I am worried that I am going to sound like a complete idiot at interview.

[chubbleigh]

I have got an interview coming up, I havn't worked in 3 years and I havn't had a formal interview for a lot longer than that. I am worried that I am going to sound like a bit of an idiot because there is so much I have forgotten in the time in between, three years ago I could have yakked on for ages about all the stuff I did, the processes, the pitfalls, the ins and outs of it all. Has anyone out there had an interview after period at home and not felt like a fish out of water?

are you in touch with former colleagues? could you have a drink/lunch with them before hand to try to prompt your memory / update yourself?

Hello Chubbleigh! Is this for the job you were telling us about the other night? Congrats on the interview.

I had an interview recently, the first, I worked out, for 10 years - quite frightening really. My situation was a bit different though as it wasn't a job, I was applying to be a magistrate (voluntary position). The key to dealing with for me was preparation: I found out as much about what was involved as possible, thought through all the possible questions they could ask, and thought of as many questions as I could to ask them. And I planned what to wear very carefully so I felt the right balance of smart and comfortable.

You'll be fine. Honest. Once you're in there, it'll all come back to you and you'll feel fine. The secret's just in the prep, staying calm and sounding confident.

When's the interview?

(I'm pageturner by the way, in Christmas outfit!)

Chubbleigh - if it is any comfort to you - you are no worse placed than most people, just because you haven't worked for 3 years! The vast majority of people only do interviews when they are about to change jobs, and that is roughly every 5 years for the average employee. In fact the last time I changed job was only the second interview I had ever done in 15 years of working, and a further 5 years have gone by since that one, without interview.

It is easy to imagine that everyone else is interviewing all over the place and you are at a disadvantage - but the reality is very different

If you want some help honing up on how to answer any interview questions, post a little bit more about what you do and what your skills are, and I am sure we can collectively fire off a few practice questions for you

Hatwoman, that is a really good idea but not practical as I live somewhere new now.

Pageturner, yes I think it is the interview I mentioned. What freaked me out was even writing the application I was struggling to find the words and sitting there trying to recall what I had done rather that it being on the tip of my tongue. I don't want there to be any pregnant pauses whilst I search the corners of my mind for the name of this or that. I know some of it will come back and my CV is fairly robust, it shows that I have done the stuff they are looking for. I know more or less what they are going to ask, I used to be involved in recruitment. I shall just do my best and hope they understand that after a three year break I have not been reading New Scientist and Times Education every week. I am not an academic, I did research administration and university admin.

how about a long telephone call to a former colleague?

The good news... the interview was fine.
The bad news.... I am pretty sure that I havn't got the job.

I don't really mind, always believe that what's for you won't go by you.

I don;t think you can ever tell whether you got the job or not. But if you didn;t you can chalk this one up to experience, you've cut your teeth now and can go to the next one with confidence

You never know, Chubbleigh... As hatwoman says, at the very least you're that much more ready for next time.