Help! I'm really nervous!?

Question

Im quite a quiet person. I've always been like this, but through going to university etc i've sort of got less shy.. i dont think people think i'm shy...just quiet.

Anyway, talking in public, or interviews are h**l for me. My voice gets veeerryy shaky, i can feel my face going red, i kind of go blank and cant think of what the question was... i then start talking rubbish!

I have a very important job interview next week...can anyone suggest ways of helping me relax, or ways in which i could come over very confident? All suggestions welcome, thanks

Answer 1

Imagine you are interviewing them to see if THEY are good enough for YOU. Do some acting practice first.  

Answer 2

I used to have that problem. Infact, sometimes I still do but I am overcoming it little by little. What has worked for me is I try reading/speaking infront of the mirror. So that way, I can hear how my voice sounds and try breathing deeper.  

Answer 3

just think of this as nothing important. like someone asking you if you like the color red. you don't go all shaky and not be able to think of the question. just don't think about it too much. and get a good nights sleep and eat a good breakfast =]

Answer 4

The people that do the interviewing totally expect it, unless its an interview for a radio presenter or something where a relaxed voice means everything, then i dont think nervousness harms your chances of getting the job, in fact i think they find it flattering that you're so eager to make a good impression. Ive been to plenty of interview and made a total nervous idiot of myself and got the job anyway :)

Answer 5

Just don't think about to... and the day before the interview, just totally enjoy yourself and have fun, forget about the interview totally. Then when the time comes you will feel less nervous... and stay relaxed, and remember that false confidence is better than no confidence ;)

Answer 6

Hello.

  Im the exact same in interviews and it use to bother me like it bothers you but as i grew older i figured that people like people that waffle like that. Thats why talkers are always good with the women.

   Stop trying to relax, leave the deep breaths at home and just go in and be yourself. If you get the job you get the job and if you dont, so what you dont. worrying about it isnt going to help.

   Plan something for that night, something youll enjoy and just have that on your mind as you go in. youll be in a good mood because your looking forward to it, that will show in the interview and then just go with the flo , seriously its no big deal, therll be other jobs if you get this or not.

   Just stop trying to relax and be calm, it just reminds you that your not. just go in answer the question right away so you dont forget it and then talk a load of c**p if you want, your only human man, just dont figit, be yourself.

   Good luck man, stop trying to be calm,its not helping you.

I see your asking about medicines as well now, some will say valuum or other such things but dont go down that road, your interviewer will notice and you will not be hired, trust me on that, you wont be hired.

Answer 7

meditation is great for relaxing you, the simplest thing you can do is lay down and just think about breathing in and out. also, you can practice with a family member or a friend to give you some idea what you might want to say before you get in there so you know have an idea of what your answers will be. if you know what you are going to say, chances are you will be much more confident.

Answer 8

Practice with likely interview questions to the mirror, have someone ask you questions and have you answer them and just keep talking to yourself. Practice is the key though!

Answer 9

some people take pills... i think they are called calms

i get claustrophobic but it aint as bad as it used to be, you gotta breath in for 4 seconds and out for 6 !  

Answer 10

Role-play, not in the sexual way obviously, but before you go to the interview invent a character who is the same as you in every way just really confident, then go to the interview as that character, i find pretending to be confident makes me feel confident, and this way the interviewer will see all your qualities. Don't act arrogant though just confident.

Best of luck!! I hope you get the job!!  

Answer 11

Take deep breaths, meditation, yoga etc....

To relax you.

Positive thinking helps, if you worry too much about it you will become v nervous, think positive, "I deserve this job", "I am ideal for these employers".

Focus on keeping eye contact (although do not stare!!) during your interview and you might take in more information.

Hope this helped a little.

Good luck with your interview next week ;-)

TRY CALMS OR ANOTHER HERBAL REMEDY, THEY SELL IN EVERY SUPERMARKET. GOOD LUCK

Answer 12

Try practicing answering interview questions with a friend, especially the killer questions like "Why should I hire you?" or "What can you bring to this company?"  Also, during the interview, make sure you breathe regularly and not too fast to keep your heart rate slower.  Make sure you make good eye contact and have a firm handshake.  Lastly, every time you feel panic started to enter your mind, force it back.  

Answer 13

You will become more confident by telling yourself, and believing that you are the best person to fill that position.  Chances, are, it's true.  Say it to yourself over and over again and look for all the reasons to support that belief.  There are more than you realize.  Practice in front of a mirror, so you can see what you look like during an imaginary interview and identify all the movements that are giveaways and work on correcting them.  Keep your hands planted on your lap or on the chair armrest, and keep your feet flat on the floor and keep them still.  Sit back in your chair...don't lean forward.   I also find that by slowing myself down I can overcome a lot of the nervousness in an interview and focus, focus, focus.  I would also invest in confidence building sessions/therapy.  Sometimes just being with other people who feel the same as you can be a confidence builder in itself when you compare yourself.  Good luck.   You will be successful in that important job interview.  P.S. Medicines will only make you groggy and less responsive.  It's best to do it on your own cognisence.

Answer 14

I am not going to say to you to imagine them naked, but i recommend you to practice with the mirror, relaxing is always difficult, I used to be the way you are, but then I started to go to this karaoke bars, so i could get used to appear in public, and to humiliation (sometimes), and, within weeks, my "stage fear" was absolutely gone, with no need of marijuana or some sort of illegal things like that. Anyway, if it doesn't work, you could try using medicine, buy I can't tell you anyone, since I am from another country. Good luck with it mate!

Answer 15

Yes, the ways you can make your self confident is by taking a deep breath, close your eyes, then opening them and exhaling the breath. Another way could be to taking down some notes on what you are going to say, then memorizing the notes without looking at the cards and then answering the question.

Answer 16

remember- the majority of the people on this planet are morons... if your lecturer had not forced you into a room to talk to the people inside, whould you have? i certainly wouldn't.

actually- now i come to think about it, i got a 2:1 in one of my modules at universtiy by reminding the class that "im only here becase i have no choice in the matter- you don't want to know and i dont want to tell you- so keep schtum and we'll all get through this..."

Try it. sounds arrogant, but it works.

Answer 17

Long time ago I used to hate speaking when in elementary school to high school. But after a couple more speeches/presentations I just somehow got used to it. All it takes is confidence and precision/focus. If you're going to do your interview be persistent and confident. Job hirers LOVE confidence and outgoing people for the job positions. Oh! and one tip! If you want to be "smooth" and not talk rubbish, then talk about something GOOD about you. You'll go on and then you'll take more loops about yourself saying your positive things. Talking About yourself will somehow remove the "negative" and "quiet" aura away. Right now I'm a guest speaker for many churches, and let me tell you I preach at Church Rallys, Sunday/Friday Services, and sometimes at Christian Clubs... Anyways good luck and may the interview go well!

Answer 18

Your just like me,i get so nervous!

Just think that if  you do this right you will get the job.

act like youve done it a million times.

it gets easier trust me

Answer 19

I'm exactly like you.  I can talk freely around two or three people, but put me in a group of more than that and I freeze up.  The only thing I've found that helps me is to take 20 mg - 30 mg of propranalol (a beta blocker) about 45 minutes before I have to speak in public. My doctor says he has the same problem, and he takes the same medication I do.  Propranalol partially blocks the effects of the adrenaline your body produces when you get nervous.  Once you begin speaking, the nervousness subsides and you are "good to go." Your voice will not be as weird.  You'll surprise yourself.  Don't take a tranquilizer!! They make you sluggish and you can't think as well. They also affect your memory and concentratiion, which you need in the interview.

Answer 20

I agree with the poster who spoke of meditation and deep breathing.

I would also suggest that you trying refocusing your energy. Forget about how important the job is to you. The more you think about how much you need the job the more fear you will feel. In fact tell yourself it isn't important at all. More than that, keep telling yourself that you are the right person. That there is no reason for you to be worried that they won't like you. Get your stock answers together so you will be ready for the questions and focus ON YOU. If you focus on them you will be worrying whether you are saying the right thing. Did they like what you said? Did he/she look away because I said something boring? Whatever. Just focus on you being clear and being yourself. Know that that is all you have to be because you are great for the position and all you have to do is let them see your fabulousness.

Goodluck

Answer 21

Ativan I hear works- my ex boyfriend needed something and it calmed him down.   You need a rx for it though. I never take meds so I don't now if there is anything over the counter.

I am like you -- and hate public speaking, etc.

Answer 22

if you think that youll get nervous... act like there your bestest friend... it helps for me...

Answer 23

i'm a quiet person. alot of people take that for being shy but i'm not shy at all. i just don't say much.

thing is, when you've got a job to do people exspect the job to get done.

so if your reading out loud, other people don't know you but they want to hear you!

breath deep afew times and focus!

Answer 24

I used to be exactly like you, and it has taken me a long time to get over the shyness.

But over the years I have learnt a few tips;

Imagine the interviewer in his/her underwear it puts you both on the same level.

Always remember that the interviewer is a person too, and is probably nervous to.

Tell yourself you can do the job and will be good at it - do they deserve you in their company?

chose clothes that you are comfortable in, and are happy to wear.

Try taking the herbal 'Rescue remedy'  put a few drops on your tongue.

Just remember you are doing them a favour by working for them!

Answer 25

take deep breathes

and think of a happy place

:)

it will relax you

Answer 26

i am the SAME EXACT way. If i have to give a speech or something infront of some people i turn very red and sweat...in like 2 seconds from being up there. But i am very quiet to. If its a job interview it will most likely be one or a couple people. Just relax, dont talk fast and dont over think. just practice at home or in a mirror of what you are going to say about yourself. Many people struggle with this, and just do the best you can. Its one thing to be nervous. But just show up liek that and when you get into the interview just think itll be over soon and to just do the best you can. i hope you do very well!!!!

and just make sure you dont let them have an impression of you being nervous. thats a turn off in the job field!

Answer 27

practice in front of your'e trusted friends or mom or dad brother/sister or something tell somebody how you feel about it

Answer 28

ok, everyone gets nervous about important interviews but like you said it effects some of us worse than others. so, take your ipod or mp3 player with all your favourite songs on it, and listen to it before you go in, music always relaxes me, espicially if i love the songs.

another way is to think of the interview as something you just have to do...like breathing, you just gota do it, no point fighting it!

alot of the time its mind over matter, so if you think you sweat under pressure, you WILL sweat under pressure, so just convince yourself if you put loads of deo on, you'll be fine, twist the mind to think your way!

if your mind goes blank and you dont know what to say, simply ask them nicely "Could you repat that please?" or "im sorry i didnt hear you properly there", giving yourself more time to think.

Also always be yourself, if you try being someone loud and really out going when your not, they'll see right through it, so be yourself and just think, "Hey i got an interview, so many people must have got turned around, which means they picked me!!" give your self some confidence, you deserve it!

i dont kno of medicines but my sister took some calming tea before her driving test and a spray you can buy, you spray it on your tongue an it relaxes you, not sure if they work but she is a nervous wreck and it calmed her down!

good luck honey, you'll be fine!!

Answer 29

If its an interview it wont be public...

But still... It is only in your head though.  

Answer 30

This may sound wierd but what I do is take myself out of the moment.

First I prepare myself and study and make sure I know what it is i'm going to say---know my material inside and out.

Then, when it comes time to shine I just pretend like I have something way more fun to do right after this and I just got to waste like 15 minutes out of my life and then I get to go have fun!  works every time!