Many people experience anxiety about applying for jobs, taking interviews, negotiating salaries, and waiting for their applications’ feedback. The thought of interviews already makes so many have sweaty palms.
I can’t even imagine how waiting rooms are nowadays with people waiting to be interviewed. This is very common and expected in the job search process, but there are better ways to handle the fear and anxiety that many people don’t know about.
People think that to get a job, you must prepare for the interview, research the job, and have answers to every question asked in the interview, but no, there’s more to the Q&A that happens in those rooms.
I have experienced job search fears; trust me, it has mixed emotions. It could be that you are transitioning from one field of work to another, and you probably didn’t study that particular field, and now you feel inadequate in that field.
You could also be seeking career advancement and feel your experiences need to measure up. Impostor syndrome is an enemy of progress and has become a significant setback for people searching for jobs.
Often, it is fear of change – the fear of the unknown. This is an even worse feeling when you are unsure if the job you get will be better than the previous one. All these fears stem from somewhere.
Have you applied for a job that took forever to give feedback? Days, weeks, and months pass without any response, and due to this, anxiety has built up, and finally, all you get is, “sorry you didn’t fit this position.” This can be daunting and heart-breaking considering the time you have spent searching for opportunities and the time you have taken to apply for the job.
On the opposite side, as much as it can be a demoralizing process, it can also be an exciting process full of opportunities and growth. As much as it can be exciting, the fears outweigh the excitement. Many people will ask you to prepare for the interview through research, and blah!
As sometimes it is good to know what you are getting into, there are other better ways of preparing for an interview without fear and anxiety.
Here are ways you can overcome job search fear and anxiety.
Invest in curiosity
Instead of worrying about what to say in an interview, build a curiosity to learn more about the company and its culture.
Avoid making it your agenda.
Use the time of the interview to connect with them, exchange business cards, share ideas and make the interview conversational. That way, you avoid focusing too much on getting the job; instead, you leave that room with a network of professionals who even become your friends afterward.
Learn to keep an open mind that can learn and grow.
Instead of being overwhelmed with anxiety over a job you are not even sure you will get, keep an open mind that you will not be disappointed after not getting the opportunity.
Even though you might not get the job, that will keep your spirits high to push for even better options.
Overcome the impostor syndrome.
We are sometimes too quick to say that we can’t live up to expectations before getting the job. We already put ourselves down before anyone does.
Self-trust and confidence are what many of us need to be successful in any job search. With that level of confidence, you’ll be surprised you’ll be ready for the next step up.
Write down your accomplishments as you work on your confidence.
One thing we do as humans is focused too much on the achievements we are yet to make, and we forget how far we have come and the many we have proudly aced in the past.
Talking about accomplishments will give you the confidence to measure up in your next job because you discover how capable you are by talking about them.
Remember also that your ability to perform tasks will come with experience and practice in due time. With these few points, I trust we shall ease the rigidness in our interview rooms and ace the process.
