Anxiety attacks in job interviews!

[Allenafaith]

Have you ever had an anxiety attack while at a job interview?


I've had around five job interviews now. I always talk to myself in the car before I go in and tell myself that I'll do a good job. I know I am nervous during the interview, though. I always pray that the person interviewing me doesn't notice. I feel my eye twitching sometimes, and I'll shake, so I generally try to leave my hands in my lap or something. 


I'm not the only one who has this issue, right?

 

[fuzyon]

As a programmer my job interviews are always different, everytime I get asked different questions and I'm tested for like an hour each time. I try to keep my anxiety bottled up because otherwise I wouldn't be able to code, my mind would just go blank. It's definitely stressful, I have to study a lot for the interview questions but when I finally get a job it all makes it worth it.

 

[lexinonomous]

I have had my fair share of anxiety attacks prior and during interviews. One of my biggest fears is attending a job interview. I am terrible at answering questions on the spot. I may know the right answer, but once someone asks me a question, my mind will go completely blank. I shake nervously as the interviewer goes through their list of questions. My only focus is that I am one of several people being interviewed and very well might not get the job. I am always wondering if they could just give me a chance, if I'd be up for the job and make them proud. It's such a terrible process to go through.


If they gave us the option to have written interviews, I would be just fine, ha ha.

 

[misszerable]

I know how that feels. Interviews are always the hardest part of the application process for me. Panel interviews are the worst! No matter how much prep I do before the day, I'd still get nervous on the day itself and I have to psyche myself up an hour before the interview to get through the moment. I would always convince myself that I have what it takes to land the job and that I  just have to tell them what I can do for them and that I'd like to help them grow if they'll give me the opportunity. Being honest does help a lot.   

 

[hades_leae]

I have been extremely nervous in many of the interviews that I've had in my past, but not an attack. I remember my last one in 2015 at this chemical company. I was interviewed by the plant manager, and we talked a lot about my previous job, and my resume which I lied on. I knew going in what I was doing, and I knew he was going to ask about the 2 years that I said I was working at this one company, which was probably the reason why I got hired. 


My main focus was to remember everything I had put on the resume, and I didn't feel nervous.

 

[HappyKoi]

I have this issue at interviews, too.  I go over possible questions and what I'm going to say in my head over and over again.  I have a hard time with looking people in the eye, so that's an extra problem.  It is nice to go in prepared, but sometimes I over-prepare and freeze up.  I also catch myself talking way too fast.  It's hard to relax before an interview, because a lot is at stake.

 

[Choochoo]

I had this issue with my first interview and now looking back I wish I had some guidance from my family but as with most things I was sent off just to guess whatever it was I had to do. Thankfully I was used to thinking on my toes by then so I just calmed myself down in the car before walking into the office and I did end up getting the job and I even got my friends positions in the company too since they were looking for more than just one person at the time. 

 

[DDNatureLover]

I think most people get nervous in interviews, whether they're for a job, college entrance, or some other type of situation. Positive self-talk helps, but it's always good to be prepared. Know about the field and what you can contribute to the field and company in particular. I tend to freeze up and my mind goes blank when I'm nervous, so I tend to keep a few small notes handy, of points I want to bring up or information that would be helpful to the interviewer. Rehearsal and role play have proven to be particularly helpful to me in the past, and often help me get past the brain freeze. 

 

[oportosanto]

Actually I never had this problem, I always felt somewhat confident in job interviews. Sure, nervous inside, but I never allowed that to took control over me. I haven't had a job interview in many years though, so I really don't know how I would be now.

 

[explorerX7]

I have had problems at interviews in most instances. It is not an event I am comfortable to be involved in especially when there is a large number of interviewers and some of them are trying to justifying their presence by asking irrelevant questions. Many times after an interview In retrospect I find that I had not responded to questions as best as I could because of anxiety.

 

[CT422]

In job interviews, my mouth gets super dry, my palms sweat and I almost completely forget questions and possible answers I practice or write down. I also have a problem maintaining eye contact. Group interviews are completely unbearable for me, especially if it's for a position requiring a lot of interaction with others. 

If they gave us the option to have written interviews, I would be just fine, ha ha.

God, I wish this was an option. 


I've been told I'm a good worker as well, which of course, I've never been able to articulate in an interview, even when they directly ask. I'm just a mess for the whole process. 

 

[Laneorexorcist]

I haven't had any extremely bad experiences when it comes to job interviews, and to be honest, I haven't really been in a lot of them so I can't really hay a lot about them, lol. But I do remember always feeling really nervous over them! And most of the times I am nervous while just sending my CV to them, it kinds of feel like I am exposing myself to be completely judged by something like that...

 

[John Snort]

Job interviews make most people nervous. When it is a job you badly want and know there's a 50% chance you might not get hired, you have to be a little anxious. Remember that nervousness will probably cost you the job so you must shake off your anxiety. Positive self talk could help. Remind yourself that you can make it. You will make it. It'll calm you down.

 

[babyleans]

Yes i have. Job interviews always make me nervous. The interviewers always look mean and angry. I don't know if anybody else has experienced this. I find that preparing adequately for the interview helps. In such situations i also find that i start stress sweating, and body odor is another major source of my anxiety.

 

[amy88]

The lead up to interviews for me is the worst. I feel like my head goes through every POSSIBLE scenario to the point I basically make myself a big anxious mess. I guess I just always think I'll be asked questions that I don't have answers to, and then I'll be sitting there all awkward and stuff...


The interviews I have had have been better than my 'mental image' of them, but it still doesn't help in battling the nerves that come with interviews...