Zoom Interview tips - 4th one coming up and I REALLY want to be successful!

[helandy]

I'd really appreciate any advice, as I'm starting to wonder where I'm going wrong?!

I'm 42, and have been a writer/editor in the arts for 11 years. However, I've wanted to work with plants for ages, so have been doing evening classes to work towards a certificate in horticulture for the last couple of years (I have two modules to go.) This is with a view to ultimately becoming a professional gardener/garden designer. First, though, I want to gain some experience in the industry, and thought becoming a gardener for a season or two would provide me with just that. Many companies here employ designers as well as gardeners/horticulturalists, so I was also hoping that I might find a company I could stay and grow with.

I've been submitting applications to assistant gardener/lowest rung gardener positions for a couple of months. The first owner/operator and I chatted for over an hour and I thought we ended our conversation very positively, but I followed up a few days later and...radio silence.

I then interviewed with the owners of another company. We just didn't really gel, I don't think, and they at least had the courtesy to send me a 'thanks but no thanks' email a few days later.

I then had an interview with a 'boutique' landscaping company, who offered me a job. The owner and I both have a background in the arts and I thought we'd got on famously...however, he told me he'd be in touch last week and....crickets! I sent a polite but brief email asking for an update but heard nothing back.

I was really dispirited after that last ghosting, but made myself submit more applications this morning. Within an hour, I was emailed by the HR manager at a super-looking design/build company inviting me for an interview on Thursday. Now to my question: aside from making sure I familiarise myself with this company's projects and don't pick my nose during the interview, does anyone have any tips on what to ask at an interview for a job like this? Or what not to say? I'm anxious to do as well as possible this time!

I'm from the UK but living and working in a large American city, if that makes any odds.

Thanks everyone!

put the job spec into chat GPT and ask it to write you questions you might be asked or what questions you could ask.

you can also feed it your CV and use it to prompt questions based on your experience…

sounds like you are doing nothing wrong - just keep plugging away, you will eventually be successful. Your art background might be something that other traditional horticulture candidates might not have so see if you can show what extra element you could bring to the role.

Thanks so much @Pippielk - I followed your advice and I feel as if it went well (I gave it my all anyway and don’t think I said anything clangingly stupid!) The AI questions helped a lot; I realised a couple of the other interviewers I’ve chatted to likely used AI too.

Great to hear @helandy yea my husband uses it a lot and put me onto it and it’s been great for job interview prep.

let us know if you get any feedback or indeed the job….