get interviews, not the job

[stilllovegeorge]

I have been looking for a job for the last year and been lucky to get interviews for 2, but not the job. I know it's crazy out there, but the feedback I get is the "candidates were of a high calibre" . On paper I obviously look like I can do the job, but I'm clearly not selling myself properly. I feel I am quite vague when I answer questions, but don't want to prepare a set answer for likely questions. Any advice?

Depends on the job really.

Could you prepare less vague answers for the questions you've already been asked?

Have some specific examples that can be used to answer common questions, ie what was your greatest challenge? Can you give an example where teamworking was essential to the success of a project? What sort of multi-tasking have you done? How did you handle the most recent difficult or unreasonable customer/client?

When you say vague, can you give an example of what you mean? If you're not going into enough detail it may come across like you don't know what you're talking about. Do you use the STARR(S) method of answering questions? It has its critiques but does provide a pretty robust way of answering behavioural interview questions.

If they're NHS jobs it pays to read up on the trusts visions and values and weave the key words into your answers when you're asked for examples.

I used to have the same problem of getting interviews but not the job, but had two interviews on Teams in the autumn with trust's buzzwords written next to my laptop as a prompt and was offered both roles.

Good luck.

Can I ask why you don't want to prepare answers?

OP "I feel I am quite vague when I answer questions, but don't want to prepare a set answer for likely questions. Any advice?"

I think you would benefit from prepping answers. I'm not good with applications but most interviews I've had, I've got the job.

Prep your answers to likely questions. Anything else is doing yourself a disservice since that’s what the rest of us do

What kind of jobs are you interviewing for?

I don't want answers to sound scripted, but thanks all for these suggestions. Will start prepping for the next one!
What is STARRS method please?

I was advised that when you have to give an example it doesn't have to necessarily be work related. I was asked to demonstration tenacity in one interview and I came out with my repeated attempts at my driving test . It certain wasn't scripted and I was mortified to have come out with it. I got the job though!
I wonder if anyone who recruits can confirm if thats ok? The rest of my interview was about my work experience.

Situation Task Action Result - for competency based questions. Give me an example of how you resolved a conflict, for example.

@Northernsoullover i'd have liked that answer.

Quick ramblings as I'm making tea here...

You can prepare answers without it sounding scripted. Bullet points are your friend. Prepare basic points and flesh it out while you are talking. The aim isn't a script to specific questions but showing the employer you've put the effort in. Make sure you RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH the company, even for an NMW job, there is a lot of competition a the momen.

If they ask why you want the job, saying something like ''I really like the company' is quite vague but if you've researched and bullet pointed things like the companies values you can talk about how x value aligns with your own.

STARR(s) Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection, Strengthen.

uk.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/star-technique

Google could help with industry specific questions and further explaining the STAR(rs) method. They'll answer questions like "tell me a time you dealt with a difficult customer' .. on the job description is probably something like 'good communication skills' 'able to stay calm in difficult situations' so knowing the JD is also key.

Do you ask for feedback from interviews? If so what did they say?

Adding to the STAR technique, also say how what you learned from the situation would apply to the role you are interviewing for.
So if it was a situation that requires resilience, whatever you learned (eg. always keep trying to pass your driving test like the poster above), relate it back to the role.

The feedback was "we had a lot of high calibre candidates", but I have asked for more specific feedback on my interview.

I'd say better scripted than vague. Obviously try to sound natural but employers want good examples etc showing you can do the job and would rather you prepare than not.

@stilllovegeorge

The feedback was "we had a lot of high calibre candidates", but I have asked for more specific feedback on my interview.

Organisations don’t typically want to get involved in those kind of conversations. If a recruitment agent was involved, as a hiring manager I would give feedback to them, but I would not engage with a candidate directly.

To your first post, you definitely need to think about possible questions and get a collection of pre scripted answers.