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Stressing over first job interview

Pru

Hi. I’m Pru and I have Autism and ADHD. I’m 18 and I’m stressing so much because I have a job interview coming up. This is my first interview and I’m feeling so much anxiety over it. I didn’t finish school because of anxiety and my mental health, which at the time was awful. With no grades I feel like I have nothing to really offer and this is also stressing me out, though they did contact me so they’ve obviously got interests in me but I can’t figure out why. I’ve not been to an interview before so I’m unsure what exactly will happen. I worry I’ll have a meltdown or a panic attack. This is my biggest worry. If that happens then I can definitely kiss the job goodbye and then I might not find another job again for a long time.

I put my autism diagnosis on my CV. I wasn’t sure if I should or not but I did and I added ‘I hope this won’t be a problem’ and then the woman who replied to me who I think is the manager said ‘Being autistic is absolutely fine!’ So this has given me a little bit of a confidence boost but now I’m worried I’ll mess the interview up with a meltdown or panic attack. The interview is Friday and it’s meant to be 31 degrees here then and I’m worried in case I get too hot. But I’m trying not to over think it. I would be grateful for any tips and advice you might be able to offer.

TIA Hugging x

Parents

  • Remember to breathe.

    In my first interview I was so nervous I would breathe in, say a few words, breath in some more, say a bit more, then breathe in and found I was struggling.

    I paused, breathed out and back in a couple of times and calmed down. You don't need full lungs to talk.

    It is ok to pause before answering. If you need time to think, you can repeat the question to delay a bit more.

    If you don't know something don't worry, just say you don't know. But if you can you can say I would guess the answer is this. It shows you know your limits but are willing to try. You could also suggest how you would find the answer, ask the manager, look it up, it shows initiative.

    A good interviewer will try to put you at ease, they want you to talk so they can judge if you are ok.

    It is good to be a bit nervous and they expect that. If you are totally not nervous it looks like you don't care.

    Make sure you know where it is and allow enough time. Get there a bit early. Don't put yourself under pressure.

    You don't have to be perfect. So don't beat yourself up it something does not go quite right. I know someone who walked into a pond before an interview, they did ok.

    View it as a learning experience and if you get the job it will be a bonus. This will put less pressure on you.

    Good luck.

Reply

  • Remember to breathe.

    In my first interview I was so nervous I would breathe in, say a few words, breath in some more, say a bit more, then breathe in and found I was struggling.

    I paused, breathed out and back in a couple of times and calmed down. You don't need full lungs to talk.

    It is ok to pause before answering. If you need time to think, you can repeat the question to delay a bit more.

    If you don't know something don't worry, just say you don't know. But if you can you can say I would guess the answer is this. It shows you know your limits but are willing to try. You could also suggest how you would find the answer, ask the manager, look it up, it shows initiative.

    A good interviewer will try to put you at ease, they want you to talk so they can judge if you are ok.

    It is good to be a bit nervous and they expect that. If you are totally not nervous it looks like you don't care.

    Make sure you know where it is and allow enough time. Get there a bit early. Don't put yourself under pressure.

    You don't have to be perfect. So don't beat yourself up it something does not go quite right. I know someone who walked into a pond before an interview, they did ok.

    View it as a learning experience and if you get the job it will be a bonus. This will put less pressure on you.

    Good luck.

Children
  • in reply to Stuart333
    Stuart333 said:
    You don't have to be perfect. So don't beat yourself up it something does not go quite right.

    Stuart333 highlights a super point - the good news is that the interviewer is not a mind reader - so, if it seemed to you that something didn't go quite right; you don't need to unnecessarily draw their attention to it (you may be more critical about it than the interviewer ...as you are the person in the room who knows what you might have said if it went "perfectly").

    After all, if they wanted a computer to do the job; they would have already bought one.  Instead, they have chosen to meet you in an interview about the job (not a "perfect" computer).