Interview next week for 'THAT' job... How did you feel? Please share!

[Cornflakegirl7]

I was made redundant in 2023. Since then I have freelanced which is bloody hard work and for a year or so I have worked for a company doing something that is related to my profession in a sense, but not what I want to do at all. It's poorly paid but I also find it so tedious and boring and am itching to get back to doing what I love.

It isn't fantastically paid, or especially impressive but what I want to do and am trained/qualified in is quite niche, and since I were made redundant I have never found anything remotely like it advertised.
Not seen one thing like it, that is until 2 weeks ago-of course I got my application in. I assumed I hadn't been selected as it has been quite a long time but just this morning they replied inviting me to interview.

I am so, so nervous about this. Because opportunities are so few and far between-I feel like I absolutely HAVE to get this job. It's over 10k more than I am on now which would rid me of financial worries, but not only that, I'd feel like a 'real person' again in that I'd be back doing what I trained for, what I love to do, and I wouldn't spend every day feeling like a glorified admin assistant-I know I am being facetious but that is genuinely how I feel about this job. The one I have now makes me feel brain-dead and doesn't motivate or fulfil me at all.

My brain keeps trying to convince me that because I want the job so much, that I probably won't get it! It's ideal for me, remote (which I need) good hours, decent pay. I feel like I absolutely must think positive but, although I generally interview well and do not get nervous about the process, for this one I very much am nervous! And I've had interviews that didn't go well where I've got the job, ones I thought did go well where I haven't, sometimes you just don't know?

Any advice or shared experiences welcome!

Hi OP, just keep reminding yourself that you’re very well qualified for this job and have plenty of experience in it etc. You want this job very much so hopefully your eagerness will show through during the interview. It sounds like the perfect job you’ve been waiting for so good luck! Please update how it goes!

Put the job spec, interviewer profiles and your CV into chatgpt and get it to ask you interview questions and to score the results. Do this whenever your anxious, it channels it onto productivity.

Good luck

Hi @Cornflakegirl7 Best of Luck!
I was in a similar position to you a couple of years ago and I got the job.
Just make sure you prepare for it, and do your best.

Prepare a tonne, including answering questions in the mirror and editing your responses. Get prepared so you don't waffle and have some stock qs ready to avoid babbling such as 'does that cover it?' 'Is that enough detail?'.

Prep speaking about what you did in previous roles, not 'we'.

Research the panel and the company so you can show you're knowledgeable and invested.

Look at any recent press releases, blogs, LinkedIn posts, annual reports - anything that shows their vision and strategy and how you'll make a unique contribution.

Get as much sleep as possible and eat well in the days beforehand.

Once you've prepped start thinking in the most positive terms possible. And very very best of luck!!!!!

All I can say is, try your hardest but its still a bloody lottery with loads of chance factors you can't control so try and be a bit zen too if you can.

Thank you so much all of you. It is a week today so I do have time, I am definitely going to practice answering questions (& then I'll bet they'll ask me totally different ones😆) and utilise chat GPT.

Yes, there's nothing on the job spec that I don't have, I'm good in that way but, I don't know who else has applied and who they'll like. Only one position available. I'll kick myself if I mess this up!

I didn't get it. Back to the drawing board.

They've given me nice feedback, said I came across well and had strong experience but others had more of the latter.

I am actually upset-more so because it'd have answered all of my problems (got me out of a job I am unhappy in, rid me of financial worries). But you can only do your best I guess!