Got Pre-Interview Jitters?

The thought of going on a job interview does not appeal to most people. For some, however, it deals them a hand of heightened anxiety. They feel like they’re being put under a microscope and dissected. The feeling’s not unwarranted. Who really wants to sit there and discuss, in detail, their greatest weakness? Who wants to relive a time when they had to deal with a negative situation at work and then explain what they did to resolve it? Then, five minutes later, switch gears entirely and try to convince the interviewer that they’re wonderful.

Years ago, I was chatting with a woman who was a human resources director. We started talking about interviewing and she made a confession to me. “Most of the time, the interviewer is just as nervous as the interviewee.” This was such a shocking revelation and I asked her how this could be. Here’s the answer:

Scenario One: The interviewer is from the human resources department

These people have been hired based on their skill or experience to select the right candidate for the right job. In fact, part of their job performance is based on that. What’s their retention rate? Their turnover rate? If they continually select people who don’t work out for one reason or another, their own job might be in jeopardy. No pressure there! Also, they have to be forever mindful of the questions they ask a candidate. Due to discrimination laws and such, interviewers must be careful that their questions do not come across as discriminatory or otherwise illegal, even in the slightest. As a rule, employers don’t like to be sued by a person who believes, whether rightfully so or not, that he or she wasn’t selected due to age, gender, race, religion, etc.

Scenario Two: The interviewer is someone in the department you’d be working in, possibly the supervisor 

These people usually have no education or training on how to interview and select candidates. Sure the person might be educated, but not in human resources. Their sphere of concern is different compared to an HR employee. They need to select someone that will fit into the department seamlessly so they don’t upset the existing employees. Their reputation is at stake. If the new employee ends up being incompetent, their superiors will question their competency to choose a good employee. If the new employee ends up being disruptive or has a bad attitude, their superiors might question how sound their judgment of character is. It might be part of their performance review as well. And just like a human resources employee, they, too, have to be mindful that the questions they ask are allowed by law. 

This information might not magically make your pre-interview jitters go away, but rest assured that you probably aren’t the only nervous person in the room. Take a deep breath, smile, offer a firm and confident handshake, and be yourself. You can do it!