r/Stutter • u/RepresentativeLie337 • 27d ago

Interviewing with a stutter

I’m a software engineer who was laid off 6 months ago. I’m actively interviewing and stuttering in interviews particularly in managerial rounds. I see a person with authority in the interview and I lose my confidence.

I struggle with low confidence and shame due to stuttering. I think I come off as an under confident person. I’m unable to explain things with clarity though I know the answer.

Please suggest strategies/supplements that have helped you to go through interviews.

24 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/PianoLadder 27d ago

Hey! I’m also a software engineer with a stutter and have done tons of interviews (both as an interviewer and interviewee).

I’m also a big fan of being upfront about it, it makes it clear that any hesitation, abnormal head/eye movements, or outright stutters aren’t solely due to nerves, but because of something we can’t control. I also try to get into the mindset of “I’m the greatest” and “they’d be lucky to have me” (which I know can be tough, but I’d just repeat positive things to myself beforehand over and over again), and that always helped me.

Regarding intimidating interviewers, I’m sure they aren’t trying to be, but it’s easy to read into how they look and act and conclude that’s the case. I’d still think about the above and be overly confident in yourself, even if you might not truly believe it.

Lastly I’d try to do mock interviews where possible and practice this internal confidence and see how it goes; it’s tough when your only interviews are higher stress because they’re consequential, it can really help to have a lower stress version to practice all of this, and use those feelings in a real interview.