Interviewing as someone with Hiperhidrosis/Anxiety
Hiii
I recently moved to another state and am now in search of a job after spending 5 years at one!
-As someone who was part of the recruitment team (conducted interviews and discussed potential talent), as well as a leader on site. The anxiety/stress I experienced when I was the person getting interviewed for the job never left my mind.
That is why when I conducted interviews, I made it my responsibility to make the potential candidate feel welcome and at ease.
- Now that i'm a little older and aware of the challenges I face as an interviewee I have implemented "strategies" that have helped my anxiety and stress levels I experince before,during and after an interview.
- As someone with hiperhodrosis on her feet, hands, armpits, and private areas, it is crucial that I dress in accordance with this "limitation."
- Wearing wide legged pants that are not too tight , not overly baggy, made out of a breathable material, and of a BLACK color has provided peace of mind when it comes to excessive sweating on my private area. Carrying at least 2 extra sets of underwear in my purse inside a ziploc bag and changing as needed is a MUST!
- Carrying a small white cloth that I can use to wipe my hands with as I wait to be interviewed and during the interview helps my anxiety by getting rid of the constant worry of sweat dripping down my hands, or down to my forearm. As the interview continues, this helps me calm down, and eventually, the sweating stops.
- Wearing an oversized t-shirt of a light color that I mildly tuck in my pants has allowed me to feel more secure as the sweat that drips down my armpit does not necessarily reflect on the t shirt since the shirt is not tightly wrapped around my arms/pits or sides. The light color helps me to maintain cool, and the material helps me not to overheat.
- Wearing white sneakers that are in accordance with my feet type (wide feet) as well as light colored socks provides comfort and helps my feet not to overheat. The material of the sneaker, which is usually plastic or leather like, does not reflect any sweat that might be accumulating throughout the day. I noticed that with sneakers made of cloth, the sweat is very much apparent >_<.
* To summarize all of this, the outfit and hairstyle provided are exactly what I wear to all of my interviews. as someone who has at least 2 interviews a day, as soon as I get home, I wash the pants and shirt separately by hand since the pants are black and will bleed and stain the shirt. I then hang them up to dry, and by the next day, they're ready to be worn again :D*
* YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE DIFFERENT OUTFITS FOR DIFFERENT INTERVIEWS!*
- note that you do have to dress in accordance with the job you are looking for.
***most importantly, make sure that when you arrive at the interview that you ask questions. if you are in a waiting room, do not be afraid to engage with the employees you see walking by or the receptionist who has greeted you.
questions like "What is the environment like?" or why are they hiring are completely safe to ask as you can often receive a transparent answer from the individuals. This interaction can either help you loosen up or maybe make you more hesitant lol but for me, it has helped me loosen up ***
*** Do not hesitate to ask the same questions to the person interviewing you. remember you are the one looking for a job and you have to ensure that the job is suitable for you and that you are suitable for the job. to find this out, you can ask them to go into details about the job position . What is the time expectation for learning the responsibilities? Who is going to train you, and for how long? are there opportunities for growth? what are the requirements ? and how often do they come by? ***
** These are the steps i implement that I feel have helped me get better at getting interviewed while dealing with the internal batle of not feeling good enough, smart enough, or confident.**
- Before the interview, I do research on anything I came across on the job posting that I do not understand and I write it down on a little notebook that I bring to the interview where I also have questions written down to ask so I dont forget to ask them
- On the way to the interview, I try to play music or talk to a family member or friend.
-During my waiting time at the interview i try to spot people i can talk to or i use the bathroom to make sure I have nothing on my face and if I need to change my underwear that would be the time for me to do so.
- At the interview, I try to ask as many questions as I can (questions i have already written down on my notebook) and ask for clarifications if needed. Do not be afraid of writing your potential employer answers down.
-After the interview, I force myself not to think about the interview as this can often come with negative feelings and can get in the way of my other scheduled interviews. however, I do reflect back and think about how I could have improved my answers, and I WRITE IT DOWN!
❣️❣️❣️ if there is anything you would like to add or anything you would like to correct me on, feel free to share in the comments ❣️❣️❣️
