I have a job interview for the first time in 15 years. Help!

[SnowyAlpaca]

I have worked in the past 15 years but left my last office job 9 years ago when I had a baby. I now have my first job interview since my last one 15 years ago and I am terrified!

I went back to do an arts degree as a mature student and have done quite well. Graduated last year and managed to get some industry experience and a bit of freelance work, which has been really difficult for many of my peers to get in to due to the current situation.

This interview is for a job which is kind of related to my degree but I haven't directly trained in. I do have a bit of real-life experience working in the same sort of role but only for a short period of time (think work placement/intern for a few months type of thing) so I was really surprised to be asked for interview as I wasn't expecting anything to come of it.

It's just a 15 minute phone call initially for the first round. I have a tendency to go completely blank, no matter how much I prepare. I honestly have no idea what they are going to ask me so I'm not sure what to prepare for anyway.

Does anyone have any tips or words of wisdom for me? It's so bloody scary and I feel like I'll just come across as an absolute idiot as I'm not particularly very articulate. Help!

[Firefliess]

Have you had a look at Glass Door? If the company's a large one you may find reviews of it on there, and also some people post interview questions that they were asked when they joined. Otherwise I'd assume a 15 minute phone interview will just be a sifting interview to check that you have the right experience and tell you a bit about the job and see if you think it sounds right for you. So they're unlikely to ask anything too challenging.

[Deathraystare]

As it is a phone call, better than face to face. Look online for things that are usually asked at interview (but probably wont be) and jot down notes about why you want the job and put down any questions you would want to ask them. If they have already mentioned these (swines!) you can always say that they have already answered the questions you wanted to ask them.

[Deathraystare]

Forgot to say note down why you want the job and make notes of how you are skilled for the job because you have down A,B,C etc

[Paleodiet]

Just a suggestion, in case they ask... How have you been spending lockdown? Absolutely anything to show you are active (physically and mentally), any new skills you have learnt, old ones you have brushed up, hobbies you have taken up/continued. The positives and negatives and how you dealt with them/used them.
Useful to write them down as a prompt - you did say you feared going 'blank'.

Also, if you have used Zoom or some such - how you think that might affect, be useful or challenging for the role for which you are applying.

The interviewer/s might not ask any of this but if they do, it is chance to talk about skills. Don't sell yourself short!

Good luck!

[riddlerdiddler]

It sounds like the initial call could be fairly relaxed. But always good to be prepared!

Familiarise yourself with the employee specification. What are the essential and desirable attributes they are looking for? For each of these attributes (e.g working as part of a team, time management, use of a particular software package perhaps) write down an example of your experience using the STAR method. Google it. I've found it a great way to organise what I want to say and get my thoughts in order.

[riddlerdiddler]

Oh and good luck!!! Interviews are hard and I'm also about to throw myself into them again and I'm feeling a similar sense of dread!

[WelcomeToTierFive]

Good luck! Just think what you can bring to the role and try and bring to life why you would be the ideal candidate