Everyone gets nervous before an interview.
That is not the same thing as having an anxiety or mental health condition that creates a real barrier in the recruitment process.
The difference matters.
A reasonable adjustment is not there because interviews are uncomfortable. It is there when a condition affects your ability to participate fairly or show your capability.
Adjustments that may help
Depending on the barrier, useful adjustments may include:
- clear interview schedule and process
- knowing panel size and format in advance
- questions in writing
- extra reading or preparation time
- breaks between assessment activities
- reduced waiting time where possible
- video interview option
- support person for logistics where appropriate
- clear instructions for online assessments
- avoiding unnecessary group assessment where an alternative can test the same capability.
Why process clarity helps
Uncertainty can be a major part of the barrier.
If you know what will happen, when it will happen, who will be there and what type of assessment is involved, you can prepare for the actual task rather than spending all your energy managing the unknown.
What to ask for
> I am requesting a recruitment adjustment for the interview process. It would help me participate fairly if I could receive the interview format, panel details and timing in advance, and have the questions provided in writing at the interview.
You do not need to over-explain your condition.
Focus on the process change that would help.
Useful next steps
If this topic is relevant to your application, these related Team 3Thirty guides are the best places to go next:
Useful resources
These official resources are worth checking if you need the source guidance behind the adjustment examples: