I have been interviewing for a new job for the past year and a half and I think I've found THE opportunity for me.

Anonymous

August 7,2022 at 4:11PM UTC

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I have been interviewing for a new job for the past year and a half and I think I've found THE opportunity for me. It hasn't been a super successful search so far, with lots of interviews and heartbreaks along the way but I have hope for this one! I have an interview with the co-founder at this startup tomorrow so I think that's a good sign. I'm super stressed and don't know how to calm my nerves. This job has everything Im looking for and is so much better than my current role so I really hope it works out. Any advice to calm nerves?

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AnonymousAugust 7,2022 at 4:26PM UTC
Channel that excess energy into exercise and doing mock prep interviews turn job description into 30 interview questions. Practice out loud. Come up with 8 scenarios of challenging people and project scenarios you resolved and practice speaking to them
AnonymousAugust 7,2022 at 6:23PM UTC
Good luck!
NPR had a story about those stressful things that run through our heads over and over. Three suggestions (paraphrased)
1) Talk to yourself in the third person as if you were a friend. Perhaps something like... <your name>, you've gotten this interview because they think you're worth it, and you are!
2) Consider it from "outside" - as a "fly on the wall". What can you contribute to this company? Why would it be a good idea for them to hire you?
3) Think about it from the future. I'm not as sure how this applies to your situation... but whether or not this interview works out, you will find something, and it will be ok.
Best wishes!
AnonymousAugust 7,2022 at 6:56PM UTC
Breathe work is where you'll find calm
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 7,2022 at 9:16PM UTC
Making sure you're prepared can increase your confidence and calm your nerves. Have you done your research on the company? Do you have questions prepared to ask?
Is it a phone or video interview? If so, you can have a cheat sheet for points you want to hit on or examples you want to use.
Practicing your answers lets you edit them so you make sure you're getting across what you want to and can keep you from rambling if you tend to do that when nervous.
Also, I make sure to check how fast I'm talking. I tend to talk fast when I'm nervous and slowing my speech down calms me down.
And please make sure you're listening and answering the question asked.
You've got this. You'll be talking about you and you're already the Subject Matter Expert on that!
Please let me know if you have any questions. GOOD LUCK!!
AnonymousAugust 8,2022 at 1:12AM UTC
Be prepared, pace yourself and give it all you got.
Jackie GhedineAugust 8,2022 at 1:24PM UTC
Preparation helps to calm our nerves. Practice answers to all the standard questions from, "tell me about yourself" to behavioral and strategy questions. Research the company, the mission, the products, their go-to-market strategy. Wow them with your in-depth knowledge and bring insights and highlight how you can fill the gaps.
Good luck!
AnonymousAugust 9,2022 at 3:19AM UTC
How did it go?
AnonymousAugust 9,2022 at 6:55PM UTC
I just had a call with them to discuss compensation and benefits.
They said they really liked me and hope to wrap up the process by end of week. Sounds quite promising! Hoping to tell my manager in the next day or so once I get the offer :)