Feeling Stuck in HR: How Can I Overcome Interview Anxiety and Find the Right Role?

I completed my MBA in HRM in 2011. Since then, I haven't worked anywhere. I have attended 3-4 interviews but got rejected each time. Although I received many calls and emails from companies for interviews, my problem is that whenever I receive a call for an interview, I feel fearful about facing it. Because of this fear, I tend to avoid attending the interviews, make excuses, and hide from being interviewed.

Challenges in Pursuing a Career in HR

Another issue I face is that I do not want to pursue a job that involves recruitment. I have a fear of talking to people over the phone and convincing them. Therefore, I am always seeking jobs that do not require phone calls and have limited interaction with others. Could someone please suggest what I should do in this situation? I have wasted a lot of time, and now I am unsure of where to go and what to do. How should I start my career in the HR field?

Don't be afraid of facing interviews and interacting with other people, as interviews are the primary way to secure a job, and the field of HR is inherently related to people. Build up confidence within yourself and be ready to face everything. Try to be more social; it will help you a lot.

Resources for Interview Preparation

You may also go through the following threads. These will help you understand things:

- [9 Tips for Facing an Interview for Professional Growth](https://www.citehr.com/16678-9-tips-facing-interview-professional-growth.html)
- [Tips for Interview Preparation](https://www.citehr.com/results.php?q=tips+for+interview&submi t.x=0&submit.y=0)

Hope this will help you. Best of Luck.

You say you completed your MBA in 2011, and you haven't worked anywhere. That's a very long time gap. Other than the suggestions given by members, may I add a few points:

a) I think you need to attend a counseling or seminar session for confidence building. That will form the basis of getting over your basic reasoning for fear. Practice at home, at work, giving speeches, record your speech, listen to it. You will begin to notice whether you sound more confident from day one.

b) Secondly, speak to maybe an elder or someone from your college or group who can teach you interview handling skills or alternatively, join a course. Again, team up with someone who will help you practice, record your interview role play, hear how you sound, and don't be shy to ask someone to correct you.

c) And thirdly, you are just starting off and can't afford to be choosy about what you do. Initially, start giving interviews at small firms like a proprietorship, get a job, learn skills, it doesn't matter whether it's recruitment/hr/admin. Just start off somewhere, gain a year's experience and then you can move to better altitude, a larger organization, more salary, etc. By then, you would have gained confidence and experience and the skills essential to handle a job other than recruitment.

Most importantly, don't procrastinate. Start making use of your HRM course by first - making a to-do list of the steps you need to take to build from points a to c. and then give a deadline and start asap. I'm sure we members can help if you tell us your daily feedback or you may seek out a member who you think can help guide your progress.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Deena Jagasia

I have a problem. I have completed a PG in Psychology and also completed an MBA in HR in 2008. Then, I got married and had a 5-year gap. I am presently pursuing a certification in HRM. Can I get a job after a year's gap? Please suggest.