What specific advice did a Reddit user give to reduce interview anxiety? How did the candidate’s behavior change when he looked at the interviewers from a different perspective? How did this mindset shift improve the candidate’s answers and communication style?
A Reddit user has shared his experience regarding the interview, which has sparked a new debate on the internet. He described a ‘mindset shift’, which changed his entire approach to giving interviews. His advice is simple: stop thinking of the people interviewing you as ‘the interviewer’. This tip was shared on Reddit’s r/interviews forum and quickly became popular among people who often struggle with nervousness and lack of confidence during interviews. Based on his years of experience in interviews, including meetings with senior executives, this candidate described how simply changing his perspective made him appear more confident, comfortable and calm.
In the post titled “My Most Valuable Interview Tip: Stop Talking To Them Like ‘Interviewer'” She argued that the word itself creates unnecessary pressure. Instead of seeing the interviewers as people who are scrutinizing your every word and gesture, she started seeing them as people who are simply curious about her professional journey, skills, and experiences.
She said that this small change changed her entire way of communicating. Instead of worrying about giving the ‘best’ answer, he focused on having a meaningful conversation about his work, accomplishments, and expertise.
She wrote, “When I think of ‘The Interviewer,’ I think of being judged.” He explained that this mindset often caused him to be overly conscious of every answer. In contrast, when he treated it like a real conversation, he was able to express himself more naturally and with much less nervousness.
The candidate emphasized that this strategy does not mean taking the interview lightly or ignoring the importance of the opportunity. Rather, it is about replacing a performance-driven mindset with a conversation-driven mindset. According to her, this change made her responses more authentic, improved the flow of the conversation and helped her convey her strengths more effectively.
The post was liked by many Reddit users, prompting numerous replies from job seekers and hiring professionals. Several commenters said they experienced similar results when they treated interviews like normal conversation rather than a scary ordeal. They said that discussing their real-world experiences reduced the habit of overthinking and saved them from getting stuck in answers.
Interestingly, some of the users interviewed also supported this advice. He explained that his goal is often to create a comfortable environment where candidates can show their true personality and abilities rather than giving rote answers.
