Fear of failing interviews
Hi Grapeviners,
I need your help! I see how people easily make switches and get like multiple offers and I always wonder how?
So, some history, I left my previous job in Feb 2024, been freelancing and looking for a job now!
I appeared for interviews with like 6-7 companies only.
I was like I'll apply aggressively when I've mastered DSA, System Design, React and Frontend Design patterns and then I'll keep cracking offers one by one! Looks like that doesn't happen in reality! The financial instability is kinda getting to me now!
I realised that doing the job as a Software Engineer and cracking interviews are two different ball games altogether!
I also have this fear that if I fail a interview where I've been referred by someone or got an interview by messaging a recruiter on LinkedIn, they might judge me and feel that I wasted their time and opportunity or that I couldn't match their expectations!
I realised just like any other skill, say singing, writing, dancing, video editing etc. Getting better at cracking Software Engineering interviews is also about practise an consistency.
So currently, I'm facing two fears:
- Fear of disappointing recruiters and people who are referring me
- Fear of losing an opportunity due to not doing well in the interview
I feel stuck now!
How do you deal with this fear of failure?
Talking product sense with Ridhi
9 min AI interview5 questions
Hey, I'll give some strong feedback on this But you need to fundamentally change your mindset.
I'm 8YoE into work life, have gotten into 3 roles that were fairly competitive and generally do well in interviews.
You will never succeed if you fear interviews. Personally, I kind of enjoy them.
You need to:
- Prepare really well - there's no need to be anxious at this stage. So prepare super well.
- Approach interviews not like a test (which many Indians do). It's not a test. It's mutual exploration. Sure the opposite side has greater power often, but you need to feel that you do too. Both of you can reject the other if the other person likes the other.
- So, it's a way to figure if the role is right. I always think this way - if I get rejected, it wasn't for me anyway. Cuz I prepare well.
Most people get rejected from interviews - there is no shame in it. I've been rejected from the same company twice and then accepted the 3rd time.
These things are random. Your career is important. Approach interviews as a favour to the opposite side :p
Give your 100% in preparation and during the interview and stop overthinking once it’s done. After each interview, consolidate all the questions asked and truly understand them before moving on to the next one. This approach will gradually help you crack multiple offers. Just remember, once the interview is over, ask yourself honestly, did I give it my best? If the answer is yes, let go of the outcome. If not, focus on doing better next time. Stay consistent, and opportunities will come your way.
Thanks a lot for the motivation! This helps :)
Fear is not your enemy — it’s the gatekeeper to your success. Every time you feel fear, life is simply asking: Do you really want this? If the answer is YES, walk through the fear. That’s where success lives. Keep trying bro… don’t stop… keep trying bro, ho jaega!
And jab hoga, you’ll have your own story to tell — a story worth sharing, a story others will listen to.
Kyunki success without struggle is just luck… but success after fear, failures, and hustle — that’s growth, that’s real learning.
So just stay focused… fight your doubts, face your fears, and keep moving.
I was also like you. I gave over 15 interviews where I failed constantly. It was embarrassing at first , but then you get used to it.
Each interview taught me something. Taught me how to answer. Taught me what to tell and what not tell while talking about my experience, stuff like that.
Also one other thing I'd advise is -first , interview for companies which you don't mind being rejected at . Then when you are confident enough, try for your dream companies
Dude, this means so much to me. This makes me feel less lonely when I see people who have treaded the same path as me in the past and figured it out. It gives me immense hope and strength to continue my journey! :)
Bhai I'll tell something to you,
I cleared my CA in dec 2024. Till 4 months I applied even 10 company but failed every where.
But one thing, Ill take as a feedback and try to improve my mistake.
Fast forward get a very good job with awesome package.
So take as a learning and pe patient
Wow! That's an inspiring journey! Congratulations, bro! How many companies did you sit for to finally get your offer?
The biggest demotivation I faced when I shortlisted in campus placement for 5 companies, and literally I don't get offer from any where 🥲.
Around 7-8
Better fail than anticipate fear of failure
- Practice infront of mirror , that gives confidence
- Keep giving dummy interviews by applying on role you know you will not join but a part of that interview is helpful for you.
- Think of it as discussion always
- You always have power in every conversation to a certain degree, go with that belief.
Sar jispe na jhuk jaaye usse darr nai kehte
Jo sar har darr p jhuk jaaye , usse sar nai kehte
Lol 😂
I read this somewhere - If you already know that it's going to take 30 failures to finally succeed, would you delay your failures? Think about this.
Damnnn! This is brilliant 🔥
This totally changes my perspective so basically failure is inevitable and it's very much part of the process/ script so I shouldn't fear it as much, learn from it and let it pass and move on to the next opportunity!
You are not alone, even guy with iit/nit with good coding handson suffers in interviews. Even they give 20 interview to land in a job most of time. Also most of offers come after 1 job as you already completed preparation and have offer in hand
Yeah, you're right. This is eye opening to me because I was thinking everyone else is perfect!
Each company has different requirements. for example in Qualcomm inter for data scientist he was asking questions related to operating systems. Which is no related to data science
Interview is part of preparation. You get to know which part to work on, what you are missing and what to improve. No one who refers expects a 100% conversion percentage. Shortlisting percentage for interviews post referral itself might be in single digits
Thanks for saying that! I was really in the wrong mindset for so long where I was thinking that I have to be 100% perfect in all interviews and if I'm not then maybe I'm not good enough.