here to assist you.