Interview on Friday for a job Im not confident I can do - tips please

[FartBlossom]

I have been put forward for a job by an agency Im registered to. They told me about a job opportunity which I was a bit unsure about as Im not sure if Im at the same level the job requires. If I had seen it advertised I wouldn't have applied. Anyway I have an interview on Friday and to say Im a bit nervous is putting it mildly. Im not very good at interviews anyway and certainly not very good at selling myself based on chat alone. I know I can prove to be a good worker, but I need to have that chance first.

My tactics are to speak to them as though they are friends I haven't seen in a while who just want to know what Ive been up to. Also if I dont get the job I know it will be good experience for me so thats a positive. I just know I need to feel more positive about the job otherwise it will just show to the interviewers wont it? I need to think that I can do the job, but Im not entirely sure I can.

Be honest with them. If there are bits you have never done before, say so. Say you are a quick learner and eager for the challenge. Then if you do get the job they will know your limitations and be more ready to help.

Good luck x

your tactics sound good. Don't focus on the parts of the job you feel you can't do, tell them about you and what they'd be getting if they had you in their team. A tip for selling yourself if you feel embarrassed about doing so is to imagine you're seeing yourself through your best mate's eyes. What would they say about you? Finally what's the worst that can happen? Don't forget you're interviewing them too, if the job's not right don't take it! Good luck x

Concentrate on the things about the job that your can do and if you're asked about an aspect of the job you're not sure about then be honest and say so.
Be enthusiastic about the role and have some good answers to why you want the job.
Try to think of some good questions to ask to show you are interested in the role e.g. If you're managing a team then ask how long the team has been established and what the make up of the team is or ask what the objectives are for the next year etc.
Most importantly remember that no-one expects to find a 100% match for a role when interviewing as long as you can show you have some of the experience and are ready to learn you'll be fine.

Thank you for the advice, will certainly bear it in mind in an hour when Im there.

Think of examples from your past which demonstrate the skills they are looking for.

And don't forget the Peter principle - we are all promoted until we reach the job we can't do, and then we stay there.

Good luck Fart (now there's a sentence I never thought I'd say )

I didn't get it :( So I will put it down to experience. I feel as though the interview went well so dont know why. The agency said that they haven't had any actual feedback as yet, but will chase for it next week. Oh well I'll keep trying.

Oh no. Though to be honest I have twice got jobs that I wasn't anywhere near qualified for. Once worked ok (i am still in the field and have since qualified) the other was HELL on earth. I hated it. And they hated having me.

Actually the funny thing is they way they were talking about the job (once I had said what I had done before and the kind of job I was looking for) I think I would have found it a bit dull and boring, I think one of them thought that too as she asked how I would cope with the dullness of one of the tasks.

It sounds like it wouldn't have suited you then and you've had a lucky escape. Don't forget that interviews are not just about you it's also about the other candidates. You may not have done anything wrong at all in interview, it might be that one of the other candidates happened to be a perfect fit and nothing you could have said or done would have influenced it.