I have a really important interview today. If all goes well, one of my dreams will come true.
Talk about pressure.
I'm pretty sure three people are interviewing me at the same time. Those odds are imposing. I'm already shrinking. My insides are ripping themselves into bloody tatters (yes, it feels as gross as it sounds).
I've never liked interviews. (Who does?)My aversion is kind of weird though: I'm extroverted and social, I love being the center of attention and, at the risk of sounding narcissistic, I can talk about myself for hours. I think it may have something to do with the formality of it all. I'm not good in formal situations, they never fail to make me fidget.
There's only one way I'm going to get through tomorrow. I'm going to have to fake it - plaster on my charming smile, laugh instead of puking, and project confidence. I have to make them want me as much as I want this.
But, I figure, if I fake it with enough conviction maybe I won't be faking it at all.
How do you get through uncomfortable situations? Have you ever done something you hated to make a dream of yours become a reality?
Interviews, ugh. I'm better at them now than I used to be. But I think the thing that scares me the most about them is knowing that so much rides them. My future, my paycheck, this job, blah blah blah.
ReplyDeleteThat kind of pressure would effect anyone. I'm sure you'll do great, though. I can tell you have a sparkling personality.
Oh yeah. Totally fake it. I have done that before. The smile that looks comfortable even though your insides are twisting in knots.
ReplyDeleteBut you get through it and learn how to handle it all.
Good luck!
Oh, I can completely identify. Despite having had lots of interviews, I’ll never get used to them. And, as you say, the idea of sitting there talking about oneself has its appeal. I wish you luck. Let us know how it went.
ReplyDeleteYes to the last question. It's called querying agents. lol. And I really hope your interview goes well! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYep, fake it 'til you make it definitely works. I'm so the opposite--I'm shy in groups, but in interviews, I'm all confidence. I have no idea why. I know you'll do amazingly well! Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteGo for the fake. I don't like interviews but I love giving talks. As a teacher, I'm comfortable with that venue.
ReplyDeleteFaking it is the best way to get through an uncomfortable situation (especially one you can't avoid). Good luck and success on your interview. I've got my fingers crossed for you. =o)
ReplyDeleteI've never had a problem with interviews...that I remember? Maybe when I was a little younger perhaps? My work related experience has mostly been to sell, sell, sell. So when it came to impressing someone in an interview that part of me charged forward. Sure, I had some anxiety because that's genetic, but I've always been a bee charmer. That's narcisism for you, right there ;)
ReplyDeleteI have had to fake it on numerous different occasions, like the awkward bad gift exchange. That makes me anxious, I want my face to fake it so bad!
GOOOD LUUUUCK! I LOVE YOU AND YOU'LL, NO DOUBT, DO GREAT! hugs!
PS writing you back today or..soon. Depends on if my muse comes this morning for a visit.
Good luck! I've been there before, and it sucks no matter what. Nothing wrong with faking it.
ReplyDeleteLOL, you can do it! Most of the times, when it comes to interviews, all you have to do is sell yourself. If you didn't have the skills or ability to learn them you wouldn't have gotten to the interview point in the first place.
ReplyDeleteBeing professional in an interview doesn't mean you can't let your personality out. Just don't let it take over the whole show.
Good luck and my fingers are crossed for you chicky!
Oh I hate interviews with a passion. Unless they're written.. then I love them. Haven't come across many of those tho. :(
ReplyDeleteANyway, I've heard to read the American constitution aloud before going in. It's supposed to help your speaking. Never actually tried it tho.
If you get nervous, a lil trick is to press your finger and thumb together to take the pressure off the rest of you. Keep them pressed together during the entire interview so you concentrate on that and dont get nervous. This one I have tried and gosh darn, it works!
You'll do wonderfully, Melissa! Cheers to making dreams come true! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it!!! I have faith in you!!! I'm by your side 100%
ReplyDeleteI think has writers we are constantly doing something that makes us uncomfortable. Weeding out crap during editing, waiting for someone to let us know what they think of us, marketing even if it's uncomfrotable, the works. We will also push through though! We are hard workers!!!
Good luck chica!
Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm a "fake it til you make it" kind of interviewee. I don't particularly like having to tell strangers why they should hire me over the next person, but I'm worth it, darn it!
And you are, too!
I usually laugh in uncomfortable situations. Not the best reaction. It has gotten me in trouble before, but it happens. :)
ReplyDeleteIt always helped me to have visuals along to talk about, like copies of the other publications I'd worked on. The interviewer's eyes focusing on that instead of me helped hugely. My advice is visual aids, whatever that might look like in your situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm an introvert so I fake a LOT when I'm out among people. Good luck on the interview!!
ReplyDeleteHoping everything turns out like you want. You'll be great. As for me...I find avoidance seems to be my modus operandi.
ReplyDeleteI have an important interview tomorrow as well. Hope you do well on yours.
ReplyDeleteMy brain locks up and I sound like a babbling idiot. Good luck; I'm sure you'll do great:)
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm sure you'll do great. You really can fake it until it isn't faking anymore.
ReplyDeleteFake it until you make it has always been my motto. They don't know I'm not full of self confidence! I love hearing "you were so calm" after a situation I handled well despite being freaked the F out! I had to go through a stiff formal interview to land Home Improvement with two very strong women who intimidated the heck out of me and I was competing against three other writers who happened to be my friends. My other thing - go last in the interview process. This is leftover from cheerleading. Superstition, probably. But it always seems like we won when we went last so I like to stick with it and I swear I've gotten every job that I interviewed for when I went last! Fingers and toes crossed for you, my dear! You'll nail it. I'm sure of it!
ReplyDeleteEep, good luck! I'm not great at interviews either or like public speaking-type things. *shudder*
ReplyDeleteBut I totally believe in faking it until you make it! My roommate who used to do and run a lot of interviews (she was in a business-type club in college) was always like, "You just have to go in there thinking that you're the sh*t because then they'll start thinking you are too."
Ooh, good luck! I absolutely believe you can fake it 'til you make it in these situations. I used to be so afraid of public speaking that I remember spending my first debate eyeing the rubbish bin, hoping I wouldn't be sick. I went on to love it and (dare I say) do pretty well at it too. As somebody who conducts interviews regularly, just remember that those interviewers are really hoping you're going to be perfect for the job. They want to hire you!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Melissa. I've always hated interviews, so you have my sympathies.
ReplyDeleteAs for getting through uncomfortable situations, if faking confidence and conviction works for you, then go for it. I wouldn't recommend trying to fake knowledge or abilities though :)
Another way I've learned, is detachment. Pretend that you are watching the scene from the ceiling or somewhere, then the uncomfortable stuff is happening to someone else.
True that! Sorry I'm late, but I hope it all went well!!! What was the interview for? I know it's too late but GOOD LUCK ANYWAY!
ReplyDeleteAhh.. this is like my motto, ESPECIALLY in things I hate to do, because sometimes it's the only way to get through!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry... I'm sure it was amazing and you sailed through with flying colors! :)
Wow - our personalities sound very similar. I too can talk about myself forever, but I get really nervous when it comes to more formal things. Good luck on your interviews.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm late now, but I hope it went really well! I am sort of opposite of you. I am an introvert and have a hard time in socially casual situations, but when things are formalized I can sort of role play and it makes it easier. I wish I'd been able to tell you BEFORE they interview, but THEY want to find the right person as badly as you want to BE the right person. They're feeling pressure, too. (granted, usually only one person gets picked, but when it comes down to several qualified candidates, it is really just chemistry)
ReplyDeleteHey Melissa,
ReplyDeleteGood luck on that interview. They really are scary, but I'm sure you'll do well. Maybe instead of faking a smile, you can think happy thoughts (like what you'd do if you won the lottery or something), then your smile will be super genuine.:P
"Fake it til you feel it" is one of our school mottos. The principal of my school lives by that motto, and he is BELOVED for his good attitude. Good luck, Melissa! :-)
ReplyDeletedoes querying count? ;o) Best of luck, though. I hope you did well today--keep us posted~ <3
ReplyDelete