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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I just got a job interview!!! So excited I might be sick!!! Advice anyone?!

22 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 10/02/2021 16:27

Honestly I'm amazed and thrilled! I'd posted here about finding a job that really caught my eye, but stalled applying - because I just didn't feel confident, and the longer I put off applying, the more I delayed the rejection. Makes sense eh Hmm

BUT! I sent my application and very quickly had an email about a first round interview! Shock

What are your best tips for doing a brilliant interview?

OP posts:
ireallyamthewalrus · 10/02/2021 16:30

That’s brilliant news! I don’t know what type of job it is but I would say try to remain calm, make eye contact with the interviewers and try your best to smile!

It’s ok to pause for a moment before answering a question if it helps you gather your thoughts.

Argoscatalogueandabingoma · 10/02/2021 16:31

Read the job spec and use STAR for your examples. If its o teams or zoom stick post-its or have notes on the screen in front of you with reminders and prompts.

The situation, task, action, result (STAR) format is a technique used by interviewers to gather all the relevant information about a specific capability that the job requires.

Purplewithred · 10/02/2021 16:33

Be prepared - do your homework, know the company's values and mission etc. Get their name right. Be prepared for 'competency' interview questions as in 'tell me about a time when you....' and practice answering in STAR format

altiara · 10/02/2021 16:38

Make sure you know what format the interview will be in - are they going to ask about your CV/previous experience, or competency based interview questions.

Prepare some answers or examples to talk about that show strengths.
Prepare something where you’ve made a mistake/you were able to learn from.

Check their website, do your research about the company.
Don’t be scared to ask the interviewers why they like working there etc

Good luck

OhTinnitus · 10/02/2021 16:43

Congratulations! That's such a great achievement.
I was going to mention STAR too. Although it's been a long while since I had a job interview so I wasn't sure if it was still relevant!

BabbleBee · 10/02/2021 16:46

Well done!

I had a interview recently and it was completely values based - tell me a time when.... / what would you do in this situation... / how would you...

Be prepared, be yourself.

2ndtimemum2 · 10/02/2021 17:47

Definitely all of the above and also ask questions at the end show them you've done your research also if you dont know the answer to a question don't bluff it. And be yourself!!

bloodyhairy · 10/02/2021 21:28

Very best of luck with it OP!

TriSeaSwim2021 · 10/02/2021 21:33

Be personable and honest about who you are and what your values are. I’ve Just spent all day on an interview panel and the ones that came across comfortable in their own skins were far more relatable. Be positive and talk as if you can fully see yourself in the role about what would you do. Gd luck.

Gliblet · 10/02/2021 21:36

Yes to STAR.

Remember - write it down and carry it with you if you need to - your interviewer wouldn't have invited you if they didn't think you could do the job. They WANT you to turn up and do well, they're on your side.

If you struggle to answer questions about your own strengths, ask your friends or people you've worked with.

Cloudsurfing · 10/02/2021 21:36

Research the company beforehand, right down to their strategies and main clients if that information is available on their website. The first question we ask is tell us what you know about the company.

Have questions ready to ask. Have examples ready for each of the points in the job specification.

If you don't know the answer to a question or don't understand, calmly ask them to repeat or explain it. If it's a technical question and you still don't know the answer, just say you don't know but explain how you would find out/what you would do. Don't make something random up.

Boredsobored · 10/02/2021 21:46

Yes definitely STAR, just what the recruiting people want. It fits neatly in their boxes and they give you the job! Speak clearly and confidently - talk about what 'I' did. Also practice out loud, it's cringey but it works.

ScrapThatThen · 10/02/2021 21:47

Write lists of key things you want to tell them about you. Work up some examples of your work, things that went well, what you did when things went wrong and how you learned from it, a teamwork example, something that you took the lead on. And then walk around your house answering interview questions out loud - the practice really helps you not stumble over words and be more fluent. Take your time, nerves don't matter they are normal. Good luck

tinkerbellla · 10/02/2021 21:48

Just wanted to say good luck! Be yourself and smile. 😊

JonSnowsCloak · 10/02/2021 21:57

All of the above are brilliant, especially STAR and competency based examples. I've interviewed candidates quite a lot recently - things to think about/questions they might ask - why are you suitable for this role, what interested you in it, what would your priorities be in the first six months, examples of challenging situations and how you dealt with them. Make sure you have questions for them too at the end - what opportunities are there for progression, how has the current situation impacted them (if relevant- my oh asked this last week). Most of all good luck, try to be yourself and smile lots :)

browneyes77 · 10/02/2021 22:28

Well done!! That’s great news!

I’m a Recruiter. Have been for over 20 years. Started in agency, but last 10+ years have been an internal recruiter (so working directly for a business as part of the HR team, recruiting our own staff). So I’m interviewing people for roles in our business every day.

So from my experience, this would be some of my advice, hopefully it’s helpful to you!:

Be honest and let your personality shine through. Sounds corny, but honestly employers want to see that!

Research the business - but don’t just look at the bog standard stuff like when they were established etc. Look deeper - what’s their culture like? What are their values and how do they fit in with your own?

Think about what attracted you to the role/business

Be prepared to answer competency based questions. Think about things you have achieved and how you achieved them (i.e projects you’ve handled or supported). Who did you utilise in your network to support you? Did you achieve it within a specific timescale?

If you’re asked a question on something you’ve never had exposure to, be honest and tell them you haven’t had experience in that, but then talk through what you WOULD do/how you would approach that situation.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the end. But also go for a couple more interesting ones, like asking the interviewers what do they enjoy most about working for the business.

Think about what your real strengths are. And don’t refer to your weaknesses as weaknesses - they’re not, they’re your areas of development. You’re not weak in those areas, you just need to enhance your knowledge further to allow you to develop those areas more. So be sure to talk about how you’re trying to develop yourself in those areas.

Hope it goes well for you! Good Luck!!! Flowers

thesandwich · 10/02/2021 22:31

Well done! Brilliant advice on here. If you are nervous, try th3 free headspace app or calm app to do some deep breathing in advance.
Good luck

BigPaperBag · 10/02/2021 22:32

@Boredsobored

Yes definitely STAR, just what the recruiting people want. It fits neatly in their boxes and they give you the job! Speak clearly and confidently - talk about what 'I' did. Also practice out loud, it's cringey but it works.
I agree. Never use ‘we’ in your example for the competency questions. The interviewer needs to know what you specifically did otherwise they can’t score you.
Parkmama · 10/02/2021 22:44

It seems obvious but LISTEN and ANSWER the question. I'm interviewing a lot at the moment and it's really off putting when a candidate doesn't answer the question I have asked or forgets to give a proper example when I ask a situational question. I did an interview recently where the candidate made a note of our names on the interviewing panel and then at the end directed a question at each of us by name relevant to our role within the organisation, it was impressive and showed a genuine interest and also demonstrated that they had been really listening. Good luck! Thanks

2pinkginsplease · 10/02/2021 22:58

I have just had my first interview in about 20 years.

Act confident(even if you are petrified and nervous)
Listen carefully to questions and think before responding
If it’s online write notes around your screen so that you can refer to them. Prepare yourself.
Make sure you are familiar with the job description and what’s expected of an employee.

My interview was all about values, situations and how I would deal/ react and also Official documents relating to the job.

Good luck, be confident and smile!

My interviewer said she loved how confident I was(I wasn’t) and how knowledgeable and happy I came across! Thank heavens for post it notes!

loveyouradvice · 11/02/2021 00:00

I'm excited for you - WELL DONE!!!!!!

Great advice above

Only thing I would add is to do a couple of "pretend interviews". Ask two mates who ideally have interviewed people but don't worry if they havent and role rehearse the whole thing. You'll then feel more relaxed when you actually come to do it. Really worth it - I've done for friends and asked others to do for me.

And yes, practise a few answers out loud when by yourself. You don't want to sound rehearsed but it does help to actually say it out loud...Imagine the questions you would find toughest... whether it's what do you see as your greatest strengths and weaknesses or tell us about the most challenging work situation you've been in and what you learnt from it .... and just think about what you'd say

And they'll always ask you if you have any questions at the end... think of one or two that you would like to ask so you're ready for this!

Good luck - and let us know how you got on!

Scrumbleton · 11/02/2021 10:00

In addition to STAR preparation do have a compelling answer about why you are interested in the job ideally focusing on the skills match. It’s often the first question and is often scored. Also suggest preparing examples demonstration your strong communication ( whatever the role). Another question that is regularly asked in interview ( and which candidates routinely handle badly) is an example of something that hasn’t gone well and how you’ve dealt with it. Here employers are looking for self awareness and how we’ve learned and grown from challenges. If you take a blank don’t freeze like a rabbit in the headlights- explain you’ve had a temporary freeze and ask if you can come back to the question - have seen candidates do this and when they’ve returned to the question it’s been their best response. above all listen to the questions and answer them. Do not shoehorn preprepared answers into the wrong questions - a very very common issue. If you’ve something important you wish to say that didn’t come out in the interview use the dying moments when they ask if you’ve any questions to say no but could I just use this time to highlight that xxxxxxxxxx

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