Why do I **** up interviews?
Discussion
I'm not desperate to move on as I'm employed in a nice steady job with regular income and little hassle, but recently I've been for a couple interviews for jobs I'd prefer to be doing and have been sort of on/off ambitions since leaving school, and for which I'm well suited given previous very specific roles and experience.
The application processes have involved various numeracy and literacy tests and other desk top selection procedures, all of which I breeze through, then when I get to interview it all goes tits up.
I just get the feeling I'm not "saying the right words" to match the interviewers' criteria, despite the underlying message of what I'm trying to convey still being on target.
Its like a Miss World contestant saying she wants a career with minors less fortunate or in need, and then gets rejected because the specific words "I want to work with disadvantaged children" weren't uttered somewhere down the line.
On both occasions I've also managed to make a total dogs dinner of discussing various key skills, for which I've got some solid gold anecdotal examples. I've got a text book answer to the classic "Tell us about a time you had to make a difficult decision" and yet when I answer, what comes out is some lame, slightly vague b
ks and I end up sounding like I'm rambling on, making it up as I go. In my head I'm shouting at myself saying "What the hell are you going on about?! This isn't what we agreed to say!"
Is it just a case not being match-fit in interview terms due to not being on an urgent job-hunt, or am I missing something?
The application processes have involved various numeracy and literacy tests and other desk top selection procedures, all of which I breeze through, then when I get to interview it all goes tits up.
I just get the feeling I'm not "saying the right words" to match the interviewers' criteria, despite the underlying message of what I'm trying to convey still being on target.
Its like a Miss World contestant saying she wants a career with minors less fortunate or in need, and then gets rejected because the specific words "I want to work with disadvantaged children" weren't uttered somewhere down the line.
On both occasions I've also managed to make a total dogs dinner of discussing various key skills, for which I've got some solid gold anecdotal examples. I've got a text book answer to the classic "Tell us about a time you had to make a difficult decision" and yet when I answer, what comes out is some lame, slightly vague b
ks and I end up sounding like I'm rambling on, making it up as I go. In my head I'm shouting at myself saying "What the hell are you going on about?! This isn't what we agreed to say!"Is it just a case not being match-fit in interview terms due to not being on an urgent job-hunt, or am I missing something?
Mr MXT said:
You can always say "Actually, I've thought of a much better example, do you mind?"
Nice. I think I might be making the mistake of thinking the conversation is a single track road with nowhere to do a u-turn.Will keep that in mind for the next time (for which I've already passed the aforementioned pen'n'paper tests and had confirmation that I'll be getting an interview)
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?!Must admit I'm usually expecting more of a grilling and end up getting 30 seconds in the microwave.
Maybe I'm aiming too high with my intended reply and missing the obvious as a result?
Hmm, all good stuff. Thanks chaps 
I like the STAR structure, will try using that next time. The "be concise" comment also struck a chord. I'm pretty sure that at a couple of points in the last interview they were sitting opposite thinking "Come on, come on.....get to the point"
I've been notified that I've passed the initial assessment for another role I'm looking at and will be called for interview soon. Will update accordingly.
I like the STAR structure, will try using that next time. The "be concise" comment also struck a chord. I'm pretty sure that at a couple of points in the last interview they were sitting opposite thinking "Come on, come on.....get to the point"
I've been notified that I've passed the initial assessment for another role I'm looking at and will be called for interview soon. Will update accordingly.
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.
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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