Interview help - I really want this job but I'm never successful at interview!

[amusedbush]

I have an interview next week for a job I really, really want. It's my first interview at this level of salary/responsibility and I'm nervous.

Unfortunately, I have a long history of unsuccessful interviews. I would say I'm offered an interview for 9 out of 10 jobs that I apply for but I never end up getting it. A few years ago, I was trying to get out of a job I hated and attended 11 interviews, all unsuccessful. I always ask for feedback but it's never anything I can work on, it's just that someone else had X, Y or Z.

I stopped looking for a while because it was depressing me and just settled into a slightly different role. I want out of this industry though, so I had an interview just before Christmas and it seemed to go well but, again, I didn't get it.

Does anyone have any foolproof advice? I prep my behind off and I always seem to get on really well with the panel. I'm not overly nervous, I don't waffle and I use the STAR format for my answers.

I would sell my own granny for this job so I really need to shine. I have a list of questions and I have prepped answers, I just need to know how to make myself stand out. I would really appreciate any advice you could give me, especially if you hire staff in the third sector!

Update:

The interview was this morning and despite all of my research, prepping and practicing, I don't think it went well. Even when I don't get the job, I generally leave the interview feeling like I was a strong candidate and gave good answers - not today.

I started off well but one of the questions threw me, I stammered a bit and then my mind went totally blank. I apologised and the panel were really nice about it but it completed killed my confidence. I answered the question and she said it was correct but I spent the rest of the interview feeling really out of control and anxious. I think the job is even bigger than I had realised and my experience isn't good enough; I feel like my answers were just to the left of what they were looking for and I was trying to link it back to the job spec but I don't think I succeeded.

It was my worst interview since 2018 and I could cry. I really wanted this job but the stuff I had focused my prep on didn't come up, so clearly what they see as key to the role is different to what I expected.

Oh well. They are interviewing all week so I won't hear back for a while anyway.

Do the STAR technique but also practise with family/friend/neighbour who'll role play the interview with you.

Think of lots of curveball questions - have answers ready for if they ask 'what are your negative sides?' (not exactly right answer).

Link all answers back to job spec and go through your CV and ensure it matches up to job spec.

On day and before look through answers but don't spend ages - 30 mins to1 hour at max.

And something bright or that you know you look good in.

Oh no OP, I was rooting for you! Well done you for applying to the job. Don’t give up yet, they might have loved you and have another role for you or it is still possible that they’ll put you forward for this role! Fingers cross.

@amusedbush

Update:

The interview was this morning and despite all of my research, prepping and practicing, I don't think it went well. Even when I don't get the job, I generally leave the interview feeling like I was a strong candidate and gave good answers - not today.

I started off well but one of the questions threw me, I stammered a bit and then my mind went totally blank. I apologised and the panel were really nice about it but it completed killed my confidence. I answered the question and she said it was correct but I spent the rest of the interview feeling really out of control and anxious. I think the job is even bigger than I had realised and my experience isn't good enough; I feel like my answers were just to the left of what they were looking for and I was trying to link it back to the job spec but I don't think I succeeded.

It was my worst interview since 2018 and I could cry. I really wanted this job but the stuff I had focused my prep on didn't come up, so clearly what they see as key to the role is different to what I expected.

Oh well. They are interviewing all week so I won't hear back for a while anyway.

@amusedbush - don't worry re this - it might be ok.

If you get other interviews (and I am sure you will) - have questions ready for if they throw a curve ball.

And also - I often found if I was relaxed and didn't care so much about if i got the job or not it made me come across as more relaxed in the interview. Take care .

@Hawkins001

build a detailed profile about the company, eg their business, their stock market value, their accounts if publically available, know whos who , ect, thats one angle id use, all the best op

@Hawkins001 - this in spades - do lots of Linkedin stalking of people interviewing you, the company etc - print out if you can so you can highlight relevant areas.

and ask people about their job - how long they've been there, what do they like about it? how you'll fit into the team etc?

I got an email offering me an interview for another post but it's not as exciting and it's only a one year contract.

I suppose there's nothing else I can do not but wait. I'll send an email to the panel thanking them for their time as I always do but I'm sitting here cringing at how amateurish I sounded in the interview. I KNOW I can do the job, I just didn't sell myself at all. I let my nerves get the better of me.

nothing else I can do NOW*

Sorry, I should clarify that the email was from a different organisation, not the one I interviewed with this morning.

I will hear back about today later this week, and I have also been offered an interview by another organisation.

I've had a few interviews that I thought had gone terribly where I ended up being offered the job or called back for a second interview and interviews I thought I'd smashed where I didn't get the job.

There's still hope!

You are clearly really good at applications that get the interview. So that is your starting point. You know how to make the case in writing. The interview is to back it up, expand on it and show who you are as a person.

It ain't over till it is over.

I have been the interviewer and manager that the candidate will report to on quite a few roles that the firm was recently looking to fill. I truly have to say that despite the fact it is a hot market from the candidate's perspective, the competition was still is very keen and the panel had rapport with almost all the candidates. Each candidate may very well have gone away thinking they aced it but the truth is, we only had one job and so it had to go to the absolute best fit even though all of them would be able to do the role. I say best fit and not best because it is fairly arbitrary, especially for more senior roles, what the employer is looking for.

So I agree it is a lottery. Please keep trying. It will be your turn soon, even if it is not the role you are craving (and bets are not off on that one), but a good one you will grow into.

My heart bleeds for you. I can see you are trying so hard. If the employer only knew, they would hire you in a heartbeat.

@blueshoes

It ain't over till it is over.

I have been the interviewer and manager that the candidate will report to on quite a few roles that the firm was recently looking to fill. I truly have to say that despite the fact it is a hot market from the candidate's perspective, the competition was still is very keen and the panel had rapport with almost all the candidates. Each candidate may very well have gone away thinking they aced it but the truth is, we only had one job and so it had to go to the absolute best fit even though all of them would be able to do the role. I say best fit and not best because it is fairly arbitrary, especially for more senior roles, what the employer is looking for.

So I agree it is a lottery. Please keep trying. It will be your turn soon, even if it is not the role you are craving (and bets are not off on that one), but a good one you will grow into.

My heart bleeds for you. I can see you are trying so hard. If the employer only knew, they would hire you in a heartbeat.

Thank you, this post has made me feel a lot better. The hollow pit of shame has left my stomach, thankfully, so now I just have to wait and see.

I don't have my hopes up but I'll keep trying - statistically I will be successful at some point

Statistically, the odds are in your favour

Oh, and for the interview, prepare more than a handful of questions to ask the interviewers at the end. Prepare not just obvious specific ones but also more woolly ones like 'what is the best thing about working in this company' in case in the course of your interview, all your questions were answered and you have nothing left to pull out of the bag.

When I am interviewing, I always take notes of the questions because they say so much about the candidate's priorities and their personality.

A favourite lately is variations of 'what are you looking for in your ideal candidate' or 'what does success look like to you [the interviewers may not be your line manager but they may work alongside the line manager's team, so each interviewer has a different perspective on it] in this role'. These make the interviewers take a step back and get them thinking and maybe even talking amongst themselves. It will also help to make you memorable.

I've just spent 12 hours shortlisting for senior roles in what is going to be a pain in the ass of a process so...

You're in a competitive field/place in your career so don't worry too much

Speak to the job description and the role. Someone above said 'make it easy for them.' Find something about the job that makes it your job. 'I've moved between sectors, but this job draws together the different sides of my experience in a unique way. It feels like a very natural fit.'

Treat it like dating.. You want to convince the panel that you are an attractive option and would thrive anywhere, so they are getting a sort of winning lottery ticket if they grab you now.

And yes, wear something just slightly more interesting or tailored to the role. In the case of my last interview process I wore the same dress every time - sustainability and a down to earth approach are important in role, and we discussed my year long commitment to not buying new.

Be yourself, or you'll never know what would have happened if you were. Again, like dating.

Sorry OP, just read your update. It will happen, but if nerves are an issue, I have found walking invaluable. Just go for a gentle wander for a couple of hours before the interview, and rehearse some answers in your head but without anything in front of you. Imagine the panel responding warmly and saying how fabulous you are. What's for you won't go by you.

Interviews are bloody awful and especially those over teams or zoom. I haven’t had an interview for 4 years and had one last Friday. Straight after I felt deflated like I’d messed it up and whaffled on but guess what I got a call saying I got it. Until you get that call you don’t know. It’s horrible waiting but hopefully it’s sooner and you get positive news.

Thank you to everyone adding advice to this thread! I'm going to save this thread for future interviews if this one doesn't go my way - which I don't think it will.

I sent "thank you" emails to the panel members and I got a bounce-back from one person saying they were off yesterday, which is maybe why the interviews are scheduled throughout the week. They said they hope to let everyone know by the end of tomorrow so I'm just trying to distract myself. Any time I've been offered a job, I got the call pretty much as soon as they had finished interviewing everyone so if I don't hear tomorrow, I'll assume the worst. I've never had to wait to hear back when I've been successful.

After my interview in mid-December it took them over a month to let me know I didn't get the job

There's a lot of positives to your situation.

You are getting interviews - so CV and experience must be good

You aren't getting any specific feedback on skills gaps or poor interview skills - so gain it must be good.

Therefore, the most likely things to work on are probably the softer skills side of interviews. I interview people regularly and just some observations.

Obsession with STAR method sometimes makes the answers extra long. Aiming for start, middle and end just tightens this up a little.

Online interviews are a little flat compared to face to face in terms of building rapport so some thing needs to be exaggerated like:-

1. Smiling - do not be too serious

1. Enthusiasm- speak passionately, avoid being overreahearsed

1. Personality- most interviewers will be considering can I work this this person. I interviewed someone recently that I know well & they came across as a newsreader & very wooden whereas they are actually very charismatic normally.

1. Be memorable - have a few very solid points that will be difficult for the interviews to forget

1. Dress - interviewers may not remember names so the lady with the blue coat or the man with the green tie is often used when discussing candidates afterwards. The lady is the black suit is far more difficult to recall as there may be 5 of you etc.

1. Closing statement & what questions have you fir the panel. This is often a real differentiator when things are close. May sure to sum up why the should hire you and include anything relevant you didn't get to cover as part of your answers. Have pertinent, well thought out questions for them about the role etc.

@amusedbush

Thank you to everyone adding advice to this thread! I'm going to save this thread for future interviews if this one doesn't go my way - which I don't think it will.

I sent "thank you" emails to the panel members and I got a bounce-back from one person saying they were off yesterday, which is maybe why the interviews are scheduled throughout the week. They said they hope to let everyone know by the end of tomorrow so I'm just trying to distract myself. Any time I've been offered a job, I got the call pretty much as soon as they had finished interviewing everyone so if I don't hear tomorrow, I'll assume the worst. I've never had to wait to hear back when I've been successful.

After my interview in mid-December it took them over a month to let me know I didn't get the job

OP - I used to get to your stage a few times too. I had a run in my 20s and early to mid 30s where I got virtually every job I was going for (lucky me) - then I hit a blip where I'd always come down to the last 2 - and I wouldn't get it! Or I was brought in because they were giving the job to an internal candidate and had to advertise externally... .

Basically I worked it out through agencies crib sheets (bit of a pain to read but actually really good advice) that if I went over and over my technique with someone and answers including curveballs then I'd be more than likely to succeed that way. And I did. In fact one of the last ones a few years ago I recall doing really well at but another candidate had more experience in a certain area they actually called me back to offer me a chance to interview for another role (which I got) but then I had another offer at the same time elsewhere which was nearer which suited me better.

Just keep on applying and post here in plenty of time before the interview and we will help you.

I just got The Email - I didn't get it. Honestly, I feel fine because I spent the whole day after the interview feeling like shit and knowing in my bones that it didn't go well.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

@NeverChange

There's a lot of positives to your situation.

You are getting interviews - so CV and experience must be good

You aren't getting any specific feedback on skills gaps or poor interview skills - so gain it must be good.

Therefore, the most likely things to work on are probably the softer skills side of interviews. I interview people regularly and just some observations.

Obsession with STAR method sometimes makes the answers extra long. Aiming for start, middle and end just tightens this up a little.

Online interviews are a little flat compared to face to face in terms of building rapport so some thing needs to be exaggerated like:-

1. Smiling - do not be too serious

1. Enthusiasm- speak passionately, avoid being overreahearsed

1. Personality- most interviewers will be considering can I work this this person. I interviewed someone recently that I know well & they came across as a newsreader & very wooden whereas they are actually very charismatic normally.

1. Be memorable - have a few very solid points that will be difficult for the interviews to forget

1. Dress - interviewers may not remember names so the lady with the blue coat or the man with the green tie is often used when discussing candidates afterwards. The lady is the black suit is far more difficult to recall as there may be 5 of you etc.

1. Closing statement & what questions have you fir the panel. This is often a real differentiator when things are close. May sure to sum up why the should hire you and include anything relevant you didn't get to cover as part of your answers. Have pertinent, well thought out questions for them about the role etc.

@NeverChange

Agreed with all this but there's also a likeability or personality factor sometimes where they just don't get you - or they have someone else in mind so you're not their No.1 choice.

You can win them around re the above. They really do want to know if they can work with you, you can do the job, will fit in with the team etc. If you have an in person interview try to ask prob on 2nd interview to look round the office, meet the team.

Agreed re dress but also worthwhile putting a nice brighter lipstick on or brighter or memorable jewellery piece - not too out there - but memorable.

Agreed re smiling too - I think I was too serious before - they want to know you're not a robot but have character.

But yes all you say re online interviews applies.

@amusedbush

I just got The Email - I didn't get it. Honestly, I feel fine because I spent the whole day after the interview feeling like shit and knowing in my bones that it didn't go well.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

@amusedbush - honestly don't worry - keep your head up and onwards and upwards.

You will do it next time, there are other jobs!

Thank you for being so kind @Gonnagetgoing

I'm having a bit of a cry now. Not even over this job, just because I feel despondent and like it's just my off-putting personality. And I'm panicking because I left my job (that I hated) to go to university full-time and my funding will run out in just over a year. I have no idea what I want to do and a year isn't a long time to figure it out when nobody will hire you.

Fuck

Someone will hire you. It is a numbers game to an extent. You must be so close now. I remember last time I was seriously job hunting. My friend told me to keep a spreadsheet. I applied for 20 jobs, got three interviews and got one of them.
17 organisations didn't want to interview me!

Recently had a successful interview so my top tips are: speak slowly; answer the question clearly and don't be afraid to take a moment to think about the best example\response. If you are not sure about a technical question admit it. Show enthusiasm for the role and company, and ask questions about both. I had printed out the job description and had questions about several parts of the role in front of me. Make sure all responses are positive, without negative comments about others.

Breath, smile and try to keep relaxed with good eye contact.