To be feeling out of my depth regarding job interview?

[Turndownforshallot]

I applied for a job as an apprentice with the civil service. Applied on a whim as I’d love to get into the CS but didn’t really expect much to come from it.
Had an email the other day and I’ve been invited for an interview! Really excited and surprised, but starting to feel like I’ll fail miserably all of the other jobs I’ve had have been non-skilled retail and office work, I feel like I’ll be an imposter .
I might be overthinking it, which I do have a tendency to do, but in my head I’m thinking “what if they think I’m uneducated”.
The other thing is I have another interview a few hours later on the same day. What if the second employer likes me and wants to take me on? I’ve read that CS take quite a while from application to bum on seat, so there’s a possibility I could be offered the second job, but then 2/3 months later be offered the CS job. I really really want the apprentice job, I think it would be an amazing opportunity and I’d feel proud of my job (for once! ).
Plus I’m terrible in interviews, my mind goes completely blank no matter how much prep work I do.

I guess the AIBU is AIBU to think that I’ll be too dumb for this role?
am I overthinking it? Is it a good sign that I have an interview with the CS? Any tips?

I’m so sorry for waffling on, I’m trying to be as prepared as possible as I really want this job!

They've seen your cv/application so know what level of experience and education you have and decided you are worth seeing. If you are afraid you will go to pieces in the interview do you have someone who you could role play with - they come up with interview questions for you and give you constructive feedback /encouragement?

If you were too dumb for the interview they wouldn't have invited you for interview.
Also it's an apprenticeship so they'll be expecting you to learn on the job.

Have a think about the questions you might be asked. Think of situations you've done well in your previous roles and how those skills can be transferable: working well in a team, able to communicate with wide range of people, seeing things that can be improved and working on them.
Think about what this apprenticeship would mean to you and how you could put that across to them, that this has fired your enthusiasm in a way other jobs haven't.

Right some notes and take them with you so if you go blank you can glance at them and get back on track. They expect interviewees to be nervous.

And good luck.

Not sure on the timing of offers. I had that once and took the 'can you start Monday ' job and always wondered how my life would have gone if I'd waited and been offered the other more potentially interesting role.

Write not right.

Just consider how numpty so many people are in their jobs - and they got them! It's a pretty low bar, right? Try to relax, remember you're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you, ask questions. Don't be afraid to take a page of notes in!

The most important aspect of the interview is letting your personality shine. You need to let them believe you are hard working, pleasant, helpful, quick thinker, team player, able to take initiative, a good listener, able to get on with tasks, and not do anything totally foolish.

If you believe you are all the above, just be totally yourself and just thinking of examples you can talk about that shows the above.

The interview won't be a "what can you bring to the role" type. It will be "tell me about a time when...." so make sure you have some examples prepared.

You can only accept a job you are offered. If you accept one, and then 2 months later get another, then you have a decision to make.

Right now - no decision so stop worrying about that for the moment.

Very best of luck with your interview! The civil service use the STAR method www.google.co.uk/search?q=civil+service+star+method&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

Have a browse to help prepare for your interview.

Thank you all! I’m going to write some notes tonight to prepare myself. Once I’ve gotten plan A/B/C formed I’m usually able to relax. I think it’s just fear of the unknown, I’m quite intimidated. I’ll check out that link now GigiIdid thanks!

My sister worked for the CS, and she hardly had any skill (spoilt and still dependent on my dad to buy her phones and laptops :/), and they took her with a lot of people who have barely any skills, you don't even need apprenticeship! You should apply for a perm job if that's what you really want to do.

I strongly advise you to attend the second interview and do your best, not only is it a good experience, you never know who your managers are going to be, and whether you'll like the people you work with in CS! Secure the jobs and then choose which one you want.

There’s nothing to stop you taking the job (if offered) at the second interview and then later, if you’re offered the CS job, telling them thanks for giving you the job but that an opportunity to pursue a career path you’ve always been interested in has come up so you’ll be leaving. No employer would expect you to turn down a better prospect, in the end it’s a business transaction - you don’t owe them anything except a day’s work for a day’s pay.

This one even...

The best bit of advice I got when I went for my last interview I felt very inexperienced for was "if they have offered you an interview they think your experience would enable you to do the job" that was the boost I needed to remind myself though not directly related I had good experience and knew I could apply it. I got the job, civil service.

Good luck! If they offered you an interview they must think you're up to the job. Just go in there and feel confident.

Civil service interviews are going to be very structured. Really look at the job description and the skills that they've asked for (I think there's usually a set of core competencies that they want you to demonstrate). Think of an example of how you can demonstrate every point and make sure that you use them. Ie if they ask what your strengths are, list them but also give examples to show it.

Prepare to answer questions in a structured way. Using STAR is a good starting point - what was the situation, what was your task, what action did you take, what was the result. Make sure you focus on 'I' and what you did specifically rather than using 'we'. Really listen to the questions, I'd note them down and ask them to repeat it if you need to. And don't be afraid to take short breaks for water if you need a second to compose yourself!

You sound really passionate about the role already, which is great, just let that and your personality come across as best you can!

Ah thank you all for your encouragement! I’m going to religiously study the job description in the run up and try to have as many answers banked as possible. Really hope I get it 🤞🏻