92% of U.S. Adults Fear Something About Job Interviews, Survey Finds
For an overwhelming majority of Americans, the job interview is a dreaded, stressful ordeal as 9 in 10 employed adults said they fear something about the experience, according to data released today in the 2013 Job Interview Anxiety Survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Everest College.
The telephone survey of 1,002 employed adults found that 92% of Americans are stressed by at least one thing about the job interview process. The biggest fear was having the jitters, as 17% of Americans stated being too nervous as their top concern, followed by being overqualified for the job (15%), being stumped by the employer's questions (15%), being late for the interview (14%), being under qualified (11%) and not being prepared (10%).
"For so many, the job interview can be a high-pressure, make-or-break event when searching for a job, so it's only natural that anxiety can play a major factor," said survey spokesman John Swartz, regional director of career services at Everest College. "Everyone is different when coping under the pressure, but the best advice to help manage job interview fear is to simply be prepared. Conducting research, anticipating questions and acting professionally are staples that will stand the test of time, regardless of the latest job interview trends."