Can't motivate myself for a job interview

commandunclear

I've been suffering from anxiety/depression for a long time now. I can't really remember when or how it started. Probably due to the abuse of drugs/alcohol due to some issues in my teenage years. I quit my job in Ireland as it was causing me severe stress and exacerbating my depression.

I went to work alone in SE Asia. I thought the move would do me good,even though my family were aware of my problems and advised me against it. After 6 weeks I broke down one day and had to call my brother to book me a ticket home. I felt like such a failure.

I'm in UK now looking for work and have an interview on Tuesday. I can't pick myself up to get motivated for the interview at all, even though it is something I would love to do, in the charity sector working with homeless people. I just have this knot/empty feeling in my stomach, and a voice in my head telling me that I'm useless and that life is pointless. I don't know if I can muster the energy to go and bull**** about myself for 2 hours. I really want to get work here, I don't want to go home to Ireland a failure again, I live in a rural area where prospects are slim. To be honest, I'm not even sure I'm able to work at the moment, but if I got the job I would give it everything I had.

Has anyone any tips to get me motivated for the interview? I can't muster any energy at the moment, yet I really want the job. I know that seems like a strange paradox, but it's the way I'm feeling at the minute.

zoobizoo

Are you fearful?

I always tell me it's an hour out of my day, my week, my year, my life.....

It'll fly by.

Is there anyone yiu know with whom you could run through your c.v?

LegacyUser

I felt the exact same. I had a job interview last week and even though I really wanted he job, I didn't feel like I was "worthy" of it. So how this played out was I put if off till the last minute and crammed everything I could find out about the company into a short time.
I left the interview realising I really wanted the job,they emailed me the following day to say I hadn't got it. I was devastated.
My advice to you is imagine 100% in your head you haven't got the job,how do you feel? If you feel horrible then that's your answer. You HAVE the motivation but you just need to take that initial step to get it going.
If you do not get the job however don't dwell on it. It will make your anxiety worse.
Best of luck in the job hunt

via4

Your not a failure look how brave you were going to Asia and on your own as well that's so amazing. Look don't worry I know people who have gone to oz n came home a week later if it wasn't the right time no biggie. I feel for you in your situation. Maybe take a step back and focus solely on your health for the next six months or so and get to the root of your problems. It seems like your not ready mentally for the interview but of course only you can know how you feel on the day.

bonyn

I've been in a funk several months now. Started counselling a few weeks ago and it's slow progress.

I started reading an ebook called The Tools by Barry Michels and Phil Stutz

It's available on kindle though you'll find a pdf online if you look hard enough. I've real the first "tool" in a few hours, so about 20% of the book , and explains the dangers of a comfort zone and how to get out of it. I'd recommend you to give it ago. Might get you over the hump (i.e the interview)

6 weeks is a nice break but travelling can be stressful when you use it to run away from your problems, in a strange country, no friends or family, and the sense that you have no plan and will have to return to reality. it's certainly not a silver bullet. You're probably better off in the uk but try to take things a bit easier.

commandunclear

Thanks a lot for all the advice folks. Feeling a bit better about the interview now, I'm just gonna go in and give it my best shot.

via4

Best of luck in the interview rooting for you!

commandunclear

via4 wrote: »

Best of luck in the interview rooting for you!

Thanks via4, will post in here tomorrow how I got on.

commandunclear

I got the job, delighted! Thanks for all the helpful advice on here folks.

via4

Well done and good luck in you new job and the next chapter in your life!

steve_r

commandunclear wrote: »

I got the job, delighted! Thanks for all the helpful advice on here folks.

That's great - sounds like a role which will do a lot of good as well.