Hi fellow Ranters,
Today I’m preparing for a job interview tomorrow!
Interview Jitters
Over the years I’ve been on many job interviews for one reason or another. Each time though it doesn’t make it any less stressful! My wife had been on seemingly many dozens of interviews in her life for her job and different things so it’s not so much a big deal to her. I’ve only been on about 10 or so, so I don’t have as much experience in the situation. We saw a job that is in the place where we want to live and move so naturally I applied for it and was hoping to get some time to sit down with the recruiter and get to business. I got the reply that I was chosen for an interview!
Interviews are a bit of a challenging thing to go on. People expect polished and really well kept people to be presented and we certainly try to be that person but it’s difficult still. I’m very good at my job and the job I applied for but I sometimes find it difficult to convey that to people who aren’t in the role I’m in, such as Human Resources people. I’m trying to think of ways that I can finesse my interpersonal skills to properly get across to them that I would be a solid fit for the job and they should invest in me as an employee in their company.
The interview jitters are always a double edged sword. I think they are good, it keeps me on my toes and you are sort of prepared for the obvious questions like tell me about yourself and stuff but trying to also be prepared for the other questions they have on their list that I have no idea about is also a thing that makes me nervous. Will I answer it right? Will I go into too much detail? What’s too much or too little detail? All of these things are going through your mind while you are trying to answer the questions. It’s kind of incredible how many things can get fired through the brain at once in a situation like that!
I’ve skated through some interviews over the past few years just to kind of get my feet wet with them, recruiters reaching out to me about a job they have that they would like to interview me for. I did okay with those and turned down some things but this being a job I applied for and want to get, that’s the tough part. It’s kind of like a relationship you want to pursue, how do you go about the initial interactions to try and garner a second date at least?
The other part that’s a little challenging is it’s being hosted virtually so I’m going to sit in our room with my camera on and talk with the hiring manager. That’s a first for me, though it would have been so because the job is in a different state. Thankfully with the technology nowadays, we can do things like blur backgrounds and stuff so that they can’t see some of the things behind me. We don’t have a lot of space so the rooms are a bit of a hot mess lol. I need to get situated with getting that set up as well.
Writing down a list of questions I have has been a good practice that I think helps show the seriousness of my interest. I’ve learned from past experience that not having any questions is a bad thing, but having too many questions could be an issue. The sweet spot might be something less than 5 questions. There are some easy ones like
- How big is the team I’ll be working on?
- What is the user community like, how large is it?
- Whats the history of the job, is it a new posting or did someone leave the position? (Good question that they don’t anticipate sometimes! Gotta know if it’s new and maybe not something long term or if they are filling an open position)
Trying to think of some more, thankfully I have a few hours before the interview to get some of that situated!
What’s your job interview experience? Do you find it hard or easy? I might not see some of the comments until after the interview is over but it’s an interesting topic for me! I think I’ll be on a few more interviews in the coming months so I am trying to get back into the swing of things with it and wouldn’t mind some tips people have! I’m trying not to take it too seriously otherwise you mess it up. Gotta go in there with the right mindset.
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Last time I had an interview, I burst into tears. Needless to say, I didn't get the job. I swore I'd never go for another job again - I am terrible at interviews and I only got this job as I was already working there as an emergency teacher. I get soo nervous - it's awful. Luckily I'm of that age and financial situation that once I leave this job, I'll be done - and I'll only work in a job that you dont have to do a full on interview for.
Good luck!
Yeah I wasn't good at interviews but needed to figure out how to do them and have gained a little bit of experience over the years doing it. I made some mistakes for sure, but that's the nature of being human lol.
Thankfully the interview went well, got some good conversation going, was able to highlight important things on my background and all that so I am hopeful that it will go well!
Good luck mate! Just be yourself, do a little research on the company, when you get asked the "what are your weaknesses" style questions, just show that you're self aware with some examples and that you're willing to always improve. That's what they are looking for!
I've been on about 5 different interviews (maybe less) but have found that if you show interest in the company, know about their products and answer the questions about what they are looking for from the job posting, then you have a very strong chance!
You got this! Let us know how you get on!
Thanks man! It was thankfully a pretty good interview. We touched on important pieces, I was able to highlight my skills and abilities and also ask some decent questions. The question that might have been good, at least from this initial process, was to make sure there were no reservations about my experience or resume. Will take a few weeks to find out how it goes. Fingers crossed man!
I did a little research on the company and it was beneficial, dropped one thing in there to let them know that I did look them up lol so that was good.
Glad to hear you felt it went well and hope you get some great news in a few weeks!
Good luck for the interview!
I'm not sure what they ask there but one we get is:
Do you have any questions for us?
Asking how many sick days you get is not a good idea. 😁
I always answer like this:
Thanks for the opportunity to ask a question. I was wondering if there was anything I could clarify in respect of the interview that would assist you in selwcting me for the role?
Something like that anyway.
It puts it back on the interviewer to contemplate your previous answers and actually identify anything you might not have covered sufficiently or effectively giving you a chance to add more weight to your bid for the role, to prop up any weak points. Just go over that point again, differently, and you're gtg.
Also, make your answers them-focused. You know, blah blah blah and the benefit to the company is blah blah blah.
You'll go fine. That you're thinking about it ahead of time tells me so.
Thanks man! I actually used your question to put it back onto them if there was anything and he thankfully said no, my answers were good and my background was great so hoping that it works out for us!
The focus on them as a company was something I tried to do a little bit, make it look like I spent time researching them and trying to get to know them and how they operate. It was my first interview in a long time so I felt a little rusty! Thankfully had a few notes jotted down ahead of time like your suggestion that worked out, and tried to be prepared as best I could. It was funny getting dressed up for a virtual meeting, haven't done that at all working remotely but I think it was appreciated.
Will just keep rolling with whatever happens, I think I would like the new job a lot, Siena is a little hesitant because the team I work on right now has not one but two slackers on it so I have almost guaranteed job security lol I get her perspective but at the same time I want a new environment. If things go well on the interview, it will be a decision to move on versus stay. Don't want to get ahead of it all though, because when that happens it doesn't work out lol
Good work! It's a great question really, and when honed can come across as very slick, of course one needs to be able to back it up but it has always seemed to work well and is one I coach people into asking.
New job horizons can keep a person motivated and moving forward, energised as such, and to be honest it's time I did the same. Like you I have job security but for me there's no really satisfaction. The job yes, the environment no.
Good luck.
Had another interview today, I took 10 mins to find this post and your advice. It came in handy!
Cool, hope it went well.
I do too, hoping this one pans out. It's a different avenue than I thought but it's one I can certainly take on.
A change of direction isn't a bad thing; keeps things interesting. Good luck.
Thanks Mac! Appreciate it. I think it went well, we shall see in the coming weeks!
How's the baking business going?
Good luck man!!!!!! I hope it went well for you. I just leave my thoughts on the interview perspective out, they wouldn't help you lol. I just had the impression that it was easier for me as a German to find a job anywhere in the world but in Germany. I never had an issue getting one overseas and people loved me, in Germany....strange environment. My sis worked at a recruiting place, what she told me about the process was devastating lol.
Solo pensar en la entrevista ya te predispone a fallar o a lograr superar con éxito, no hay una guia para poder obtener un empleo depende de muchos factores , todo depende de lo que quiere la empresa solo hay que estar centrado en lo que quieres y demostrar que estas capacitado para el empleo. La seguridad en ti mismo y el autocontrol son muy importantes para lograr obtener un empleo.