Robotic Interviews + How to Calm Nerves!
The other week a super candidate lost a job because of
desperation which was being disguised through niceness, overt gesticulations,
exaggerated communication and a performance picked up by the interviewer as
“not being genuine”.
Right now I’m observing just how pronounced and increasing
desperation is. Whether it’s desperation about finding a job, doing the job
interview…and securing another round, obtaining the right salary, landing the
perfect job or education, having a good life. Desperation about – what’s next,
or second guessing about what is coming next…desperation about what’s ‘right’
versus ‘getting it wrong’…. Desperate about being desperate even (!)
If it’s in our working lives, it’s also there in the rest of
our lives too, a quality that’s occupying relationships of all kinds, there when
we speak, communicate, express, directing how we move our body or limbs, the
way we prepare dinner, eat the food, take a walk, exercise, shower. In short the quality we are in
ourselves cannot help but touch every
single aspect and detail of our lives.
Our body naturally loves the quality of harmony, balance,
being at-ease – though in my job of Sales, I often find myself reflecting when
I’m the opposite of this, and the impact it has upon my sense of wellbeing, my
day, how I engage with people, do my job, and also consider my job too.
How often do
we choose to not be aware of our
quality?
Or, even when we do note for example how withdrawn or
drained we actually feel, just push on to the very next thing, fighting what we
feel in purposely racing, rushing, speeding, reacting, storytelling to keep heightened,
anxious, and keeping that unsettled feeling very much intact; a normal part of
everyday living.
What I’ve come to learn and also see in candidates who
attend interviews too, is that if there’s no togetherness with ourselves, then we
really don’t feel prepared for the interview either, or feel flustered and
suffer ‘pre-interview nerves’ – is like we jump out of our body to become someone
else, split. And it’s this split quality that ends up doing the interview… and
performing. Is it any wonder how come we don’t get hired, even desperate?
When I’m not feeling prepared or together with myself, space
and flow feels so limited or restricted, my sense of trust, clarity, ease and
knowingness all go out the window…I feel off, my decisions become heady or
unclear and I can feel unsteady, self-doubting, or anxious.
So when it comes to
pre-interview nerves, how can we calm ourselves?
SPACE-CREATION.
Space-create through de-cluttering; getting
rid of the rubbish…!
I’m talking about the rubbish we hoard from images, pictures,
or expectations about ourselves, about others, our position, level, experience,
workplace, or life that jam up the mind and body into a restriction,
desperation or stilted robotic-ness.
Because space helps movement and
flow. And heals the split gap of ‘non-togetherness’ which causes the anxiousness.
Space-create – by choosing it for yourself.
Because when there is space there is –
- Sense of
freeness: possibilities, potential and capability are felt clearly and embraced
- Quality
connection - togetherness in the body and
mind – allows more to be done without feeling shattered, irritable, miserable
or suffering the blues
- Higher
quality of work
- More
energy. Zest for life, people and work - we love what we do!
- Flow to
our communication and expression - our body moves easier, freer
- Confidence
from feeling ready, prepared for whatever’s ahead – calming pre-interview
nerves
So, READINESS
or DESPERATION? – As
ever, always a choice. I know what I’m focusing on and choosing : )
LOVE YOUR JOB! LOVE RECRUITMENT!
Zofia Sharman is forever inspired by
people and truth, and is based in Singapore working as a Recruiter for HR at
VOLT, an international recruitment consultancy that supports people to secure
jobs and careers they love. It’s that simple. For more information see http://voltasia.com.sg/home.aspx