So a few weeks back I applied for a job within a company that I really want to work for. It's a company I can retire with, and at 29 years old, I am looking to settle into a job that I can work with long-term. The job itself is not my favorite, it's call center work, but getting my foot in the door with the company should hopefully open up other opportunities so I may not always be a phone rep.
Yesterday I had a testing session with them, where they basically see if you meet their standard needs (there was a data entry test, math, analyzing, proofreading, and a call scenario test, etc.). I got the email today that I successfully passed all those tests, and they would like to schedule me for an interview.
Insert anxiety here!
I wore my nicest outfit I had yesterday, which was a pair of black dress slacks, a deep red cowl neck sweater (it didn't dip low, and I kept accessories to just a tasteful necklace), and a pair of ankle boots with a small heel. Out of the three people that tested, I was definitely the best dressed (one girl showed up in black and white polka-dotted leggings and a flimsy button down shirt over a dirty camisole....Not a good first impression, IMO).
My problem is that I don't know if what I have to wear is appropriate for this interview!! The job is customer service over the phone, and from what I could see from the people walking in and out of the building, the wardrobe of most people tended towards the very casual (jeans and a hoodie sweatshirt) to business casual.
I don't own a suit, and whenever I try them on I feel I look uncomfortable (and that's because I am). My arms are disproportionately bigger than the rest of me, so where I may wear a size 14 in pants, I'd need to go to the 18 or even 20 for the jacket so my arms will fit, and then the rest of it is too big! I also am not a fan of dresses, and look equally uncomfortable in those.
I know there was a thread on here about interviewing, and there were some people who said that they frequently interviewed people, is there a general guideline I should follow? I always thought that a business-casual type outfit was okay as long as you were clean, conservative, and there is nothing too loud or flashy with it (like black slacks, nice top, light make-up, etc). But my soon-to-be sister-in-law, who worksi n the building (albeit a different department where she would be required to wear more business-like attire), says that I should go and get a suit for the interview.
I just don't want to spend money on something that I won't be comfortable in
I also don't want to go to an interview and be uncomfortable in how I look, either! That will just tear through any confidence I have mustered up, and the last thing I want is to seem flustered or nervous (even though I'm sure they already know I'm nervous as all heck lol!).
Another issue I have right now is my diet. My anxiety is so high, I'm either finding myself just grabbing something to eat from the fridge without weighing/measuring, or just not eating at all. When I got the notification about the testing, I was good on my diet until Saturday, where I really didn't eat much. same with Sunday. I ended up ordering Chinese food on Sunday, and I could only eat a small bit. I wasn't so nervous about the testing because I knew I could handle most of it, and the nerves only kicked in a couple days before.
With the interview, I don't even have a scheduled day yet and my anxiety is through the roof. I know it will be next week sometime, and I don't like the idea of feeling like this for an entire week! I don't sleep well, my eating patterns are all thrown off, I don't want to
do anything else...I literally will just sit on the couch and stress about it because I can't seem to get my mind off of it! I tried exercising, cooking, cleaning, gaming, reading...nothing seemed to help get my mind off it.
I know stress can cause either overeating or undereating, and I feel like I experience both of those. Most of the time my stomach is in knots and I don't want to eat anything, then all at once I'll be starving and I'll eat something I probably shouldn't (a pint of Ben & Jerrys, pancakes fried in butter flavored crisco cause it gives it those tasty crispy edges, a huge bowl of chicken and dumplings, etc). I suppose I could take a page from Intuitive Eating and just be mindful of what I'm doing, and estimating my caloric intake and just monitor my fluctuations as I've always done, but I'm just worried with it being so much time if it will be harder to get back on track with counting.
UGH!!! So much to think about
I thought that if I'd get an interview I'd be happy, but instead all I have is this gut-twisting anxiety that is eating me up! A part of me wishes I could get the interview tomorrow, then I remember about my outfits and I'm like "nope, definitely next week" lol! It's such a conundrum, wanting time to move faster, then slower haha!!
Eeep! Stressing out!
it's taken me YEARS to practice what i preach LOL but for me personally, it does work....you can only give your all, and the rest is up to - insert whoever - (the people hiring you, Higher Spirit, God, the company, whoever)
like when I'm taking the dogs outside, or in the bathroom, etc), and I've called her back numerous times (leaving only one voicemail each day I tried), and she's never answered her phone.
On top of that, I just learned that my soon-to-be sister-in-law and her husband had an offer accepted on a house, so the house they are currently renting will become available in January-ish, and they are going to talk to the landlord to see if we can just jump right in when he's ready to rent it out! Yay no more 700sq ft apartment, hello 4-bedroom house with hardwood floors and fenced backyard!!!!!!
