Job interview-having social anxiety?
I've never had a job before and I have an interview for one tomorrow that I'm very nervous about.For awhile now I've known that I definitely have social anxiety,which makes it really hard for me to talk about myself or really have the confidence in certain situations. It has affected me in every day life and I've missed opportunities because of it.I'm already a very insecure person but having the social anxiety makes it worse especially with one on one talking. I'm really nervous about f'ing up my interview tomorrow because of it. I'm going to be shaky,nervous,stuttering,feel judged,awkward,uncomfortable and not want to say the wrong thing and i just want to try to control it as best i can. I may be eventually getting medication for it but in the meantime I really need some sort of way to help it for tomorrow,it's taken me till I was 18 now,to even have the courage to go to an actual interview. Thanks for any help! (:
How can I do well in a job interview with social anxiety?
Having worked most of my career in mental health, some of it as a therapist, I would agree with the comments and suggestions provided by Nancy Barbour.Social anxiety and any of the other anxiety-related disorders can be debilitating for those who suffer from it. And suffer is a good word. Their anxiety sucks out any enjoyment of their life.I’m going to take a little different approach to answering the question though.Interviewing for a job is not something we do every day. It is difficult to become self-confident in an activity that we are likely performing in a less than an equal capacity with our interviewer.I’m currently working on creating an on-line course entitled You’re Hired! Job Search Strategies that Work. It will be at hosted at VirversitY. It should be up and running in the next two weeks.While social anxiety can certainly be debilitating, not knowing how to perform in a job interview, can produce its own level of stress.Being self-confident in any endeavor can help reduce anxiety levels, at least to a manageable level.You would be well-advised to learn how to participate in a job interview. This includes researching the job you are applying for and knowing what the key competencies that the employer is looking for.It also means developing a series of questions that the interviewer is likely to ask to assess your capabilities of performing in the role. Role playing answering questions prior to the live version can go a long way in reducing your anxiety.Fear of the unknown is a common fear. If you practice in advance, you can help reduce your anxiety. Performance anxiety is also common. You are better off to build your confidence in practice sessions, before you go live.Make no mistake. Looking for work is work! You have the added challenge of social anxiety. When you land your job, guess what … your social anxiety will still be there and will likely affect your day-to-day working conditions.That’s where the psychotherapy comes in.Good luck in overcoming this challenge. You can do it!
How to deal with a job interview with social anxiety?
I have severe social anxiety and I've never had a job before. I finally worked up the courage to apply to some stores for part-time work and I got a call from Target asking to set up an interview. It's in a week and every day I'm more and more terrified. I have a list of possible questions they might ask and I'm trying to script out my answers to sound as natural and appealing as possible. My main concern is that I have no prior work experience, not even volunteer or babysitting experience. I'm 20 years old and I just don't have experience. I know that when I go in and sit and talk to them I will be able to smile and be outspoken about myself, I just don't know how to answer the question of "Tell me about yourself" when I have nothing impressive to tell.
Job Interview...Nervous, I have a social anxiety...?
Just be yourself. Don't try to fool the interviewer. Point out non work experiences that will help you do the job you are looking for. The main things an interviewer wants to know is that you want the job and are capable of doing the job. You may not have been employed for money, but I am sure that you have had "work experiences that would qualify you for gainful employment. And don't forget to pray. Good Luck and God Bless!
I have social anxiety and sweat profusely at job interviews, should I just be honest with them?
Well, did the sweating appear to offend the interviewer? If you think it went okay, maybe you will get the job, and after a while it will not be so intense once you get used to the enviornment. I do not have the sweating problem, but I did have a real problem with social anxiety at one time. I was the lead singer in a band, and a mortgage broker, and I was mortified of being on stage and meeting new clients or agents. It just took me time to get used to it all, and over the years it went away completely. Best of luck to you.
Social Anxiety/Avoidance and Job Interviews?
I am a recent college graduate who has had relatively severe social anxiety since my junior year of high school. I have a lot of avoidant behavior to avoid social situations that will cause me a lot of anxiety. I recently got a job interview for tomorrow. I have had a phone interview, but have yet to have an in-person job interview. I am extremely nervous for this interview, and the job also seems to entail a decent amount of socializing in a professional environment. I almost just want to avoid this interview, and perhaps look for a job that involves less socializing and is closer to me (This job is a 40 minute commute). I don t have any college loans and I m completely comfortable with my current living situation (Living with my dad, seeing my girlfriend on weekends, working part time at a retail store). I don t NEED this job but I m going to feel like a failure if I avoid this interview. It s really disturbing how much better I feel when I start to think about avoiding the job interview. To further add to this, I have a phone interview tomorrow before the job interview for a job that is closer to me but is only temporary. I m thinking of maybe doing the phone interview, but avoiding the in-person interview for the other job. Here is the exact job I have an in-person interview with tomorrow (attached below). Does this sound like a job that would be just too much for me and my social anxiety. Should I start to seek a psychiatrist? What should I do? :(
Can't get a job because of social anxiety?
Yep, I have social anxiety too. I had a real problem with phone calls especially. Today I've made 3 phone calls to people I didn't know. It's been a few months since it was really bad, but I've had hypnotherapy and I've been exposing myself to situations. The only way to overcome it is to face your fears. You'll notice you do things called safety behaviours, like walk a different route to the shop so you see less people or whatever. This makes you feel better about your walk, but feeds your social anxiety because you haven't confronted it. You have to recognise what you're doing to avoid situations, and put yourself in them. Start out with small things and keep a record of it. Activity, anxiety level, thoughts, etc. There are some great self help sheets available online (try http://www.get.gg) to help you. You CAN get better, don't give up. Be honest with your therapist and challenge yourself. Good luck :)
Edit : Will I get hired if I say in an interview, that I have social anxiety/depression?
Is it okay to say in an interview that you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Is it okay to mention that you've been divorced twice? Is it okay to mention that one of your children committed suicide?Is it okay? What does that mean? Is it legal? Yes. Is it morally acceptable? I suppose so.Here's the question you need to ask: not "is it okay?" but "Will it help me get hired?"And the answer is most definitely "no".In an interview situation, you are a salesman, and the product you're selling is yourself. Every syllable that comes out of your mouth needs to be very intentionally pressing toward the outcome of you being hired.EDIT:Just read the details. Sorry, didn't see them at first.The question about your "biggest weakness" is one that comes up frequently in interviews. In your question, you ask "is it okay to say that I have social anxiety/depression?" You did not ask if it was okay to to say you've overcome social anxiety/depression, you asked if it was okay to say that you have those problems.I think it might -- depending upon the situation and whether you personally are able to sell the overcoming part -- be okay to tell this story in response to the "biggest weakness" question. In other words, you need to tell the story as an overcomer, and sell that aspect -- you've overcome this. But, quite frankly, I would advise you that talking about depression is off-limits at an interview, if you want to get hired. If you've overcome it, great! But think of a car salesman who's trying to sell a car that once had serious engine problems -- but since then the engine's been replaced. Would he be well advised to start talking about the engine trouble is used to have, back when it had the old engine? Why would he even bring that up? How does it help sell the car?EDIT (again):It depends also on what kind of job you're interviewing for. If you interviewing as a grief counselor, or probably certain other specific positions, it might make perfect sense to bring this up as a selling point for your qualifications.