Interview fear 🧵
1/
Prior to my successful interview, I had an interview for a different role which was awful - really awful.
I'm sure I will cringe to think of it for a long time to come.
Needless to say, I didn't get the job.
1/
Prior to my successful interview, I had an interview for a different role which was awful - really awful.
I'm sure I will cringe to think of it for a long time to come.
Needless to say, I didn't get the job.
https://x.com/ReturningDoctor/status/1661797123547967489?t=uwN5qYpNAuZIFFKO20R84Q&s=19
2/
I realised I wasn't properly prepared for a clinical interview, and as my confidence diminished throughout the whole horrible experience my responses became more floundering and unstructured.
I was so embarrassed.
Thinking back on it has kept me awake at night - literally!
I realised I wasn't properly prepared for a clinical interview, and as my confidence diminished throughout the whole horrible experience my responses became more floundering and unstructured.
I was so embarrassed.
Thinking back on it has kept me awake at night - literally!
3/
I didn't want to post on Twitter about the interview that I had 'failed', because I felt so miserable about it.
I considered pulling out of my second interview.
I wondered why I was putting myself through this - trying to return to medicine.
Every stage felt so difficult.
I didn't want to post on Twitter about the interview that I had 'failed', because I felt so miserable about it.
I considered pulling out of my second interview.
I wondered why I was putting myself through this - trying to return to medicine.
Every stage felt so difficult.
4/
After a week of feeling dreadful about it, I tried to give myself some kindness.
I acknowledged that my introversion makes it difficult for me to be comfortable in an interview.
I reminded myself to be proud for putting myself out there at all!
medium.com/swlh/how-to-ma…
After a week of feeling dreadful about it, I tried to give myself some kindness.
I acknowledged that my introversion makes it difficult for me to be comfortable in an interview.
I reminded myself to be proud for putting myself out there at all!
medium.com/swlh/how-to-ma…
5/
It felt hard though.
Really hard.
Being interviewed taps into so many of my fears:
•speaking in front of people
•feeling judged
•being judged
•feeling stupid
•looking stupid
•freezing up
•being on camera
•being interviewed by colleagues 😱
•fear of failure
It felt hard though.
Really hard.
Being interviewed taps into so many of my fears:
•speaking in front of people
•feeling judged
•being judged
•feeling stupid
•looking stupid
•freezing up
•being on camera
•being interviewed by colleagues 😱
•fear of failure
6/
The imposter phenomenon was intense.
I told myself I shouldn't be apologising for my time out but subconsciously I was doing exactly that, feeling conspicuous about my differences, not recognising my achievements and feeling guilty about 'taking' a place from someone else.
The imposter phenomenon was intense.
I told myself I shouldn't be apologising for my time out but subconsciously I was doing exactly that, feeling conspicuous about my differences, not recognising my achievements and feeling guilty about 'taking' a place from someone else.
7/
A lot of my practice for the second interview was motivational self-talk, as well as better research which made me feel more prepared.
This book gives excellent advice on how to structure different types of questions.
This TED talk helped as well:
ted.com/talks/amy_cudd…
A lot of my practice for the second interview was motivational self-talk, as well as better research which made me feel more prepared.
This book gives excellent advice on how to structure different types of questions.
This TED talk helped as well:
ted.com/talks/amy_cudd…
8/
There are also some great online resources giving clinical interview advice and example answers - I found these ones really useful:
RCoA:
rcoa.ac.uk/news/preparing…
Mr Radiologist on YouTube:
youtu.be/V_ig8KttpUo
youtu.be/_khfeU3g4Yc
There are also some great online resources giving clinical interview advice and example answers - I found these ones really useful:
RCoA:
rcoa.ac.uk/news/preparing…
Mr Radiologist on YouTube:
youtu.be/V_ig8KttpUo
youtu.be/_khfeU3g4Yc
9/
I don't think I will ever feel comfortable in an interview.
I hate having to justify my worth in an intensely uncomfortable situation in 20 minutes.
But I am better already at feeling genuinely proud of myself and my unconventional path, and in recognising my achievements.
I don't think I will ever feel comfortable in an interview.
I hate having to justify my worth in an intensely uncomfortable situation in 20 minutes.
But I am better already at feeling genuinely proud of myself and my unconventional path, and in recognising my achievements.
10/
Keep going.
You got this.
You're doing great.
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~ Maya Angelou
Keep going.
You got this.
You're doing great.
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~ Maya Angelou
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