Job interviews are the worst for any of us who go through social anxiety as we do not like the idea of even leaving the house in the first place.
Depending on who you are that is, and what level your social anxiety is at. But basically, I have been there and done that.
So in this article I will show you the true colors of preparing for such an event.
My Experience
In the beginning, working in particular was something that I feared doing the most but was something I wanted to do so badly.
My only friend who was outgoing had a job and was bringing in money that I could not simply earn from only mowing lawns and such.
I always had those thoughts going on in my head that were irrational or too positive like “I’m going to be the most devoted worker that anyone has ever seen”.
And I had the fear of irrational things like “what if I had to provide a GED diploma to an employer upon getting hired onto any certain job?”
I also had other irrational questions like “what if I am not social enough?”, or “what if they don’t offer hours for me to work after school?”
The friend of mine with the job and such, simply said “just go for it, who cares, the questions will be answered when you get there!”
Some Facts
All those questions were answered once I got past the job interview stages.
Basically, for what ever job it is, if it’s your first job then you most likely will not need your GED papers.
Also, in the first few weeks of working for an employer for a very basic job, you will feel all dedicated and such and you will be over apologizing for small things – which is a part of going through social anxiety.
This is Only the Beginning
But instead of pretending that you’re already there from reading what I just wrote, here is what you must do to prepare for a job interview before hand:
1. Getting Prepared For Change
If they haven’t called you yet to arrange a job interview, write down somewhere on a piece of paper or in a text file on your computer (make sure no one finds this) of what you will say when you get that phone call.
You aren’t going to read it during the phone call, your going to read it over and over again before the call is even made so you remember mostly the general idea of what you should say.
2. The First Phone Call
When they call, remember what you wrote down, and make sure you force yourself to think about what time you are available and if you are looking for part time or full time work.
Most often part time work is the smartest and only option you should go with if you are in school or something.
3. Slow Talk Makes Yourself Understandable
Make sure you speak slowly (and try to practice that slow rhythm of talking before getting the phone call by talking to a friend your used to on the phone to practice), as they can better understand you when your not in a rush to get off the phone.
4. Suit Up
Before showing up to the location of the job interview, try to think about what employees that work at that workplace wear, and try to find something that is fully suitable to their standards (like if it was K-Mart, black pants and a red shirt).
5. Tell Yourself You WILL Succeed
Mentally before you show up to the interview, just keep telling yourself in your head as a replacement thought for those negative thoughts that “it’s just a job interview, and all I must do is answer all questions and nod my head a million times”.
Never say you cannot do something and be in the position to agree to everything they say, only disagree if you feel it’s the right thing to do or if not, then that will not lead into getting the job.
6. Read My Lips
Try to make sure when your talking that your lips are moving when your talking, this was an issue I had at my first job interview.
Always be forcing yourself to make eye contact, as looking away a lot is a turn off to them because communication is key in this meeting or interview of getting you the job.
7. The First 90 Days
Be prepared as you walk out to plan everything in your lifestyle to adjust to this new lifestyle.
Always dedicate yourself to the job when your working in your first 90 days on the job, and if you feel it’s not for you, see if you can financially afford giving your two weeks after finding a different job.
There are many cases where someone cannot take the stress of a job that simply doesn’t pay that well anyways.
There is always a new job out there for you that either pays less and has less stress or pays more and has the same amount of stress or none at all, you just gotta get yourself out there.
If you want to rid yourself of social anxiety to the point that you can go on job interviews, click here to read about the Dissolve Social Anxiety Program to aid you in your recovery.
Some other things I’d like to mention
The whole process is a lot of pushing yourself, as it was for me. I was gently pushed into getting a job myself, which was the first process of making a resume.
After it was made, that resume only had to be handed out to a few workplaces, that I specifically chose while being in the know that most likely I could get a job that I could handle my anxiety within.
Once you meet people, get to know them while working with them, you will see and learn how reality is again. I almost forgot what reality was like after being isolated so much before.
I guess when you isolate yourself, lose your outgoingness and become afraid to leave the house, your beliefs only go as far as the front door.
You kind of forget what it was like during that work experience you did two years ago, or that volunteering you did when you were in middle school.
Good luck to you!
Those are just examples but, the confidence in knowing how you will act when you get your first job, then changing the things you don’t like in how you act when you are working because of social anxiety is the next step.
But the longer you sit down and ruminate about getting a job, and continue complaining about not having a job and not having money, the longer it will take you to get your foot into that door of getting a pay cheque, and also obtaining the other benefits of having a job like confidence and learning what reality is like, alot more.
I wish you success in your first attempt at finding a job through a successful interview, despite having social anxiety during the process.
Joe is a blogger that writes all about Social Anxiety as he experienced it himself for almost ten years in his life, and still currently to a minimal degree. “Like“ his blog on Facebook if you would like to subscribe to read more of his content.
