How can you manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis?
Interviewing for a new job can be stressful and time-consuming, especially when you are also dealing with a personal crisis. Whether it is a health issue, a family problem, or a financial hardship, a personal crisis can affect your mood, focus, and energy. However, you don't have to let it derail your interview preparation. Here are some tips on how to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis.
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Veronika NelsenHiring Talents at Wargaming 🌍┃ Videogaming Enthusiast 🎮┃ Women in Games Ambassador ♀️┃ Top LinkedIn Recruiting &…
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Lilliana OliveraTOP VOICE MENTORING, HR, PERSONAL BRANDING, RECRUITING, INTERVIEWING, COMMUNICATION | Hacker Cultural | Scrum Master|…
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Miroslava MiticIT Recruitment Consultant at BlueGrid.io ~ Be Loved. Be Bold. ✨ Talks about #sourcing, #recruitment, #techrecruitment…
One of the first steps to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis is to prioritize your tasks. You may not have enough time or mental bandwidth to do everything, so you need to focus on the most important and urgent things. For example, you may want to prioritize researching the company and the role, reviewing your resume and cover letter, and practicing common interview questions. You may also want to delegate or postpone some of the less critical tasks, such as updating your online portfolio or sending thank-you notes.
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Lilliana Olivera
TOP VOICE MENTORING, HR, PERSONAL BRANDING, RECRUITING, INTERVIEWING, COMMUNICATION | Hacker Cultural | Scrum Master| Women CEO Perú | Women Who Code 💚
Las crisis sacan lo mejor de las personas, encarar la situación y trabajar con mucho ahínco podría ser la mejor receta para revertir la crisis y desencadenar en éxito siendo el candidato seleccionado. La organización es fundamental y el trabajo en equipo también. Que tal si pides ayuda, algún familiar podría revisar ofertas laborales, otra persona de tu círculo de confianza podría hacer el resumen de las empresas antes que vayas a la entrevista. La vida está hecha para resurgir de las cenizas, esta es tu oportunidad de generar un cambio y demostrar que en equipo puedes encargarte de lo más importante que es mostrar tu potencial en la entrevista Adelante! Prohibido Rendirse 💪
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Magdalena Munro
Executive Talent Development at PayPal | Poet | Artist
When life deals us blows in the midst of an active career pivot or job search, one idea that works for me is to form mental compartments to ensure there is little crossover. This does not take away from the importance of nurturing these compartments to ensure suffering is minimized. I do this through visualization work via meditation and also create physical objects to ground me in a compartment. I mght put a bowl on my desk with the label of the trauma and another bowl entitled job search. Seeing them helps. When prepping for interviews, if you find yourself falling into despair, make a conscious decision about where you want to spend your emotional and mental time, otherwise the mind becomes muddied. The goal is always a blue sky mind.
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Sara Stanisavljević
HR Specialist at Origo Iceland
Personal crisis consumes a lot of energy and occupies our thoughts, affecting motivation and self-esteem. So, it can be challenging to focus on tasks, but redirecting energy to e.g. interview preparation can be helpful: switching focus for a while + ending up finishing one of the tasks can increase self-efficacy. Re framing the interview preparation as something that can have a positive impact and as an opportunity to distance ourselves from crisis, can be helpful. Also, it's completely fine to admit that crisis exists and that some performances won't be our best, but that it doesn't define us; and it's okay to ask for few days off - it's more harmful if one suffers but pushes oneself to work, instead of pausing and focusing on problems.
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Faye Emmerson ♀️🦄👩🌾
Business Development and Marketing Manager @ Edge Group of Companies | Kestria Local Coordinator for South Africa | Driving Business Growth | Mental Health Activist | Entrepreneur | Podcast Enthusiast | Mom
Set Realistic Goals: Adjust your expectations and set achievable goals for your preparation. Focus on the essentials. Time Management: Allocate specific time blocks for interview preparation to avoid overwhelming yourself. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to ask for help from friends or family if they can assist with your personal matters. Break It Down: Break your preparation into smaller, manageable tasks. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive mindset, and remember that you're resilient. Your ability to overcome personal challenges can be a valuable trait in interviews.
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Mary Southern
LinkedIn Top Voice - Resume Writing | Podcast Host: Recruiting Insider | Founder: Resume Assassin & Sidekick ⚡💪
Unfortunately you can't stop bad things from happening, even if you have an upcoming interview with your dream employer. A task is always "easier" when you break it down into parts. 1. Research the company. 2. Analyze the job description. 3. Prepare responses to common interview questions. Allocate dedicated time for these high-priority tasks, while delegating or postponing non-essential responsibilities to ensure you can manage your personal crisis effectively as well.
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Sarah Abi Abdallah,MSc,PMP
Project Management| PMP®|HR|Communications|Marketing|Organizational Behavior|Organizational Policies|Inclusion|Entrepreneurship|Business Training
While it is very challenging to prepare for an interview while you are facing a personal crisis, you should remind yourself that it is at these times that your strength is needed, not during easy times. In my opinion, practice being mindful of the task at hand and limit your mind from wandering around with off-topic thoughts. Do not multitask and tell yourself that your professional life shall be separate from your personal one.
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LaTanya Walton M.A.
Human Resources Specialist
Dont !! Reschedule !! First impressions are everything and if you know that you are not able or prepared to give the best version of your self it is more than okay to reschedule. You never going to get a second opportunity to make that first impression. We don't talk about this enough, once you bomb an interview can you really recover?
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Greg Ward
The Permanent Recruitment Consultant For UK Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Companies @ Pertemps Network Group
Key rule is don't be too hard on yourself if you haven't got the time to do as much preparation as you wanted. Truth is that you can never do everything and there will always be unexpected events, information and questions given to you. 1. Research the company. Understand their market and their place in it. 2. Research the person(s) interviewing you so at the very least you will recognise their face and their role within that company. 3. Prepare yourself mentally so that you can just be yourself in the interview. Allow 30 mins if you can before an interview, find somewhere quiet and decompress. What ever crisis you are going through will still be there. Don't feel like you could of done more as that will only add to the pressures.
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Miguel Ángel Pascua Gamazo
Co-Fundador de Talenttium | Conectamos tu empresa con el talento.
Para promover el trabajo en equipo en cambios, es vital establecer y seguir objetivos claros y medibles. Realizar un seguimiento regular, recoger feedback de equipo, clientes y stakeholders, y usarlo para mejorar el proceso es clave. Celebrar logros y ofrecer retroalimentación constructiva fortalece el equipo.
Another step to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis is to set realistic goals. You may not be able to prepare as thoroughly or as confidently as you would in normal circumstances, so you need to adjust your expectations and be kind to yourself. For example, you may want to set a specific time limit for each preparation task, and avoid overloading your schedule with too many activities. You may also want to set a goal for how you want to perform in the interview, and acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.
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Veronika Nelsen
Hiring Talents at Wargaming 🌍┃ Videogaming Enthusiast 🎮┃ Women in Games Ambassador ♀️┃ Top LinkedIn Recruiting & Interviewing Voice 🔆
Don't push yourself too hard. If you are not in the right state of mind, it most likely will negatively impact your performance during the interview. Instead, it's better to reschedule for when you are ready.
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Bonisile Mvubu (She/Her)
HR Consultant | Career & Life Coach | Ex Amazon Recruiter
Your state of mind as you prepare for the interview is essential so evaluate how you're feeling and whether you're able to show up as a version of yourself that will at least be coherent. If your unable to gather yourself sufficiently, communicate with the recruiter about the circumstance and they'll, a. advise you on alternatives and b. give you the ability to gain perspective and sound out some of your feelings which will help you feel better, remember you're human and not a robot & recruiters and interviewers are also human and will understand that life happens too. Other alternatives are doing physical things with your body that changes your state such as skipping or dancing or listening to music that gets you going.
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Greg Ward
The Permanent Recruitment Consultant For UK Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Companies @ Pertemps Network Group
When we have too much life going on then time blocking is an essential way to make sure you have enough time allocated to everything that needs to be done even if interview prep had to be down in the list of priorities.
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Melvin Raj
Recruiter @ Cisco | Talent Advisor | Career Enhancer | Resume Builder | Interview Mentor
Reschedule if Necessary: If the personal crisis is significant, consider rescheduling the interview if the employer is open to it. It's better to attend an interview when you can present your best self.
A third step to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis is to seek support. You don't have to go through this alone, and you may benefit from the help and advice of others. For example, you may want to reach out to your friends, family, or professional network for emotional support, feedback, or referrals. You may also want to consult a therapist, a coach, or a mentor for guidance, coping strategies, or motivation.
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Miroslava Mitic
IT Recruitment Consultant at BlueGrid.io ~ Be Loved. Be Bold. ✨ Talks about #sourcing, #recruitment, #techrecruitment and #talentacquisition 📢
Job interviews can be quite daunting, particularly when you're grappling with personal issues. One useful technique is to practice in front of a mirror. Take a moment to acknowledge your achievements and the things you're genuinely proud of, and do it aloud. The next step involves seeking support, either from a therapist, a family member, or a close friend. Open up about your feelings and ask them to simply lend you their ear. More often than not, they'll provide a fresh perspective on the challenges you're facing. With their support, the prospect of facing an interview becomes significantly less daunting.
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Melissa Wafful
Project Manager who is fond of fun socks and national days
Interviewing is exhausting - we all know this. It's important that while in your process, you bring in your trusted group of supporters. It's important to lean on your community while searching - especially early in your career. Your classmates are all going through this, so practice technical questions, ask for feedback on your elevator pitch, work with professors or career services on how to best highlight your academic and professional experiences on your resume or portfolio. This practice on seeking and giving feedback will help you be a great teammate and collaborator once you've found your next opportunity.
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Gilka Ferreira غيلكا
Especialista em Imagem & Comportamento/ TOP HR Influencer 2023 e 2024 - Gestão de Pessoas/ Palestrante/ Treinadora/ Mentora/ Desenvolvimento Pessoal/ Posicionamento - LinkedIn Top Voice & Creator
Muitas pessoas não tem uma rede de apoio e isso dificulta a vida em todos os âmbitos. Buscar ajuda profissional é importante e um ato de inteligência e amor. É uma ferramenta poderosa. Quando financeiramente isso não é possível, tente encontrar um amigo, familiar ou conhecido em quem possa confiar e se abrir. Isso alivia o emocional. Quando carregamos um fardo sozinhos, a dor emocional cresce, pesa e machuca e podendo somatizar à nossa saúde trazendo problemas ainda maiores. Pedir ajuda não é sinal de fraqueza.
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Andrew Arkley, CPRW, CIC, CDCS
Empowering Career Advancement: CV Expert | Founder of PurpleCV | CCVW Programme Director | Business Mentor for The Prince’s Trust | PurpleCV.co.uk
This can be tough - especially if you’re someone who struggles to open up and accept help. If you can, I encourage you to reach out to friends, family, or your professional circle for emotional support, feedback, or potential referrals. Sharing your experiences and concerns can alleviate the emotional burden and provide valuable perspectives. In moments of difficulty, connecting with others not only aids in managing stress but also opens doors to new opportunities and perspectives. Your network can be a source of encouragement and valuable advice, contributing to a more resilient and prepared mindset as you approach interviews. All the best!
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Abbie Hunt-Brady
Former City Lawyer | Legal Recruiter | Passionate About Mental Health | 🧚♀️ Fairy Law-Mother🧚♀️
Seeking support can be so important to ensure you don’t end up feeling underwater with any or all of A) interview prep, B) performing for the role you have, and C) addressing said personal matter. This can come in so many forms, and different people will of course be better placed to help with different parts. It can be hard to speak to those outside of the industry about A & B, and you might not wish to speak to colleagues if you are not sharing that you are interviewing. Working with the right recruiter is one way that you can get some invaluable support. I offer a variety of options for interview prep for candidates who are seeking it. This can also help you gain some perspective on balancing A & B which may give you headspace for C.
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Greg Ward
The Permanent Recruitment Consultant For UK Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Companies @ Pertemps Network Group
If you are going through a recruiter reach out to them for help. After all they want you to succeed as much as you do. Make people around you aware that you have this potentially life changing event ahead of you and see if they can take some of the burden off you even if only for a short period.
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Lindsey Herman
Global Talent Leader | Human Resources & People Operations Consultant | Employment Analytics & Insights | Driving Organizational Growth through Talent Acquisition, Development & Retention |
Reach out to friends and family who understand your situation. Also reach out to a trusted mentor. These are the individuals who will help build the confidence you need to bounce from the adversity, while also preparing effectively for your interview.
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Laura Nieves
International Back Office
Buscar apoyo durante una crisis personal mientras te preparas para una entrevista de trabajo puede marcar una gran diferencia en como lleves ambas situaciones. La clave es equilibrar la preparación para la entrevista con el cuidado de tu bienestar emocional. Hablar con amigos y familiares, considerar ayuda profesional, cuidar tu bienestar, enfocarte en la autenticidad durante la entrevista y si es necesario solicitar hacer la entrevista unos días mas tarde son estrategias clave para manejar ambas situaciones con éxito.
A fourth step to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis is to communicate your situation. You may not want to disclose the details of your personal crisis to the interviewer, but you may want to inform them of any challenges or constraints that may affect your availability or performance. For example, you may want to ask for a flexible or remote interview option, request a rescheduling or an extension, or explain any gaps or discrepancies in your resume. You may also want to express your interest and enthusiasm for the job, and thank them for their understanding and accommodation.
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Tumi Miya
Senior Recruiter | Advanced Talent Sourcing | International Recruiter| Human Capital Generalist
I consider this an essential measure to implement because unforeseen triggers during an interview can disrupt your flow of thought. In my prior experiences, I've interacted with candidates who faced such situations, and it didn't negatively affect their chances. The interview panel acknowledges that life can present unexpected challenges, and we strive to provide equal opportunities to all candidates. Your shortlisting indicates our eagerness to meet you at your best. Communicate, communicate, and communicate.
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Wayne Smith
Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Manager for Advanced Resource Managers. 02392 228232 / wayne.smith@arm.co.uk
This is the most important step this in process. Honesty is the best policy and you will see how a potential employer reacts to your plight. A good one will offer options or make allowances for you, however this may not be possible in some circumstances, but again they need be to honest with you also.
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Greg Ward
The Permanent Recruitment Consultant For UK Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Companies @ Pertemps Network Group
Be honest with your interviewer. It's that simple. We all have lives and most people have had experienced moments of crisis. Show how you handle them and how well you can communicate during them.
A fifth step to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis is to take care of yourself. You may be tempted to neglect your physical and mental health, but this can backfire and worsen your situation. For example, you may want to get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly, and meditate or relax. You may also want to avoid negative coping mechanisms, such as alcohol, drugs, or excessive work. Taking care of yourself can help you reduce stress, boost your mood, and improve your performance.
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Greg Ward
The Permanent Recruitment Consultant For UK Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Companies @ Pertemps Network Group
The one key thought you should always keep in your head is why are you interviewing for this job? What is the goal? Is it worth the effort and finding a little time daily for self care? Sleep, food and exercise outdoors are elements we should all strive towards. Start setting these habits early and allow time for them to stick.
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Tumi Miya
Senior Recruiter | Advanced Talent Sourcing | International Recruiter| Human Capital Generalist
Recognizing the circumstances and determining the most effective way to address them is a crucial step in managing the situation. It's essential to steer clear of potential triggers or exacerbating factors. Everyone responds to personal crises differently; some may choose to distance themselves from social circles to focus on self-care, while others may seek solace in the company of family or supportive friends. It's important to identify what works best for you and take the required actions to prioritize self-care and mental and emotional well-being.
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Lindsey Herman
Global Talent Leader | Human Resources & People Operations Consultant | Employment Analytics & Insights | Driving Organizational Growth through Talent Acquisition, Development & Retention |
Self care is critical in maintaining a positive and focused mindset. Having a focused and positive mindset is key in performing well in an interview.
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Faye Emmerson ♀️🦄👩🌾
Business Development and Marketing Manager @ Edge Group of Companies | Kestria Local Coordinator for South Africa | Driving Business Growth | Mental Health Activist | Entrepreneur | Podcast Enthusiast | Mom
Prioritize Self-Care: Take care of your mental and emotional well-being first. Ensure you're in the right mindset to tackle interview prep. Practice Mindfulness: consider mindfulness and meditation techniques to help manage stress.
A sixth step to manage interview preparation while dealing with a personal crisis is to review and reflect. After the interview, you may want to evaluate your performance, identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and learn from your experience. You may also want to follow up with the interviewer, express your gratitude and interest, and ask for feedback or updates. Reviewing and reflecting can help you grow as a professional, and prepare you for the next opportunity.
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Melvin Raj
Recruiter @ Cisco | Talent Advisor | Career Enhancer | Resume Builder | Interview Mentor
Practice Self-Compassion: Understand that you may not be able to dedicate as much time or energy to preparation during a personal crisis. Practice self-compassion and acknowledge that it's okay to prioritize your well-being.
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Miguel Ángel Pascua Gamazo
Co-Fundador de Talenttium | Conectamos tu empresa con el talento.
Para promover el trabajo en equipo en cambios, es vital establecer y seguir objetivos claros y medibles. Y no olvidarnos de celebrar la consecución de los mismos
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Akshay Shinde
Process Standardization and Transformation Lead
One thing that is helpful is clarity on reasons to crack Understanding your why is very critical as it focuses you on the task Apart from preparation for the interview below mental tips are helpful to increase probability of cracking the interview which is used by successful athletes 1. Breathing with So-ham chant helps to calm nerves and bring your focus on process rather than outcome 2. Focus on winning performance 3. Positively reinforce past successful interview by remembering the process to build self image These tips will certainly help in interview process while navigating personal challenge.
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Sheikh Saim Ali Jafer CHRP, CSCE, CPE
Organization Development|Change Management|Expert HR Leader|Passionate about People & Culture|Organizational Restructuring & Organizational Excellence Expert
During a personal crisis, manage interview preparation by prioritizing self-care, setting realistic goals, seeking support and communicating with the employer if necessary. Balancing personal well-being and professional responsibilities is crucial for effective interview preparation during challenging times.
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