Job interviews make me extremely nervous. I know that is a normal reaction, but mine is really over the top. My hands get very shaky and I don't even recognize my own voice. It takes forever for me to answer questions. I feel uncomfortable and probably make the interviewer uncomfortable as well.

The stress is so major, I look and feel like an idiot. Has anybody else had this problem?

I'm pretty good at interviews. I go in with the attitude that I'm the one that's sort after, that I have incredable skills, and that I've always been told I present myself well. Plus, I always put on the mindset that I don't really need the job anyway. Someone once said, "Work like you don't need the money."
This might take away some of the pressure for you.

If not, I think it's perfectly alright to ask your health provider for drugs. A half a Xanax might just make a world of difference. Why hurt yourself even more with the stress.

For me, I always seem to get offered the job, then feel obligated to take it, whether I really want it or not.

Then the tough part comes, the day to day going to work. I always seem to get harassed and abused.

If I could make money doing only interviews, I'd be a wealthy woman right now.

Good luck Cecilia.........remember, act like you don't NEED the job, just want to see if it might be a fit and something you want to do. Act like you are volunteering for it. Might relieve some of the pressure for you.

Cecilia,

I love what TLight offered you - go into the interview with the mindset that you don't need the job. Also, interviewing with a company also consists of you asking questions to them, don't think of it as a situation where you are at their mercy, they have something to prove to you as well, and that is that their company is a great place for someone like you.

On the more technical side of things:

Most employers now utilize an interviewing technique called "competency based interviewing". Basically, the interviewer will ask a series of questions based on your past performance and phrase them like such:

Tell me about a time when you had to work in a team environment on a project and you and another team member disagreed about the way in which the team should achieve their goal.

(and then to follow on that same path, the interviewer might ask)

How did you go about communicating to the team your thoughts regarding the way in which the team should achieve the goal?

Was the goal achieved and was it achieved by the deadline?

Anyway, you can look up tons of example competency based questions online, just type in "competency based interviewing".

Also, if you get that nervous in interviews, I would definitely take a xanax. You have got to show confidence in an interview.

Good luck!

Best,
Rachel

To help me remember things I write down a list of major points I want to mention about myself and prior work history in one of those fancy-shmancy portfolio-things. I also have a list of common interview questions, (like 3 or so), and a note or two of what I can say to help me get started. Also, since on every job interview I've been on I've been asked if I have any questions, I write down a few beforehand (along with my other notes) so that I appear to be interested in the company/job.

Hi Cecillia
I have that problem, too, real nervous and unsure of myself. I know how, just never seem to follow through in actions when the time comes.

Generally, if you've ever been employed somewhere, don't say anything negative about your former employer. The interviewer is going to assume you will talk negatively about them when you leave, as well.

Your best bet for landing a position is if you already have one. That includes babysitting, mowing lawns, proofreading essays or articles for someone or doing sewing alterations. If you get paid to do something - it's a job. You wouldn't necessarily put those down as former employers on an application, but you could. What this does is shows you take yourself and your work seriously. You have a no-nonsense approach to responsibility and let's face it, taking care of someone else's child is huge responsibility.

Don't sweat the small stuff. If you don't have a college education and you aren't taking classes, that's OK. There are actually places that turn down applicants for no reason other than, "You're over qualified for the position we are offering." I've never been told that, but have known people who were. I think it's pretty safe to say that few minimum wage jobs require any specialized training or college attendance. Present yourself as you are; nothing more, nothing less. You are important and valuable. The interviewer is understaffed and you are offering your time and energy to that end.

Don't get all bummed out if you don't get the job. Don't get all bummed out if you don't think the interview went as well as you'd hoped. Don't give up and don't be afraid to put in an application or submit a resume in more than one place at a time.

I know you'll be fine. You care. If you didn't care, you wouldn't have asked here for advice, encouragement and help.

Oh, one other thing. If you feel yourself freezing, your heartbeat speeding up or your feet getting cold, you can still come out on top with three very basic skills: dress for success; smile; be the first to offer a handshake. Yes, really!

And, if you don't think any of the above works, put a joke in your pocket and look at it before you get out of your car at the location of the interview. It'll put a smile on your face and relax you all at the same time. Honest!

Good luck!

I would advise that you do NOT mention that you have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Of course, that's not exactly something I would put on my resume.

I guess if they ask me about management experience I could say that I have "managed" my PTSD for many years and have not completely snapped as of yet.

Nah, guess it doesn't work.

Thank you for all the input though, it sounds like good advice. I will try it.

I was recently on an interview committee. It was interesting being on the other side for once. There were four interviews for two jobs that were open. Of the four only one was hired. Based on the non-hires these are the things we found missing:

One person rambled about experience that did not pertain to the job.

Another person was not specific enough in skills that she had, and had a prior history of poor performance.

I would recommend in your cheat sheets you list all skills you have to offer including;

people skills (yeah really - we all have some) like answering phones, communicating differences, volunteer activities, supporting administrators,
accomplished goals in prior work experience that relate to the job offer
computer skills with specific software applications (spread sheets, word processing, research, etc...)
Have you ever taken initiative in a job rather than being led by the hand?
Amount of time you take off - chronic absenteeism or rarely miss a day.

Yes, I have done far too many interviews over the past year.

The best way for me to reduce stress/apprehension/nervousness/etc was to go into the interview prepared. Knowing I'm prepared and have learned to do this well takes off a lot of stress, and makes the interview go smoother.

1. Review your past job performance and think of good examples for the interview. Also good to prepare answers in advance.
   1. Don't be overly general when you answer questions. Get into specifics, and show them how you can create results for them.
   2. If they ask you about your greatest weakness, don't do that thing where you make a positive out to be a negative, like "oh I work too hard" or "I expect too much of myself." Instead choose a real problem you had and describe the steps you took to overcome it.
   3. If there is something about your past that might need explaining, prepare a well rehearsed explanation.
   4. Don't say bad things about former employers
2. There are many good youtube videos about interviewing technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpYLOeOfL-Q
3. Do a mock interview with a career counselor type person.
4. Remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. You need to decide if this job is a good fit for you, and you can do this by asking the right questions. Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPHhDnk_0XA
5. Stay positive and interested
6. If they ask you about your salary expectations, it's a power play. If you can't avoid the question, give them a range such as 40 to 50K per year instead of one number such as 45K

Side note: I remember one on-site interview I did last May. I kept asking about what I'd be doing and what the job responsibilities were, but no one would tell me. I assumed that the job description and my discussions with an HR rep were accurate enough. I took the job, and it was nothing like I thought it would be. Also the culture was really nasty and I was miserable. So from now on, if a company doesn't answer my questions I don't take the job.

Thank you for your responses and very good advice.

I am quite nervous and I don't even have an interview scheduled, yet.

My problem is I get nervous at the interviews, but also, I do not feel very successful. For the past 7 years I have had a home daycare. That allowed me to stay home with my children while they were infants.

Now I am ready for my children to go to school and I need to find a job. I did not mind staying home to take care of my children, but staying home without any of my kids here is not a pleasant thought. I want to get out more and take my house back.

Anyway, I have a college degree but 7 years of daycare is not a shining accomplishment and I have no supervisor for them to call and verify.

That makes me feel like my hard work is not noteworthy. I'm not sure how to approach it. I did work at a law firm, but that has been 8 years ago. The attorney is giving me a good reference, but technically I have been out of the workforce for so long and I am 40 years old.

I feel unemployable.