A job interview is one of life’s more demanding challenges — from first impressions to intensive get-to-know-you questions, you’re bound to feel some jitters before, during and after a job interview.
With a potential dream job hanging in the balance, it’s understandable why 93% of candidates report nervousness leading up to and during the interview. With your knees weak, palms sweaty, mind racing and stomach somersaulting, it can be hard to muster the calm and confidence needed to excel.
Fortunately, taking CBD before interview processes may help your pre-interview nerves fade away, empowering you to be your most authentic self.
Understanding The Stress Behind a Job Interview
A job interview is an opportunity to demonstrate that you’re the best candidate for the role. It’s a chance to persuade a potential employer that you have the relevant experience, know-how, personality traits and soft skills necessary to be an ideal fit for the company culture.
Knowing that you’ll be facing intense observation, and with so much on the line, your body's natural response to the mounting pressure is to interpret the signals as danger and enter “fight or flight mode.” According to Psychologist Carolyn Fischer, Ph.D.:
“The fight or flight response or stress response is triggered by a release of hormones either prompting us to stay and fight or run away and flee. During the response, all bodily systems are working to keep us alive in what we’ve perceived as a dangerous situation.”
When fight or flight kicks in, the body automatically prioritizes functions most likely to help you survive a life-threatening situation.
Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, causing you to breathe more rapidly; your muscles tense up, preparing you to spring into sudden action; and your mind is on edge, rapidly searching for signs of impending danger.
All of these reactions are great if you encounter a predator in the wild. But not so much if you’re sitting in a job interview.
CBD and the Nervous System
So, how can CBD help with interview nerves?
It all comes down to the way CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS helps regulate various systems within the body, including your nervous, respiratory, reproductive and cardiovascular systems. And within the ECS are two primary endocannabinoid receptors:
- CB1 – Found primarily in the brain and central nervous system
- CB2 – Found primarily in the peripheral organs
Normally, these receptors are activated by endogenous endocannabinoids, which impact various physiological functions, including sleep, appetite, memory, motor control and stress. But they can also be triggered by CBD — one of 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, more specifically in hemp.
A Hemp plant has 0.3% less THC and more CBD. Hemp derived CBD can be either Full-Spectrum CBD which means the hemp extract has less than 0.3% THC, or Broad-Spectrum, which contains all the compounds that naturally occur but without THC or CBD Isolate. CBD Isolate contains only CBD extract and no other cannabinoids.
Although scientists are still uncovering the exact ways that CBD impacts the ECS, all signs indicate that it triggers the production of serotonin and endogenous cannabinoids. Meanwhile, it also dampens stimulating neurotransmitters like adrenaline and cortisol, both of which are released during fight or flight.
The Benefits of CBD
The positive interplay between CBD and the ECS stimulates several beneficial effects that may help you feel more comfortable during an interview.
There are many CBD products you can try including CBD oil, CBD tincture, edibles like CBD mints and gummies and more.
Promote Restful Sleep
Do you lay awake, tossing and turning, the night before your big interview?
To function at peak capacity, your body and mind need plenty of sleep. Doctors recommend that most adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours each night. But it can be hard to catch some Z's and then stay asleep when you’re fretting about an upcoming interview.
Can you take hemp gummies for sleep? Yes! Taking CBD as a part of your nighttime routine may help calm the body and mind so that you’re well-rested the day of, especially when the CBD is paired with natural sleep aids like melatonin.
Settle Your Stomach
Digestive distress is one of the body’s natural responses to nerves.
When that kicks in, it could make your stomach ache or prompt an unplanned emergency run to the bathroom, neither of which will help your interview.
But CBD may assuage your gastrointestinal tract, allowing you to focus on your answers — not your roiling stomach.
Calm Your Nerves
An interviewer looks for a candidate that exudes confidence and poise.
To find those qualities, they must judge your words, body language and non-verbal cues.
“Just be yourself” is one of the more common pieces of advice people like to give. But how do you do that when nerves cause fight or flight to kick in and your body starts acting like there’s a Grizzly bear in the room?
Once more, CBD can be the solution. By taking a CBD gummy before the interview, you can calm your nerves and enter a relaxed state so that you’re ready to tackle every tough question head-on.
Energy and Concentration
When it comes to interviews, first impressions are everything. Entering the room with low energy and a distracted demeanor won’t help your chances.
If your mind is prone to drifting, CBD may help restore your vigor and focus to provide the boost you need to light up the room.
Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?
If you’re new to CBD, you may worry that it might show up on a drug screening. After all, the last thing you’d want to happen would be to crush the interview, only to fail the drug test. But what if I have to fly to my job interview? Can I fly with CBD oil?
Worry not. Even though it comes from the same family as marijuana, hemp-based CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it won’t get you high.
To be legally considered CBD, the plant can’t contain any more than 0.3% THC, which is the cannabinoid responsible for marijuana’s telltale high. As such, CBD only contains trace amounts of THC, which are nowhere near enough to trigger the Department of Health and Human Services’ fail point of 50 nanograms per milliliter.
Do I have to be 21 to buy CBD? How old to buy CBD? You would need to be 18, 21 or any age — depending on where you live and the CBD product you’re interested in purchasing. For more on how to navigate local and federal age laws, visit our How old do you have to be to buy CBD? page for more.
That said, it’s important that you trust your CBD source. You want a company who’s been around long in the CBD industry. Look for a vendor like Zebra CBD that offers a label of accuracy guarantee so that you know exactly what’s in your CBD.
Don’t want to take any risks at all?
Then, just to be safe, avoid full-spectrum CBD, which has trace amounts of THC. Instead, look for a broad-spectrum CBD or CBD Isolate. If their labels are accurate, neither of those products will contain any THC whatsoever.
Prepare For Your Interview With Zebra CBD
An interview shouldn't be cause for dismay, but excitement.
Although you can’t completely eliminate the nerves associated with a big job opportunity, taking CBD before an interview can make it more manageable. With the proper dosage and enough time, CBD may help:
- Promote sleep
- Settle your stomach
- Calm your nerves
- Provide an energy and concentration boost
Where can you find a high-quality CBD with a label of accuracy guarantee?
The CBD marketplace is swarming with CBD products that claim accuracy and authenticity. You need a tried and tested CBD company — an authority in all things CBD. You’ve come to the right source. Zebra CBD is your trusted CBD expert. Whether you prefer hemp oil, topicals, hemp tablets, chewables or gummies, our simple CBD solutions are designed to promote total well-being. If you’re new to CBD, give our products a try to find out which CBD product is the right fit for you.
With Zebra CBD on your side, you’ll be ready to ace your next interview.
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. What Happens to Your Body During the Fight or Flight Response? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-to-your-body-during-the-fight-or-flight-response/
Harvard Health. The Endocannabinoid System: Essential and Mysterious. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569
Web MD. How Much Sleep Do I Need? https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-requirements
DHHS. Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs. https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/sites/default/files/hhs-guidance-documents/2006164095-gr-frn_vol_82_7920_.pdf
