Why do I **** up interviews?
Discussion
In my experience of giving interviews you need to stand out.
I will point out I'm probably interviewing for lower paid jobs than you're applying for, but might be useful information for you.
Most applicants will give decent answers to the questions (tell you what you want to hear), short listing means you should be interviewing capable people, you're then looking at other factors.
Someone earlier said about showing a sense of humour, you're not only thinking how they'll fit into the team and work hard but also if they're going to cause you grief as an employer. Your last company may well be a shambles but if you tell me all about it I'm wondering if you're the employee who's constantly moaning and stirring up trouble?
In our job adverts there's a number to call for more information, other than people phoning to say they missed the deadline practically no one calls. I've had one ask to come at a quiet time to look around the place, he'd done some research, had good questions put himself in a good light and was a step ahead at interview time.
I took along a new member of staff for a days interviewing, afterwards they told me they thought I was exaggerating when I said to make specific notes about each candidate not just their answers, as they all merge into one if you don't at the end, but now totally saw my point.
Also,don't feel the need to immediately answer and fill the silence, despite feeling desperate to do so. Taking a few seconds to compose your answer is good in my mind, very few do it.
And as someone else said, feel free to bring up a better answer / anecdote later. If I think someones holding back I'll tell them now's not the time to be modest, you're selling yourself, obviously do so without being an arse though...
I will point out I'm probably interviewing for lower paid jobs than you're applying for, but might be useful information for you.
Most applicants will give decent answers to the questions (tell you what you want to hear), short listing means you should be interviewing capable people, you're then looking at other factors.
Someone earlier said about showing a sense of humour, you're not only thinking how they'll fit into the team and work hard but also if they're going to cause you grief as an employer. Your last company may well be a shambles but if you tell me all about it I'm wondering if you're the employee who's constantly moaning and stirring up trouble?
In our job adverts there's a number to call for more information, other than people phoning to say they missed the deadline practically no one calls. I've had one ask to come at a quiet time to look around the place, he'd done some research, had good questions put himself in a good light and was a step ahead at interview time.
I took along a new member of staff for a days interviewing, afterwards they told me they thought I was exaggerating when I said to make specific notes about each candidate not just their answers, as they all merge into one if you don't at the end, but now totally saw my point.
Also,don't feel the need to immediately answer and fill the silence, despite feeling desperate to do so. Taking a few seconds to compose your answer is good in my mind, very few do it.
And as someone else said, feel free to bring up a better answer / anecdote later. If I think someones holding back I'll tell them now's not the time to be modest, you're selling yourself, obviously do so without being an arse though...
Edited by snobetter on Friday 27th May 12:54
Well today went a bit better than the last one.
Same industry, different organisation so essentially the same interview again ;-)
Didn't overthink things this time, revised and tweaked in advance my intended answers to the usual questions and even fell back on a tired old cliche as an opener which seemed to go down far better than trying to call their bluff and come up with a new take on an age old question.
Overall, seemed to go much, much better and unlike last time a fair amount of weight appeared to have been placed on my written CV as well as the verbal of the interview. Come the last question one of the interviewers overstepped the mark a bit (deliberately?) and let slip "After everything else you've told us I'll be amazed if you don't nail this last one too...." so I'm reasonably confident.
I did stumble a bit on one of the competency questions as I'd inadvertently "used up" my intended reply on a different question without even realising until I was telling myself "Hang on...you've told them that one already" and the reply I fell back on was a bit weak. I'm hopeful they'll review the whole thing and realise that some of my answers covered multiple skills though.
It's a multi-stage selection process though so another couple of hurdles yet.
Same industry, different organisation so essentially the same interview again ;-)
Didn't overthink things this time, revised and tweaked in advance my intended answers to the usual questions and even fell back on a tired old cliche as an opener which seemed to go down far better than trying to call their bluff and come up with a new take on an age old question.
Overall, seemed to go much, much better and unlike last time a fair amount of weight appeared to have been placed on my written CV as well as the verbal of the interview. Come the last question one of the interviewers overstepped the mark a bit (deliberately?) and let slip "After everything else you've told us I'll be amazed if you don't nail this last one too...." so I'm reasonably confident.
I did stumble a bit on one of the competency questions as I'd inadvertently "used up" my intended reply on a different question without even realising until I was telling myself "Hang on...you've told them that one already" and the reply I fell back on was a bit weak. I'm hopeful they'll review the whole thing and realise that some of my answers covered multiple skills though.
It's a multi-stage selection process though so another couple of hurdles yet.
Sounds more promising - good luck!
From my perspective I think you might be overthinking it, and trying to cover every angle of a question in your first reply. Remember, interviews are a conversation and if they want to drill into what you've said then let them come with follow up questions.
From my perspective I think you might be overthinking it, and trying to cover every angle of a question in your first reply. Remember, interviews are a conversation and if they want to drill into what you've said then let them come with follow up questions.
0000 said:
Crossflow Kid said:
I've got a text book answer to the classic "Tell us about a time you had to make a difficult decision"
That is a classic, is anyone really still using it?!I think if this question comes up it shows more about the interview style and them not having read or understood what you've done thoroughly. Or they're using pre-prep questions because they think that's what they should ask
You can cover it off way before the question comes up if necessary either crowbarring it into conversation, or when you're talking, bring it in. Like 'I used to work at XYZ, interesting role and there was always a new challenge every week. One that stands out is ........'
I think if you're choking it sounds like you're not doing enough prep to walk in with. I'm sure you know the answers but you think you'll remember what you're going to say. The thing with interviews is, they're really on the spot and if you're not pre-prepared then you'll be listening so much to what the other person's say, making a good impression by smiling and not slouching etc or thinking up what you're going to say that nerves will creep in. They're f
king you up. Slow it down, breathe a bit
If you feel you need to, take in your version of cue cards. You can have them on paper infront of you, or you can put them on an iPad and have that open. When the question comes around you can jump in and offer 'I've got this great example, thought you might ask, now let me give you the main points and then I'll go through how I sorted it' You could even have it as a hand out with bullet points of the problem if you really want to.
Formal speaking, as in, interviewing is actually best done informally. By that I mean take away the wanting to make a good impression and wanting to give them the answer you think they want - talk to them. No-one really wants to employ a drone, at least no company you should actually want to work for. It's fine to just slow it down, be less formal, more conversational because then people get to know your personality rather than question answer question answer where no-one really learns anything about each other just a series of pre-prep q+a happens
I am pretty good at interviews, I have been offered a job every time.
You just need to be confident in yourself without being a cock.
I also prepare.
I research the company, look at their clients online, the industries they specialise in and any mention of upcoming projects on their website.
I try and do some basic research on the people I am being interviewed with (just look at their LinkedIn profile or something) to try and build common ground.
Both of the above are good because it shows you are both serious about the job, interested in the business and the people.
Then I prepare myself, I will write a couple of A4 pages of notes which I will refer to under headings for typical questions
For example, explain a project I have been involved in which was completed successfully.
Explain a project I was involved in which did not go to plan
Examples of project work for clients in various industries (try to link these back to key client-bases as you research above).
The classic one is "name something which you would describe as a negative about yourself" to which my generic go to answer is something along the lines that I often get too involved in a project and end up helping further where our responsibility ends (I work in IT and PBXs so for example if our phones won't come up because of a network configuration error (not our problem) I will often help diagnose the network fault).
You just need to be confident in yourself without being a cock.
I also prepare.
I research the company, look at their clients online, the industries they specialise in and any mention of upcoming projects on their website.
I try and do some basic research on the people I am being interviewed with (just look at their LinkedIn profile or something) to try and build common ground.
Both of the above are good because it shows you are both serious about the job, interested in the business and the people.
Then I prepare myself, I will write a couple of A4 pages of notes which I will refer to under headings for typical questions
For example, explain a project I have been involved in which was completed successfully.
Explain a project I was involved in which did not go to plan
Examples of project work for clients in various industries (try to link these back to key client-bases as you research above).
The classic one is "name something which you would describe as a negative about yourself" to which my generic go to answer is something along the lines that I often get too involved in a project and end up helping further where our responsibility ends (I work in IT and PBXs so for example if our phones won't come up because of a network configuration error (not our problem) I will often help diagnose the network fault).
Steve Campbell said:
In constructing your answer, consider using a standard framework of structure for interview question answering
Eg, I have used STAR in the past successfully....
S : situation, describing what you were facing, maybe what obstacles where in the way and any pertinent info for the listener to give them a flavour of the situation you were in.
T : target, what you were trying to get to at the end
A : actions....what specifically you did to get from start to finish
R : what was the end result, in comparison to what you intended, including specifics of £, timing or whatever identified that you had been successful
You still need to tell a story in a conversational manner but if you can mentally structure it to cover those points, it may help stop any rambling.
This 100% and never forget the REg, I have used STAR in the past successfully....
S : situation, describing what you were facing, maybe what obstacles where in the way and any pertinent info for the listener to give them a flavour of the situation you were in.
T : target, what you were trying to get to at the end
A : actions....what specifically you did to get from start to finish
R : what was the end result, in comparison to what you intended, including specifics of £, timing or whatever identified that you had been successful
You still need to tell a story in a conversational manner but if you can mentally structure it to cover those points, it may help stop any rambling.
Structure each answer like this and use a different example for each and you are in the game
Sheetmaself said:
I assume that means a well done and virtual pint is in order for you.
Dont forget to ask for feedback, hardly anyone asks for it when they get the job but it is important to find out what you did right as well as what you did wrong.
Congrats again.
Yes, provisional start date of Aug 2nd.Dont forget to ask for feedback, hardly anyone asks for it when they get the job but it is important to find out what you did right as well as what you did wrong.
Congrats again.
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