'I'm really sorry but I'm not sure I understand the question, can you repeat it?'
Silence. :(
In the realm of job interviews, it’s a common affliction: the mind suddenly drawing a blank, leaving you grasping for words. You’ve meticulously prepared, rehearsing responses to the perennial "top ten" or most common interview questions, only to find yourself staring into the abyss of silence, when faced with the actual interrogation. Panic.
You have spent hours preparing for this interview, and you are an expert in the subject matter. Yourself. Yet as your mind starts to cloud over, the dreaded sinking feeling arises as you realise you haven't got a clue how to respond to a question, because,
IT WASN'T ON THE LIST!!!
Today, we delve into the heart of going blank, exploring the twin demons that often conspire to sabotage our best-laid plans during the interview process. We'll dissect the intricacies of rote memorisation, which can leave us stranded in a desert of forgetfulness when the script fails to align with the reality of the moment.
And we'll talk about the relentless onslaught of stress, that primal force capable of hijacking our cognitive processes and plunging us into the depths of mental paralysis.
Rote Memorisation: Why You Go Blank in Interviews
It is an age-old technique of committing information to memory through repetition, and is often seen as a reliable strategy for interview preparation. Armed with a laundry list of anticipated questions and prepackaged responses, drilling yourself on word for word answers to a set of word for word typical questions, is the most common practise for interview preparation. It is designed to give a sense of security to an unknown situation. Yet, beneath the surface veneer of confidence that this technique promises, lies a precarious foundation built upon the shaky ground of superficial knowledge.
In the throes of the interview, when the stakes are high and scrutiny unrelenting, the limitations of rote memorisation are laid bare. Like a house of cards collapsing under the weight of expectation, scripted responses often crumble in the face of nuanced inquiries and unexpected twists.
The rigid confines of memorised answers may leave you feeling stranded, as and when the conversation is steered in a different direction. Suddenly you are off-piste, and unsure of what to do. And say.
Your memorised train of thought has been interrupted because you have set up dependency on external cues, divorcing yourself from the core of the interview experience.
Instead of engaging authentically with the interviewer and articulating genuine insights, you may find yourself regurgitating prepackaged soundbites, that are devoid of depth and conviction. In essence, rote memorisation disconnects you from the other person, and obscures the opportunity for genuine connection and mutual understanding.
So if memory/recall is the most commonly used technique for interview preparation, why does it keep failing in times of need?
In a word, cortisol.
Going Blank Interview: How Cortisol Plays it Part.
As the pressure cooker of the interview environment reaches boiling point, a cascade of stress hormones floods the brain, triggering a physiological response that can wreak havoc on your brain's ability to function.
When faced with a perceived threat, whether real or imagined, the brain's amygdala, the seat of emotional processing, sounds the alarm, prompting the adrenal glands to release cortisol into the bloodstream. While cortisol serves a vital function in mobilising the body's resources for action, its overabundance can tip the delicate balance of cognitive equilibrium, impairing memory retrieval and decision-making processes.
In the context of the interview setting, where the stakes are high and scrutiny unrelenting, the surge of cortisol can hijack the brain's cognitive faculties, leading to a phenomenon colloquially known as "brain fog." And it is usually under the foggy haze of stress, that those meticulously memorised responses that once seemed readily accessible, suddenly dissapear.
In essence, the physiological response to stress can create a perfect storm of impairment, sabotaging the very foundation upon which rote memorisation relies. When trying to memorise information, our brain stores it as a long-term memory in the hippocampus, and for this process to work smoothly, our brain needs to be both focused and relaxed. However, when cortisol levels are high, it disrupts this natural flow, often leading to a frustrating cycle of trying, getting stressed, trying even harder, and becoming even more stressed.
During interview, where composure is paramount and clarity of thought non-negotiable, navigating these memory lapses requires not only mindfulness techniques to mitigate the effects of cortisol, it also requires a different approach to preparation. One that doesn't involve memorising everything to a set script.
Key Takeaway: Relying solely on rehearsed answers and feeling overwhelmed by stress during interviews can sabotage your experience, leaving you feeling embarrassed and defeated. While it's natural to occasionally blank out or deliver mediocre responses, consistent anxiety before interviews indicates a need for proactive strategies to overcome these challenges with confidence and composure.
Authored by: Nadeen Sivic
Date: 29th April 2024
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