To call all other imminent interviewees

[newjobnerves]

I have a job interview on June 3rd for a job I want SO much, I am so anxious. I'm off now for a week with the kids so lots of time to prepare (and dwell and stress!) I wondered if we could start a 2WW style thread for those about to go for interviews?!

I'm sat here in tears completely overwhelmed as to how to prepare. I am usually ace at interviews, I know how to play the game. But this job is slightly out my experience and civil service, a recruitment process I have no familiarity with. There were over 11 competencies in the job spec, I have no idea whether to embellish what I wrote, or if I'm supposed to bring 11 new ones. I just want to cry.

Newjobnerves, I know the feeling! I had a stupid amount of competencies to cover and got my head all muddled. I had a problem with whether I could use the same scenario for multiple competencies as well as it would mean I'd have less stuff to remember. I found that I completely overanalysed my scenarios and ended up waffling on about completely new scenarios, which surprised me. I'd say use the ones you have already listed and maybe try and expand on them?

I got the job mind! I went to the pub, had a double whisky and got on the bus home when the interviewer rang and said the job was mine. Pheeewww! I had just started to doubt my decision to resign next Monday but now it seems like the decision has been made for me.

Good luck to you all! My advice is to drink the water they offer you. I think it's a secret test.

Joining in to say 'chin up' newcat. Think of the interview as part of your preparation for the right job. This wasn't the right job or the right panel, or they had someone in mind or any number of reasons. You are not 'past it' you have wisdom and experience. Get back on the horse!

I have interview on 6th June for great job, but if I don't get this one, I will get the next one. I just interviewed (badly) for a similar position and don't expect to be successful; but I can use mistakes in the last one to do better in the next one!

I bought a dress on eBay. I need to buy smart shoes. Once I have the job I can revert to comfy elastic waist trousers and long sleeved plain t shirts.

Well I had a minor disaster.
Turned up for my 10am interview and they took someone else in!
Turns out the electronic booking system they used is in a trial phase so there must be a glitch as I got a confirmation screen.
I didn't get a confirmation email but I didn't think anything of that as all the "what to bring" details were in the invite email and if got to the confirmation screen on the booking system!

Luckily they agreed to squeeze me in a bit later but I was so flustered that I don't think I gave the best Interview I could have as so much went out of my head.

can I join?

After 16 years in a public sector organisation, I have had enough of the disability discrimination and bullying I keep experiencing and I have applied for 3 external jobs.

I am very nervous though because obviously the only interviews I have had in 16 years have been internal ones and what if the grass isn't greener?

The fact I have multiple disabilities could also work against me, although one of the roles is working in a disability charity, another with a young carers charity and the third one in a disability adviser role in a university.

So I've been trying to choose jobs that appear to be disability friendly but I know from experience that isn't always the case.

Does anyone have any experience of charity interviews / non academic university interviews and could give some tips?

I know all about competency interviews and STAR as this is what we use in internal interviews.

One of the roles is management and I've never done management before and not too sure if I'd be any good at it either.

But there are no signs my current position is going to get any better so I think its time to go.

The closing date for one is tomorrow, others are mid June. Fingers crossed.

@fcekinghell both my charity and university roles relied on competency based questions so I would still prepare those as I think many places use them. Sorry not much more advice than the usual really!!

So I had the interview today, it didn't go as well as I hoped, I'm not sure why but I just didn't leave with a good feeling. I feel deflated and like I didn't showcase myself as best as I could (the interview structure also wasn't quite what I was expecting, not particularly competency based). But there we go. In previous jobs I've always heard at the end of the day or first thing the following working day, if I've been successful (longer if not obviously!), is this similar to what you've experienced? Do I give up hope after lunch time tomorrow?! They just said by the end of the week (as they usually do!) and that it needed to be ratified by HR.

Oh I wouldn't give up just yet - they may have more people to see?

Mine is tomorrow- all day from 8-3! I have been revising and reading policies all day my brain is frazzled!

Newjobnerves, well done for going though! You might still get it! When I got my current job they waited 24 hours and rang me the next day. I remember this because I thought I messed up the interview, got drunk afterwards and the HR person ringing me woke me up the next day and I was quite hungover. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for you. Interviews are such artificial situations that it's impossible to read people!

Niceupthedanceagain, good luck for tomorrow! That's one long interview!

@niceupthedanceagain good luck for tomorrow, that sounds intense!

@WonderTweek funnily enough I have just drank a good amount of wine 😂 I have work in the morning though unfortunately. I will update tomorrow if I have or haven't heard anything.

Did you hear?

I got down to the last 2 then didn't get it 😩

Sorry to hear that Nice

@niceupthedanceagain oh I'm sorry about that, I know it's no conciliation but it's great you did so well.

I've not heard anything, very much resigned myself to the fact I haven't succeeded. The feeling of rejection is horrible!

So I just got the call and I did get the job after all. Very shocked and now very anxious as to whether it's the right thing to do, hate making decisions!

Yay...congratulations Nerves!

Newjobnerves, yaaaaay! Congratulations! It's always the way isn't it; you think you've done really badly and then you end up getting the job. I completely get the anxiety too. I handed my notice in last Friday and have started telling people I'm leaving and suddenly my current job seems like the best job ever. 😅 But I started looking for a new one for a reason! How long is your notice period?

I had one this morning.

Trying to get back to work after years of being a sahm and student.

I think I probably bombed it too.

Then I fucked up dinner and dp is upstairs sulking.

I've had such a colossally shit day

@BillywigSting oh I'm sorry you're having such a rubbish day, go get some chocolate!!

Also trying rather unsuccessfully to loose weight so no chocolate for me!

I'm hiding upstairs with a cuppa. 'd'p has made himself something else to eat but is still being a tit. He did do a bit of reassuring re the job though.

I'm really hoping I luck out and get it, it's basically perfect for me right now

@newjobnerves nice one!! Well done

I've Just come across this thread slightly too late as I had a interview yesterday.

Three years ago i had an interview that I completely flunked. It was competency based and I'd never been interviewed in that way, had never heard of STAR etc.

So this time I mugged up.like mad, had all my competency examples lined up but it wasnt a competency-based interview at all. It was terrifying and I was convinced I'd bombed but I got the call last night to say I've got the job. Still cant quite believe it.