Blew the interview because of nerves - any advice?
Discussion
So I had an interview last week for what looked like the ideal job. It was a couple of steps up in seniority with a great organisation and I had the hard skills in bucketloads.
The interview format was a ten minute presentation followed by 45 mins of "How are you?". I've never been good at public speaking and nerves always seem to get the better of me. After 20 mins had passed the nerves settled and I was able to build a good rapport with the team, but I think by that stage it the damage was done.
Feedback from the recruiter was that they really liked me and felt I would be capable of doing the job, but lacked the gravitas to help drive the department forward and influence top brass. When the nerves hit my mind goes all over the place and I struggle to articulate thought properly.
Has anyone else had this problem and how did you deal with it? I know people say crap like 'imagine the panel are naked'. I really don't think that'd be a wise move though (one of the interviewers was a bit milfy)
The interview format was a ten minute presentation followed by 45 mins of "How are you?". I've never been good at public speaking and nerves always seem to get the better of me. After 20 mins had passed the nerves settled and I was able to build a good rapport with the team, but I think by that stage it the damage was done.
Feedback from the recruiter was that they really liked me and felt I would be capable of doing the job, but lacked the gravitas to help drive the department forward and influence top brass. When the nerves hit my mind goes all over the place and I struggle to articulate thought properly.
Has anyone else had this problem and how did you deal with it? I know people say crap like 'imagine the panel are naked'. I really don't think that'd be a wise move though (one of the interviewers was a bit milfy)
As I often said on here, in my opinion this is a time to be honest and to allow yourself permission to be nervous.
A panel interview can be intimidating, it may also reflect the realities of the role you are going for. So the “pitch” is a useful technique for assessing candidates.
You could try saying.
“Before I answer your question, can I just say that I occasionally get nervous in interviews and over complicate the answer, or worse not provide enough detail, so if you have additional questions or want me to explain in more detail, please do feel free to ask me or interrupt me if something needs clarifying”
This is quite disarming and may remove the tension from the situation for you. I suspect that many of your nerves are you being nervous about seeming nervous ! So by admitting your nerves you remove that stress.
Secondly, after you answer the question, ask the panel – did that answer your question ?
By seeking immediate feedback you can force them to agree that you have provided a satisfactory answer and hence you can progress, or any bumps can be ironed out straightaway.
The biggest failure in interviews is candidates who create an impression/impact but NEVER tests if the interview is in tune/empathetic to what they are saying.
Some good advice there. I suspect however that the feedback ('gravitas') has hit the nail on the head. This can mean different things to different people, but I'd see it as having the confidence in yourself to be able to brief and interact at a senior level and give those with whom you're interacting with the confidence that you know what you're talking about.
'Gravitas' will not be exuded if you're nervous or unsure of your subject. These nerves can be trained out by both practice and learning some skills to help overcome them. A number of other areas can help with 'gravitas', including voice vontrol, body language, dress and of course knowledge of your subject. This is one of the most satisfying areas of my work, seeing initially nervous candidates grow in confidence and stature, thus helping improve their 'gravitas'.
Top tip; apply for some other roles that are less important to you if you fail and use them for practice. Once complete, reflect on how you did and what you think you could have done better.
Good luck!
'Gravitas' will not be exuded if you're nervous or unsure of your subject. These nerves can be trained out by both practice and learning some skills to help overcome them. A number of other areas can help with 'gravitas', including voice vontrol, body language, dress and of course knowledge of your subject. This is one of the most satisfying areas of my work, seeing initially nervous candidates grow in confidence and stature, thus helping improve their 'gravitas'.
Top tip; apply for some other roles that are less important to you if you fail and use them for practice. Once complete, reflect on how you did and what you think you could have done better.
Good luck!
'This means a lot to me, so you'll forgive me if I come over a bit nervous. I'm sure as soon as we get talking we'll be fine'
No-one's going to be a nobber after saying that, and if they are you'd have to consider whether you want to work for someone like that. It's a 2 way street.
Their feedback was actually really good from what you're written - gives you something to work on. I start random conversations in public places to prove to myself when I'm feeling a bit self conscious or nervy that I can do it, even if my brain's telling me I cant or shouldnt. If you want to start off on a smaller scale, think that you cant scratch your leg, then scratch your leg etc
No-one's going to be a nobber after saying that, and if they are you'd have to consider whether you want to work for someone like that. It's a 2 way street.
Their feedback was actually really good from what you're written - gives you something to work on. I start random conversations in public places to prove to myself when I'm feeling a bit self conscious or nervy that I can do it, even if my brain's telling me I cant or shouldnt. If you want to start off on a smaller scale, think that you cant scratch your leg, then scratch your leg etc
Get used to public speaking by joining this lot.
http://www.toastmasters.org/
Screw up there and they#ll just help you be better. Then nail the interview. ;-)
http://www.toastmasters.org/
Screw up there and they#ll just help you be better. Then nail the interview. ;-)
Try these too - I am a member and it has done my public speaking a power of good. The meetings are informal and everyone is there to help each other. You will also get experience in evaluating people too.
http://www.the-asc.org.uk/
http://www.the-asc.org.uk/
Hey,
Firstly I am really sorry that you didn’t get role that you were looking for; its difficult to really want a role and not get it; very much a confidence destroyer.
This is going to be a long winded answer however I hope that it will help you with some real world examples of how to tackle your nerves and be more proficient at the interview stage.
Quick background on me; went to university to completed an accountancy degree, straight into my first finance role, quickly moved to a large finance corporation. While I was in this role, I was very unhappy and wanted to move, I went to over 15 interviews and even though I was told I was really good and got to the final stages, I wasn’t doing enough to clinch the deal. (I was given various reasons for not being successful – none providing that insight what was going wrong) I have since then moved successfully 3 times.
I was dead inside; I couldn’t get the roles I wanted; I just didn’t know what to do.
I decided to tackle the situation head on and change my tactic. I used the experience of the 15 interviews to my advantage, made notes of what happened, placed myself in the interviewer shoes and tried to see what I was like from their seat.
First thing you need to understand is that there is a clear distinction in you being good for a role and you being good at an interview.
When you hand in your CV to a perspective employer or agency, this part of the filter process is very much a case of if this person will fit the role; as soon as you have the bait to secure an interview this is your first confidence boost that the skills, experience and attributes they see in your CV is what they are looking for. They want you!! They really do!!
The next stage is the interview at which you will essentially confirm the person they think you are by indication of your CV and that you are a presentable person that they can work with. How on earth are you going to do that? This is the tricky part; well it used to be for me.
You really have to understand what an interviewer/company wants. Haven completed so many interviews I knew I had to change my style/method/approach (call it what you will) on how to convince people I am the person for this job.
I had to change my mind set, I started to search the internet on what to do, how to answer questions, no luck at all just generic answers. I searched for books that could help me understand what questions are asked and how to answer them. After purchasing many books, I have 4 which I have used VERY successfully and since then I have been to three interviews with immediate success. I even passed these booked to two friends who were struggling to attain new jobs and landed the next job interview they had after studying the books. How can this be possible? because as well as having confidence in being able to perform the role, you need to have confidence in being be able to perform well at the interview.
These books for me were a God send, while reading them they would state, don’t do this, don’t do that, do this and you know what it all made sense to me; almost as if someone smacked me with a big wet salmon!
Let me run you through what I do. I secure the interview; I ask for the Job spec, I research online if there is a more comprehensive job spec by a different agency or the company themselves. I breakdown the job spec, top 3 tasks of the job, top 5 competencies required for the role, I write up key experiences I have that fit into these top tasks and skills required. I memorize these answer to a ‘T’ – DO NOT make the mistake of thinking you can just repeat these answers (will go into more detail later). I test myself by asking the question from an interviewer’s point of view and twist it if to see if I can answer it on the spot.
With all this in mind, I am prepared not for the job BUT FOR THE INTERVIEW. I am prepared to answer almost anything they throw at me, I know the job spec inside out, I know my CV inside out, if I have to I could tweak answers and pull information together to answer anything else they ask me. This builds my confidence and this is where I believe your failing is.
If like me you are a very nervous person due to the unknown then preparation is your best friend. When I am in the interview I LISTEN to what they asked me and I can automatically pull out the answer I want to use but I don’t show them that, I say Wow good question! Pause and then start to answer. If they ask one which I need to think about a little, I say hmm need to think about that one, pause for atleast 10 second, compose myself and answer as I need to.
Even though I am 90% prepared I don’t show I am a robot, I take long pauses, some short, answer as best as possible so it looks like I have handled well under pressure and I can cope with the unknown.
Don’t for one minute think it is easy to develop such skills, its hard hard work, for some people it may come easy but for me it was very difficult however I have now found a method that works for me.
Very sorry for the long answer but I hope it helps you and anyone else who comes across this. If you would like the names or links of were I purchased the looks, let me know and I will drop you an email.
Good luck – happy to provide advise if you even want to drop me an email.
Thanks
Firstly I am really sorry that you didn’t get role that you were looking for; its difficult to really want a role and not get it; very much a confidence destroyer.
This is going to be a long winded answer however I hope that it will help you with some real world examples of how to tackle your nerves and be more proficient at the interview stage.
Quick background on me; went to university to completed an accountancy degree, straight into my first finance role, quickly moved to a large finance corporation. While I was in this role, I was very unhappy and wanted to move, I went to over 15 interviews and even though I was told I was really good and got to the final stages, I wasn’t doing enough to clinch the deal. (I was given various reasons for not being successful – none providing that insight what was going wrong) I have since then moved successfully 3 times.
I was dead inside; I couldn’t get the roles I wanted; I just didn’t know what to do.
I decided to tackle the situation head on and change my tactic. I used the experience of the 15 interviews to my advantage, made notes of what happened, placed myself in the interviewer shoes and tried to see what I was like from their seat.
First thing you need to understand is that there is a clear distinction in you being good for a role and you being good at an interview.
When you hand in your CV to a perspective employer or agency, this part of the filter process is very much a case of if this person will fit the role; as soon as you have the bait to secure an interview this is your first confidence boost that the skills, experience and attributes they see in your CV is what they are looking for. They want you!! They really do!!
The next stage is the interview at which you will essentially confirm the person they think you are by indication of your CV and that you are a presentable person that they can work with. How on earth are you going to do that? This is the tricky part; well it used to be for me.
You really have to understand what an interviewer/company wants. Haven completed so many interviews I knew I had to change my style/method/approach (call it what you will) on how to convince people I am the person for this job.
I had to change my mind set, I started to search the internet on what to do, how to answer questions, no luck at all just generic answers. I searched for books that could help me understand what questions are asked and how to answer them. After purchasing many books, I have 4 which I have used VERY successfully and since then I have been to three interviews with immediate success. I even passed these booked to two friends who were struggling to attain new jobs and landed the next job interview they had after studying the books. How can this be possible? because as well as having confidence in being able to perform the role, you need to have confidence in being be able to perform well at the interview.
These books for me were a God send, while reading them they would state, don’t do this, don’t do that, do this and you know what it all made sense to me; almost as if someone smacked me with a big wet salmon!
Let me run you through what I do. I secure the interview; I ask for the Job spec, I research online if there is a more comprehensive job spec by a different agency or the company themselves. I breakdown the job spec, top 3 tasks of the job, top 5 competencies required for the role, I write up key experiences I have that fit into these top tasks and skills required. I memorize these answer to a ‘T’ – DO NOT make the mistake of thinking you can just repeat these answers (will go into more detail later). I test myself by asking the question from an interviewer’s point of view and twist it if to see if I can answer it on the spot.
With all this in mind, I am prepared not for the job BUT FOR THE INTERVIEW. I am prepared to answer almost anything they throw at me, I know the job spec inside out, I know my CV inside out, if I have to I could tweak answers and pull information together to answer anything else they ask me. This builds my confidence and this is where I believe your failing is.
If like me you are a very nervous person due to the unknown then preparation is your best friend. When I am in the interview I LISTEN to what they asked me and I can automatically pull out the answer I want to use but I don’t show them that, I say Wow good question! Pause and then start to answer. If they ask one which I need to think about a little, I say hmm need to think about that one, pause for atleast 10 second, compose myself and answer as I need to.
Even though I am 90% prepared I don’t show I am a robot, I take long pauses, some short, answer as best as possible so it looks like I have handled well under pressure and I can cope with the unknown.
Don’t for one minute think it is easy to develop such skills, its hard hard work, for some people it may come easy but for me it was very difficult however I have now found a method that works for me.
Very sorry for the long answer but I hope it helps you and anyone else who comes across this. If you would like the names or links of were I purchased the looks, let me know and I will drop you an email.
Good luck – happy to provide advise if you even want to drop me an email.
Thanks
IATM said:
Hey,
Firstly I am really sorry that you didn’t get role that you were looking for; its difficult to really want a role and not get it; very much a confidence destroyer.
This is going to be a long winded answer however I hope that it will help you with some real world examples of how to tackle your nerves and be more proficient at the interview stage.
Quick background on me; went to university to completed an accountancy degree, straight into my first finance role, quickly moved to a large finance corporation. While I was in this role, I was very unhappy and wanted to move, I went to over 15 interviews and even though I was told I was really good and got to the final stages, I wasn’t doing enough to clinch the deal. (I was given various reasons for not being successful – none providing that insight what was going wrong) I have since then moved successfully 3 times.
I was dead inside; I couldn’t get the roles I wanted; I just didn’t know what to do.
I decided to tackle the situation head on and change my tactic. I used the experience of the 15 interviews to my advantage, made notes of what happened, placed myself in the interviewer shoes and tried to see what I was like from their seat.
First thing you need to understand is that there is a clear distinction in you being good for a role and you being good at an interview.
When you hand in your CV to a perspective employer or agency, this part of the filter process is very much a case of if this person will fit the role; as soon as you have the bait to secure an interview this is your first confidence boost that the skills, experience and attributes they see in your CV is what they are looking for. They want you!! They really do!!
The next stage is the interview at which you will essentially confirm the person they think you are by indication of your CV and that you are a presentable person that they can work with. How on earth are you going to do that? This is the tricky part; well it used to be for me.
You really have to understand what an interviewer/company wants. Haven completed so many interviews I knew I had to change my style/method/approach (call it what you will) on how to convince people I am the person for this job.
I had to change my mind set, I started to search the internet on what to do, how to answer questions, no luck at all just generic answers. I searched for books that could help me understand what questions are asked and how to answer them. After purchasing many books, I have 4 which I have used VERY successfully and since then I have been to three interviews with immediate success. I even passed these booked to two friends who were struggling to attain new jobs and landed the next job interview they had after studying the books. How can this be possible? because as well as having confidence in being able to perform the role, you need to have confidence in being be able to perform well at the interview.
These books for me were a God send, while reading them they would state, don’t do this, don’t do that, do this and you know what it all made sense to me; almost as if someone smacked me with a big wet salmon!
Let me run you through what I do. I secure the interview; I ask for the Job spec, I research online if there is a more comprehensive job spec by a different agency or the company themselves. I breakdown the job spec, top 3 tasks of the job, top 5 competencies required for the role, I write up key experiences I have that fit into these top tasks and skills required. I memorize these answer to a ‘T’ – DO NOT make the mistake of thinking you can just repeat these answers (will go into more detail later). I test myself by asking the question from an interviewer’s point of view and twist it if to see if I can answer it on the spot.
With all this in mind, I am prepared not for the job BUT FOR THE INTERVIEW. I am prepared to answer almost anything they throw at me, I know the job spec inside out, I know my CV inside out, if I have to I could tweak answers and pull information together to answer anything else they ask me. This builds my confidence and this is where I believe your failing is.
If like me you are a very nervous person due to the unknown then preparation is your best friend. When I am in the interview I LISTEN to what they asked me and I can automatically pull out the answer I want to use but I don’t show them that, I say Wow good question! Pause and then start to answer. If they ask one which I need to think about a little, I say hmm need to think about that one, pause for atleast 10 second, compose myself and answer as I need to.
Even though I am 90% prepared I don’t show I am a robot, I take long pauses, some short, answer as best as possible so it looks like I have handled well under pressure and I can cope with the unknown.
Don’t for one minute think it is easy to develop such skills, its hard hard work, for some people it may come easy but for me it was very difficult however I have now found a method that works for me.
Very sorry for the long answer but I hope it helps you and anyone else who comes across this. If you would like the names or links of were I purchased the looks, let me know and I will drop you an email.
Good luck – happy to provide advise if you even want to drop me an email.
Thanks
That's some great advice, thanks for thatFirstly I am really sorry that you didn’t get role that you were looking for; its difficult to really want a role and not get it; very much a confidence destroyer.
This is going to be a long winded answer however I hope that it will help you with some real world examples of how to tackle your nerves and be more proficient at the interview stage.
Quick background on me; went to university to completed an accountancy degree, straight into my first finance role, quickly moved to a large finance corporation. While I was in this role, I was very unhappy and wanted to move, I went to over 15 interviews and even though I was told I was really good and got to the final stages, I wasn’t doing enough to clinch the deal. (I was given various reasons for not being successful – none providing that insight what was going wrong) I have since then moved successfully 3 times.
I was dead inside; I couldn’t get the roles I wanted; I just didn’t know what to do.
I decided to tackle the situation head on and change my tactic. I used the experience of the 15 interviews to my advantage, made notes of what happened, placed myself in the interviewer shoes and tried to see what I was like from their seat.
First thing you need to understand is that there is a clear distinction in you being good for a role and you being good at an interview.
When you hand in your CV to a perspective employer or agency, this part of the filter process is very much a case of if this person will fit the role; as soon as you have the bait to secure an interview this is your first confidence boost that the skills, experience and attributes they see in your CV is what they are looking for. They want you!! They really do!!
The next stage is the interview at which you will essentially confirm the person they think you are by indication of your CV and that you are a presentable person that they can work with. How on earth are you going to do that? This is the tricky part; well it used to be for me.
You really have to understand what an interviewer/company wants. Haven completed so many interviews I knew I had to change my style/method/approach (call it what you will) on how to convince people I am the person for this job.
I had to change my mind set, I started to search the internet on what to do, how to answer questions, no luck at all just generic answers. I searched for books that could help me understand what questions are asked and how to answer them. After purchasing many books, I have 4 which I have used VERY successfully and since then I have been to three interviews with immediate success. I even passed these booked to two friends who were struggling to attain new jobs and landed the next job interview they had after studying the books. How can this be possible? because as well as having confidence in being able to perform the role, you need to have confidence in being be able to perform well at the interview.
These books for me were a God send, while reading them they would state, don’t do this, don’t do that, do this and you know what it all made sense to me; almost as if someone smacked me with a big wet salmon!
Let me run you through what I do. I secure the interview; I ask for the Job spec, I research online if there is a more comprehensive job spec by a different agency or the company themselves. I breakdown the job spec, top 3 tasks of the job, top 5 competencies required for the role, I write up key experiences I have that fit into these top tasks and skills required. I memorize these answer to a ‘T’ – DO NOT make the mistake of thinking you can just repeat these answers (will go into more detail later). I test myself by asking the question from an interviewer’s point of view and twist it if to see if I can answer it on the spot.
With all this in mind, I am prepared not for the job BUT FOR THE INTERVIEW. I am prepared to answer almost anything they throw at me, I know the job spec inside out, I know my CV inside out, if I have to I could tweak answers and pull information together to answer anything else they ask me. This builds my confidence and this is where I believe your failing is.
If like me you are a very nervous person due to the unknown then preparation is your best friend. When I am in the interview I LISTEN to what they asked me and I can automatically pull out the answer I want to use but I don’t show them that, I say Wow good question! Pause and then start to answer. If they ask one which I need to think about a little, I say hmm need to think about that one, pause for atleast 10 second, compose myself and answer as I need to.
Even though I am 90% prepared I don’t show I am a robot, I take long pauses, some short, answer as best as possible so it looks like I have handled well under pressure and I can cope with the unknown.
Don’t for one minute think it is easy to develop such skills, its hard hard work, for some people it may come easy but for me it was very difficult however I have now found a method that works for me.
Very sorry for the long answer but I hope it helps you and anyone else who comes across this. If you would like the names or links of were I purchased the looks, let me know and I will drop you an email.
Good luck – happy to provide advise if you even want to drop me an email.
Thanks
I once had an interview, where whilst waiting in reception, a retired vicar, started chating to me , if I'd had a good journey down, and I admitted that I'd had to stop at MCd'd because I'd got myself so worked up that my bowels had gone mental, and then I'd got stuck in the bog and had to hammer on the door for help to be let out, and I had got so stressed I thought my head would fall off. He then told me a story about s
tting himself when going for his first job after bible college, actually in the interview, but he made it so funny that by the time I went in for my interview, all I could think was that it couldn't be worse than that. I also tend to get very stressed at interviews. Somehow I can't help feeling it is personal, which of course it rarely is. The problem is that not long after I graduated, I had an interview that was bullying from the word go. At my age now, I would point out that I such a manner was inappropriate, apologise for wasting their time and leave. But when you are 23 or so, you tend to sit there and take it. That memory tends to be pretty strong, and always comes to mind when an interview nears.
What I found to help, was to put on an act. Not acting the part of some super-applicant, but to act the part of yourself. Almost like you are doing the interview as a favour for a friend, or like you are recording a training video. I find this "shell" then helps to stop things feeling personal, and allows me to stand back from things and be more objective.
Sorry if that's a bit vague!
What I found to help, was to put on an act. Not acting the part of some super-applicant, but to act the part of yourself. Almost like you are doing the interview as a favour for a friend, or like you are recording a training video. I find this "shell" then helps to stop things feeling personal, and allows me to stand back from things and be more objective.
Sorry if that's a bit vague!
OP - I very much feel your pain
About 4 weeks ago - I made a bit of an arse of myself in the process of building contacts in terms of finding out more about something I want to get involved with (just on that - if anyone on PH is involved with BASICs or similar type pre hospital emergency doctor type service - id massively appreciate it if I could exchange PMs and find out more about BASICs etc - with a view to setting up something similar in the area I live in - thank you very much).
Got too passionate about the subject in hand - I was at a public meeting - asked a question - felt that I had offended with the question ie that I was been too critical of their system.
That wasn't my intention - and the people involved seemed okay with the question been asked - which was along the lines of - have you considered doing x y and Z using a different system.
But I wasn't okay with having asked the question - and felt the need to explain over and over why I had asked the question - I felt bad for having asked the question. I went off on a lovely tangent
Most disappointed in myself as the people I was dealing with were lovely and helpful - but I would have liked to have done things a lot better myself.
Sir Fergie
About 4 weeks ago - I made a bit of an arse of myself in the process of building contacts in terms of finding out more about something I want to get involved with (just on that - if anyone on PH is involved with BASICs or similar type pre hospital emergency doctor type service - id massively appreciate it if I could exchange PMs and find out more about BASICs etc - with a view to setting up something similar in the area I live in - thank you very much).
Got too passionate about the subject in hand - I was at a public meeting - asked a question - felt that I had offended with the question ie that I was been too critical of their system.
That wasn't my intention - and the people involved seemed okay with the question been asked - which was along the lines of - have you considered doing x y and Z using a different system.
But I wasn't okay with having asked the question - and felt the need to explain over and over why I had asked the question - I felt bad for having asked the question. I went off on a lovely tangent
Most disappointed in myself as the people I was dealing with were lovely and helpful - but I would have liked to have done things a lot better myself.
Sir Fergie
An alternative view to the above...
IMO, you have. Itching to lose at an interview. Nothing.
Wake up the morning of the interview, you don't have the Job. Nothing can make this position worse, you're flipping a coin and heads you lose nothing, tails wins a quid. Remember this, it's an opportunity not an obstacle.
Second, they have to convince you that you want to work for them. Interviews are a 2 way street. If yOu go in wanting the job, and come across that way, expect the bottom end of their salary bracket. Remember that you kick arse and are worth. Ore than their salary expectation - after all you're in demand.
At the risk of sounding like Swiss tony, an interview is no different to trying to pull a bird. Go in on the back foot, get nowhere. Go in as "interested but not a sure thing", it makes them want you more.
IMO, you have. Itching to lose at an interview. Nothing.
Wake up the morning of the interview, you don't have the Job. Nothing can make this position worse, you're flipping a coin and heads you lose nothing, tails wins a quid. Remember this, it's an opportunity not an obstacle.
Second, they have to convince you that you want to work for them. Interviews are a 2 way street. If yOu go in wanting the job, and come across that way, expect the bottom end of their salary bracket. Remember that you kick arse and are worth. Ore than their salary expectation - after all you're in demand.
At the risk of sounding like Swiss tony, an interview is no different to trying to pull a bird. Go in on the back foot, get nowhere. Go in as "interested but not a sure thing", it makes them want you more.
I'm somewhat with the post above. It's easier said than done, but unless you're unemployed and/or destitute, try and go in to the interview as relaxed as you can be. "Maybe I'll get this, maybe I won't, who knows?". Sure, most of us will still experience "interview laxatives" just before, but once you're in there, just chill and be yourself.
And remember - the interviewer(s) may not be 100% comfortable either! I've interviewed a lot people than I've attended interviews for myself, and I don't get nervous interviewing, but you still (as the interviewer) have to think about what you're going to say, how you're going to run the interview, and be prepared for random questions the candidate might ask!
And remember - the interviewer(s) may not be 100% comfortable either! I've interviewed a lot people than I've attended interviews for myself, and I don't get nervous interviewing, but you still (as the interviewer) have to think about what you're going to say, how you're going to run the interview, and be prepared for random questions the candidate might ask!
IATM said:
lots and lots of really helpful stuff
Thanks for the feedback on this. Some really helpful advice in there. It's funny isn't it - at internal meetings I act like billy big bks in all sorts of meetings and nothing phases me - as soon as you throw me in a room with two complete strangers i feel like i'm back at school again 
Good advice about playing the role of yourself going for the job and IATM, there was a lot of really helpful advice in there. I think to an extent whilst I had done my research there was a lot of stuff rattling around up there that wasn't 100% grounded. If you've any links for the books which you mentioned a PM would be very much appreciated.
I'll be looking into those TOAST meetings a bit more too. Good networking if nothing else!
New POD said:
I once had an interview, where whilst waiting in reception, a retired vicar, started chating to me , if I'd had a good journey down, and I admitted that I'd had to stop at MCd'd because I'd got myself so worked up that my bowels had gone mental, and then I'd got stuck in the bog and had to hammer on the door for help to be let out, and I had got so stressed I thought my head would fall off. He then told me a story about stting himself when going for his first job after bible college, actually in the interview, but he made it so funny that by the time I went in for my interview, all I could think was that it couldn't be worse than that.
I thought that was going to turn out similar to a friend, where he was sitting in reception waiting for an interview with a big gun at a large company (account manager position) and a guy that worked there sat down beside him and started chatting for 20 minutes. Casual conversation about the job, who my mate was, why he wanted the job, was he at anything tonight etc. tting himself when going for his first job after bible college, actually in the interview, but he made it so funny that by the time I went in for my interview, all I could think was that it couldn't be worse than that. Shook his hand at the end and told him he'd receive a call within the next week within a start date.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff