A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF PERCEIVED ANXIETY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON ACADEMIC JOB INTERVIEW IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

A phenomenological research design was deployed to examine the perceived anxiety and its implications of the academic job interview in a recently concluded interview setting at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. A total of 25 participants were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data were analysed using content analysis. The result of the content analysis revealed that applicants who went through stress, nervousness and poor coping skills were triggered by personal factors while agony aswas triggered from external and they all had negative implications on interview performance. Also from the content analysis, participants reported unnecessary delay and extension of interview days had tendencies to elevate anxiety and state of melancholy among the applicants. Participants reported poor organisation on the part of the organisers and poor preparation of the applicants' students were other factors that affected the levels of nervousness, anxiety and agony during the job interview. However, anxiety and nervousness were moderated by previous job experiences of some applicants. Applicants into the lower academic positions were more likely than those applying for senior positions to feel more anxious and nervous. The study made recommendations to both applicants and the University administration on the need for providing a cushion effect towards reduction of anxiety among job seekers of academic positions in the country.