New York-based interview coach
Pamela Skillings has seen her fair
share of interview-phobics over the
years. Recently, she had a bright
and accomplished client who
dreaded interviews so much that he
stayed in a job he disliked for a
year too long. As a child, he had a
stutter but had learned over time
how to control it. After the stutter
surfaced in a couple of interviews,
he became convinced that it would
come out whenever he got nervous.
His fear took over and became
distracting and stressful, said
Skilling in an email.
Your nerves might be due to a wide
range of things, from speech issues
to rusty interview skills or an
introverted personality. But, the
result is the same, fear of facing the
all-important in-person meeting.
So, what’s an interview-shy
candidate to do? How can you
make yourself appear as convincing
in person as you are on paper and
get over your anxiety?
Can never be too prepared
In the case of Skilling’s client, the
trick for him was to work on his
answers and prepare thoroughly
enough before a meeting to feel
completely confident. “It also
helped him to get candid feedback
on his speaking style and realise
that a hint of stutter coming out
really wasn't a big deal as long as
he could refocus, get back on track,
and give good answers,” she said.
The result: he soon landed a new
job much better suited to his skills
and interests.
A workaround
At the American University of Paris,
director of career development,
Danielle Savage, works with
students and alumni from around
the globe. She says that in many of
the students’ cultures, just the idea
of “selling oneself” is distasteful.
So, when it is time for a job
interview, many of these would-be
employees are already at a
disadvantage.
Savage tries to help current and
former students around this disdain
for self-promotion. She likens the
preparation for an interview to what
marketers do: study up to know
their market.
“As a candidate, you need to know
your potential employers’ needs,
wants and pain points. Then it’s up
to you to craft stories that give
examples of how you used your key
attributes to solve problems similar
to those experienced by your
interviewer,” Savage said in an
email. “This shifts the focus from
what might be perceived as
bragging or mindlessly repeating
what’s on your resume (CV), to
what the employer needs and what
you as a candidate can bring to the
table.”
By explaining your key
accomplishments and how you
solve problems, you will
automatically feel more enthusiastic
and less intimidated, said Savage.
“[You] will naturally come across as
more compelling.” And you might
feel less like you’re selling
something and more like you’re
simply having a friendly
conversation with a colleague.
Steps to take
Joannah Griffin, human resources
manager at Deakin University in
Melbourne, Australia, has a number
of steps she suggests to students
with interview phobias. The first is
to rehearse the interview
beforehand with a family member or
friend to help you feel more at ease
talking about yourself. Second is to
dress for success. “Your
appearance can completely change
the way you feel about yourself,”
she said in an email. “The better
you feel, the more confident you
are.”
Griffin tells her students to take
slow deep breaths to help relax
their bodies. “Close your eyes and
picture the interview progressing
successfully,” she said. “Research
the role, the company and your
abilities to meet the section
criteria. The more you know, the
more confident you will be in being
able to respond to questions.”
Turn the tables
Many interviewees make the
mistake of thinking that the
interviewer is out to get them or trip
them up. But that’s not the case,
said Devora Zack, chief executive
officer at Only Connect Consulting,
a career consulting firm in
Washington, DC, and author of
soon-to-be-published
Singletasking, in an email.
“No interviewer thinks, 'I hope this
candidate is a big waste of my time
and completely blows the
interview.'” said Zack. “They are
thinking 'I hope this person is the
solution. I hope s/he's fantastic.'”
In other words, you both want the
same thing.

By Elizabeth Garone