[SomeoneToTrust]

I’m a very introvert and shy person. I can’t mingle up with people well specially with unknown people, but as I get more acquainted with strangers and interact with them regularly I feel okay around them. I feel nervous when I’m around total strangers; I’m even hesitate to request help from others. I have a job interview within few days. I have failed at job interviews before. I have no experience of working at any firm before (in my country part-time jobs aren’t considered as job experience most of the time as the majority of them are not quite relevant with the full time jobs here, and it takes away valuable time for study so I never did any part time job. I think I’ve made a mistake here.). So my confidence level is pretty low about what I’m capable of doing. I am quite tensed about my career. I sort of shiver in fear, my throat gets dried, I can’t speak confidently to the interviewers and anxiety strangles my inner self during interview. Can anyone tell me how I can pass my job interview and make people think positive about me?

[Arha]

Hi STT,
I can understand your point of view. It really is scary to go to an interview.
But, you have said quite a few negative things in your post and I wonder whether you are even aware of this negative twist you are putting on the interview already?

I think you need to stop reinforcing those negative thoughts about what you cannot do and what you find difficult. Seriously, if you go in with that sort of thinking, they will get that sort of feedback from you.

So, positive points please: Believe it or not, most negatives can be turned into positives. The people who do this in the interview will be much more appealing to the interviewers.

So here is my go at pulling out the pros from what you have said: (some may be off base but I haven't much to go on so please forgive any errors!)

You enjoy a work environment where you can get to know people well and work with them as a team.
(as I get more acquainted with strangers and interact with them regularly I feel okay around them. )

You can work independently and are self-sufficient.
(I’m even hesitate to request help from others)

You are open to new things and keen to learn
(I have no experience of working at any firm before but you have applied for this new job)

This job is important to you, you have ambition, and you are driven to succeed at it.
(I am quite tensed about my career. I sort of shiver in fear,You feal fear because it is important to you)

[Arha]

Hi, any news? Have you had the interview yet?
Best wishes for it.

[gnat]

When I have an interview and haven't had one in awhile I try to come up with possible questions an interviewer may ask and mull over in my mind how I would answer them. If you have someone who is willing, ask them to do a mock interview with you and give feedback.

The big thing is to remember you're selling yourself. Although it's good to present an area of weakness if asked, don't volunteer it. If they ask if you have experience with something and you do not, don't simply answer "no" but let them know you are willing and able to learn new things. Use good eye contact and make sure your handshake is firm.

I get worried about being late to interviews so I arrive early. I will then call a friend to calm my nerves while in the parking lot as I don't want to walk into the building too early. A walk around the parking lot may not be a bad idea if it's not a place where the interviewer may see you.

good luck!

[LarryHaywood]

Preparing yourself for the interview will help with the anxiety as you will feel more confident before going into your interview. Also, the more interviews you go through, you will get better at them as they are for the most part all similar. Another trick that sort of helped me get over my fears of interviewing was to quit putting so much importance on the interview or job for that matter. If I get it I get it, if not I'll keep looking. At least that's the attitude I adopted which did help me with interviewing.