How do you deal with anxiety during interviews
Hi everyone,
I’m trying to lateral at the moment and I found that my brain just freezes whenever I interview with more senior people such as MDs... I’m considered very technical in my team and I generally don’t have this problem when I’m in front of a client but whenever I’m in front of a senior person from another bank in the interview setting, I start an over-complicating thing and I get anxious so much that I get even the easiest questions wrong sometimes.
And it’s embarrassing because for example if someone asks how a P/E multiple changes if a company A raises stock to fund CAPEX, I would guide correctly how equity and earnings are likely to change (eg equity likely to go up and earnings will go up in the next 12 months depending on the nature of the asset but likely to be offset by higher depreciation ) and what additional info do I need to validify my hypothesis but I will then just freeze and if given more info that actually allows me to calculate the likely new multiple, I would not do the calcs, just freeze and blurb something like - P/E will go down.
How do you overcome anxiety in the interview setting?
First, just keep telling yourself that you studied the material and you know it like the back of your hand, because you do. Tell that voice in your head that says you don’t to shut the fuck up. Second, it can be helpful to focus on the interviewer themself as a way to remind yourself that they are human just like you. Look at them and remember that they eat, breathe and shit just like you and that fundamentally you are both the same. It can also help to imagine him in a less than desirable environment (the whole visualize the audience in their underwear is corny but it’s true). I’ve found that for a lot of people including myself, that’s the source of interview anxiety. It’s putting the interviewer on too high of a pedestal. Obviously I’m not saying talk to him like he’s your frat buddy but like I said just keep reminding yourself that they aren’t this magical creature that you are scared of. Treat it like a normal, respectful conversation, almost like you would have with a teacher in school you liked. A conversation like that is casual but at the same professional. Lastly, and I’m 100% serious about this, look into some of the popular, low impact nootropics. These are essentially no risk and if you find one that works for you to help you remain calm and collected the upside is obviously enormous. I’ve found l-theanine, lion’s mane, and uridine mono phosphate to work very well in circumstances like this. Hope that helps. Good luck.