How to Silence Your Inner Critic During an Interview

Two conversations are going on during any job interview. A discussion with the interviewers. And a monologue with yourself. You inner critic makes itself heard at times of doubt.

Depending on where you are in your job search, that inner monologue can vary from a supportive “come on, you’ve got this” to a demeaning “what are you even doing here?”

When your inner critic starts to dominate, you need to act.

You might think that you can keep its insidious thoughts from influencing what you say and how you act, but our behaviour is far less conscious than we think. Your amygdala begins its “fight or flight” response, your body tenses, and you go on the defensive.

As the inner critic chips away at our fragile ego, self-belief starts to falter.

Can I really replicate my past glories? Why do I think I will be a good fit for this job? Can I genuinely back up what I am promising? Somehow, I feel like a fraud.

Inner critics deal in deception and doubt.

One flippant (but effective) way of dealing with an inner critic during the pressure-cooker atmosphere of an interview is to dismiss it. Who cares what it thinks? Negative thoughts will never lead to positive change. No matter what it says, I am going to keep believing.

When you say “I see you” to your inner critic in such a way and continue with your interview unaffected, you gain a certain power over the negative thoughts. They are trying to drag you into a dark place of fear. Recognise that they will always be there but allow your self-compassion to win the day. Being kind to yourself is the way forward.

Another approach is attempting to be “present” during the interview.

You allow neither negative nor positive thoughts to distract you from the moment, only reacting to what is right in front of you. When your mind is clear, you can listen actively and respond appropriately. Being present reduces the worries about the future to thoughts about what is happening right now. Your stress levels will fall, and you will calm your nerves.

No matter how successfully you ignore it, the inner critic will always be there.

Sometimes it is useful. The inner critic is often a catalyst for life change. It may even be what caused you to look for a new job in the first place. In any case, it certainly helps you to keep your feet on the ground.

Just suggest that it minds its own business during an interview.

***

This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).