When I was a work-at-the-office wife, I was fortunate to work for an amazing company that valued their employees and believed strongly in promoting from within. One thing that went along with their “promote from within” philosophy was that current employees had to interview for positions outside of their department and for newly created positions within their department.
EEEK! I hated interviewing. It makes me so nervous. Why? I am always well prepared. And, this was “my company” I knew the philosophy, mission statement and principles inside and out. Often the interviewers were my mentors, or high-level “suits” that I had such respect for.
There were a few positions that went to other candidates, but I had my share of new opportunities, too. Despite the sweaty handshakes!
Does interviewing make you nervous?
What what NaBloPoMo is all about? NaBloPoMo, created by the brilliant minds at BlogHer, is a month long blogging challenge to encourage you to write daily about a specific prompt. Today’s prompt was “Describe a time you felt jumpy and nervous.” Although sign ups to participate in this month’s Blog Roll have closed, the daily prompts are available here.
Yes, I get nervous – my mind just goes blank when they start asking me questions… but I get really excited when I see their # on the caller id to tell me I got the job!
Yes! My company downsized in December and I have been trying to get another job. I think that puts the pressure on, but even when I was safely in a job, the thought of an interview put me into a panic. I think for me, it is the not knowing the questions they would ask. You can only be so prepared. I think of the contestants on Miss America that have flubbed answers and are known forever as ditzes.
uhm YES! They are just awkward situations.
Interviewing makes me crazy nervous too! I assume it’s because I’m at the mercy of other people and have no control over the decision. I hate interviews!!
Interviewing ALWAYS made me nervous–in many ways I think that is better than being too self-confident. At least one is open to the idea that things might not go as well as one would hope and the disappointment would be mitigated if the position was not offered. The strangest thing was my very first job after graduation with my nursing degree–I applied to my local hospital because I had to work in the state for a year to pay back one of my scholarships, and never really received any verification that I had the job! I had to call later (the DON happened to be the organist at our church, but I didn’t feel right asking her there!) and she was astounded that I didn’t know I would be starting there–of course they hadn’t told me when!
Interviews always make me jittery as well — for me, it’s the uncertainty of the balance to strike between being authentic to myself and wanting to tell the interviewers what I think they want to hear. I end up second guessing myself and come across as less confident as a result, so now I try to go in with the attitude that I should just relax and be myself — if I get the position, at least I’ll know that I don’t have to put on a different persona or be inauthentic to succeed!
Interviewing makes me nervous, I hate it actually! It’s not my strong suit. I do best when a prospective employer contacts my references.
i work at resort no big fancy job just work in a restaurant. wanted to make a lateral move to a different restaurant for a change in shift hours. i knew everyone involved and pretty much had a lock on the job. then, in the interview i got the giggles. yeah, well. my current hours aren’t that bad
Don’t sell yourself short, Judy. Front line employees can make or break a business. I started my career as a server and worked my way to the corporate office!
i’ve been in management. national company regional employee of the year twice. left for a job where i just do my job and go home with no worries, great insurance and money in my pocket. there’s something to be said for a simple lifestyle as you move toward retirement.besides my corporate job never matched my 401k 100% to 12% of my gross pay. LOL looking at that retirement soon. wanted the other position cause i’m a night owl. i’m bad backwards from everyone else.
Good for you! Maybe another opportunity will come up for the evening shift!
I get so nervous for interviews that my face gets all flushed and I’m likely to answer with a shaky voice. The two best jobs I’ve ever had both had a ‘panel’ type interview where instead of interviewing one on one you have to face a panel of people! Both times, I was not aware that I would be facing more than one person and I nearly fainted. I believe I got lucky both times because I seemed to ‘click’ with the person who ultimately would make the decision. Of course, I sweated the whole way through, both times.
In the same vein, I get really nervous during annual reviews – even though I’m pretty much a model employee – I think it is related to not having a good enough self esteem. Something I definitely need to work on.
Who doesn’t get nervous at interviews?