Job interview tips, please! Very nervous.

[HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo]

I have been called in for an interview for my dream job. It’s tomorrow, lunchtime. I haven’t been feeling that nervous but as the time ticks past, I’m starting to crap myself a little! 😂

I think I’m scared that I’ll just freeze up, or say stupid things, or that my voice will go all trembly and weird.

Or that I’ll look TOO enthusiastic and they’ll be thinking, “There’s no way you’d get this job, calm down...”

Ugh. Any tips would be amazing. I have Beta Blockers (doctor gave them to me for anxiety last year) but I’m scared I’ll feel weird and ill, which would be worse!

If I were meeting them to discuss working together on a project, I’d be fine! It’s just that it’s a job interview that’s freaking me out. I’ve been self-employed for years so I have only had about 3 interviews.

Thanks!

Expand your answers. So yes, answer the questions but take each one a step further and use them as opportunities to tell them what you want them to know about you.

Thanks. What do I want them to know about me, though?

I’ve never interviews anyone so I don’t really know what you look for in a person when you’re interviewing them for a job. Obviously be professional and calm, friendly and knowledgeable. But beyond that — do you want someone who seems incredibly confident and qualified? Or would that be a bit arrogant..?

Last interview I had the first question was asking why I wanted the job.

And I said that before specifically answering the question I wanted to give them some background about me. So I spent 10 mins telling them about my work history and experience, linking each bit to the job I was applying for. Ie; why I thought that experience would be useful for this role. Summed it up by saying about how I felt all this previous experience had led me to this job, it was the logical next step, etc.

I got the job.

In the past I might have spent a minute waffling on about how I thought it sounded interesting and that I thought I'd be good at it. I used to be bad at interviews and not get stuff I knew I was capable of.

You have to sell yourself and back points up with clear examples.

I interview people all the time for my role - the absolute key is being prepared. Will it be a competency based interview, ie will they ask you to give them examples of things you've done in your working life to demonstrate a set of competencies? If so, use the STAR technique and make sure your answers aren't too waffly (Situation, Task, Actions, Result).

Good luck!

Even just writing these posts has helped. I’ve realised that thinking of it as a job interview is making me feel vulnerable — like it’s all about me as a person, somehow.

But thinking of it as a project is much easier. So that’s my mantra today - it’s just a project, you’re talking to them about a project.

It sounds cheesy, but take a moment to breathe deeply and maybe do a few power poses before you go in. Just consciously deepening your breath and adopting a confident body position will reduce nerves.

Accept a glass of water or ask for one if it's not on the table. Sipping will stop your voice from disappearing with nerves and you can cover a pause to think by taking a sip.

Don't be afraid to say "Hmm, I'm just going to think about that for a moment" if you get asked a difficult question.

Also remember you are meeting them "to discuss working together on a project". You're interviewing them too. It's a two-way process.

Write down a few questions you want to ask them before you go in - you can even refer to these as notes.

Most interviewers expect people to be nervous and won't mind. "incredibly confident and arrogant" would be a bit off-putting.

I’ve been freelance for years. What do I say if they ask me why I’m keen on working for a company now?

@chocolatesaltyballs22 (best mane ever)

Will it be a competency based interview, ie will they ask you to give them examples of things you've done in your working life to demonstrate a set of competencies?

This is a great question. I don’t know! Is there another kind of interview?

Second the STAR technique. If you Google 'competency based interview' you will find lots of examples of common competencies interviewers are looking for. Then prepare examples for a few of these that seem most relevant to the job description. If you're talking at every stage about what you did and the results it had, you won't look arrogant! Also remind yourself of what you wrote on your CV and answers to the questions on application or your cover letter. Prepare a couple of questions for them. And good luck! If you're used to consulting you know how to relate to clients and a job interview isn't that dissimilar, it's a conversation to see if you and the role would be a good fit and see what you could do with it. You've got this!

Yes to confident and qualified. Don't display any doubts at all. Be friendly and personable.

They want someone capable of doing the job who is nice to work alongside.

Think of examples of standard stuff like working under pressure, a team player, going the extra mile. Weave those into your answers even if they don't ask directly.

@hasthissoddingnamegonetoo it's probably best that you ask what form the interview will take. As an organisation, that's what we do. I've been with them a long time so I don't know what other kinds there are but I think it's fairly standard in the industry that I work in (financial services). No harm in asking in advance what form the interview will take.

@SleepyKat — love that tip. Thanks! The only thing is, I know my voice will go all warbly if I give an opening monologue. Whenever I’ve done public speaking I’m fine for about 15 seconds then my brain realises I’m doing something scary and it makes my voice go all trembly.

The bizarre thing is, I’ve done far scarier work things than this during my career. I don’t know why this is freaking me out.

All your answers are REALLY helping. All of you. Thank you.

The opening question for most interviews is 'tell us a bit about yourself' (or a similar question to get you to introduce yourself). Have a spiel down pat that you can reel off without having to think about it. Once the first question is out of the way, I find nerves normally settle a little and getting yourself off to a great start will help. Make sure it's concise, but sells your experience and skills that are relevant for the role. First impressions and all that... If you do go wobbly, stop and take a drink of water (take a small bottle in with you in case they don't offer) and take a couple of seconds to compose yourself. No-one will care if you're a bit nervous, most people are in interviews.

Also prepare a short description for various scenarios demonstrating key skills eg dealing with a difficult customer/colleague/situation, what are your strengths/weaknesses, also any scenarios specific to the role where you turned a situation around/delivered exceptional results etc.

Research the company (wikipedia is a good start for key facts) so that you can prove you're specifically interested in this role.

Lastly, line up some questions that delve a bit and show you've thought about the role.
things like 'how do you measure performance?' 'is there anything in my application that you are unsure about?'. Things that show an awareness of the current industry conditions etc are also good so 'how do you think X will affect the direction of the team over the next few years?'

Don't try and hide your enthusiasm for the role - most hiring managers would see that as a good thing!

Be early/on time.
Smile.
If you start to feel nervous, imagine the interviewer naked

I’ve been freelance for years. What do I say if they ask me why I’m keen on working for a company now?

Well, what is the answer?

If it's "money" then that's fine, put tactfully. "I've really enjoyed being freelance but now I'm looking for a bit more stability and the chance to work on a wider range of projects". You might also want to explicitly address any concerns about adapting back to being employed i.e. express that you've continued to collaborate with a range of people so are used to working as a team, taking instruction etc. (Some people get so used to only having to answer to themselves while self-employed that they do very poorly if they take another employed role, as they've lost the ability to accept direction/work across teams.

@CmdrCressidaDuck

The answer is that I prefer working in a team, and that both my kids are at secondary school now so I’m finally free of school runs, etc!

I think I’d just like to be part of something big and successful. Over the years I’ve always worked in teams but remotely/from home, so I’d like to be in an office now. It’s easier to know what’s going on, what decisions are being made and why, when you’re in the office every day.

I wouldn’t want to work for many companies, though. This one is glorious and I’d love to be a part of it.

Love your tip about showing I’m still a team player. Thanks!

Well thats a great answer. Go ahead and say that! The truth, professionally expressed, is always a winner

This, your preferences on may vary, but I personally might not mention the school run. I prefer for DC to be not any part of a hiring conversation, although I certainly talk about them as part of my life once we're past formal interviewing and at offer stage. But it would be fine to say you needed to have more flexibility in the past but are now able and inder eager to be part of an office setup.

*INDEED eager.

Interview tip, spell check more than I did!

OP hope it went well for you today - was thinking of you!

@FreiasBathtub - thank you! I have absolutely no idea how it went. I’m now in that awful post-adrenaline come down where I can only remember the bad things I said. 😂

I won’t know for a while, but I’ll update when I get any news.

Thank you!

@HasThisSoddingNameGoneToo - oh yes, the recurring cringe - I don't think I've ever NOT had that after a job interview! But you did it! That in itself is awesome. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good news

I had a (successful!) job interview last week. The main thing I did was PREPARE.

I rehearsed answers about why I wanted the job, why I'd be good at it, examples of times I'd dealt with a few issues, thought about what they might ask me about the company and rehearsed a few things.

It meant that when I got in there I was able to reel things off without getting too flummoxed. If I hadn't rehearsed everything beforehand I'd have been a mess.

It meant a few boring days reciting things to myself but it paid off.

@Nigel — congratulations! I did that too, but nerves still got to me. 😆

I am gioing to start applying for more jobs. Getting called for interview for this MASSIVELY boosted my confidence about work. I no longer feel my chances of getting a job in a company are non-existent. Plus, more interviews will mean more practise and eventually I’ll be calm.