how can i make myself interview confident..now i have actually managed to get an interview...quite a few people talked to me before when i said it was impossibloe to get a job

[zippitippitoes]

....and it is for a quite well paid job...to run a charity's trading company

i have been working for myself so not easy to talk about teams etc

and i have to work hard in my head to make myself feel that i have worthwhile skills to offer

that said they are interviewing me

but i am someone who rambles and waffles

here are some of the person specs they want

a.3 years management experience in retail or mail order

b.managing staff teams

c.financial skills

d.familiarity with recording purchasing stock control systems

e.computer literate word excel and powerpoint

f.communication skills

g.eye for design knowledge of print and design processes

h.set budgets and business targets

i. work under pressure

j.hands on approach

k. flexible to work some evening and weekends

i am not optimistic about getting this job but really pleased i have an interview

it would be life changing as it is not only a job but also would mean moving

it is with a gardening charity

i have just done a nc in horticulture

it is managing their trading arm online and mail order and through shows etc

i have done that

i think it is the air of confidence and authority i need to achieve

which i can do if i am in the right frame of mind

No no zipps, you sound VERY qualified for it!

Use the builders examples of how you managed them, they were your team, you were paying them so talk about how you agreed what work had to be done and in what timescale and how you measured success and how you resolved concerns, thast's all bog standard people management stuff. ANd stop talking yourself out of it! If your cv fits and you've got an interview they like the look of you. They WANT to get someone for the job and they#re hoping it's you. Recruiting people is a pita and time consuming so just seeing the right cv and offering them an interview means they are hoping you're the right person.

Sounds like you've got lots of great practical advice already, Zippi, but I just wanted to add: stop thinking about anything negative. You say more in your post about what you can't do and that is a really common thing pre-interview, especially for women (I'm assuming you're a woman!). I worked in recruitment for years and where there were 10 requirements for a job, women would discount themselves and not apply if they only had 9, whereas most blokes would give it whirl if they only had 3 or 4 and with that kind of confidence they often succeeded. So although you have to be well prepared as Wicked says, you also have to forget all the self-doubt and believe in yourself. I know that's easy to say, but just for the duration of the interview, really go for it. Because you're the best person for the job by a mile. Don't doubt it!

No advice, but just wanted to say congrats on getting an interview

How you feeling Zipps? When is it?

thank you i have just got my car back after its 5 weeks in a garage in london so 3000 quid doewn

so this job is ver y important to me

its going to be topugh

intetresting what you say about men i am sure they do have a lot more confidence

my dd1 boyfriend is going to mock interview me tomorrow evening

i really have to think of how to do this well

it would be so much easier if i didnt want it such a lot

Agree with pinkdelight about not being negative. When I changed jobs recently, I completely fouled up the first interview I did, because I played down the stuff I'd done instead of playing it up. Don't know why - just the mood I was in. So don't do that!

Also, when you get the job, for any tricky Excel stuff, go here.

its on friday

a very wise woman once told me to only go for a job you really want (you have), to practice beforehand (you are) and to think yourself into the role for the day (so 'pretend' you already have it)so when you are being interviewed its about what you know you can do.

you really need to up your confidence.

when i first went for a 'serious' job i got 2 management type and 1 pass that interview type books and read them constantly! it gets you into the language and out of the 'i'm not sure if i can do this' mindset.

good luck, you have to tell us what happens - you sound perfect.

Good luck Zipps. Also, there was an experiment where they advertised a job in EXACTLY the same paper, same wording etc and when they advertied it at a higher salary women DIDN'T apply!

Let us know how you get on.

I mean they advertised it twice. When they put a higher salary on v few women applied.

I interview a lot so i know what it's like from the other side. I always try and get myself into the frame of mind where I am as much checking the company out as letting them assess me. It really helps. The interviewers are not trying to trip you up - they will be desperate for you to do well. Noone wants to waste a day interviewing and be unable to appoint, then have to readvertise! Remember a lot of interviewers are nervous too! I went on interviewing refresher training and lots of the people there were terrified about having to do it.

Always try and answer with a real example - and what the benefit was of what you did - what the results were. Good luck.

well i have my outfit planned have had my haircut and bought shoes and even booked in to a hotel for tonight as i am paranoid about my car breaking down

so its just what i have to say about myself that i have to get to grips with

i couldnt sleep last night never mind tonight

nothing constructive to add - just wanted to say i'm thinking of you!

rofl at channelling xenia

Oh it;s today isn't it? Good luck Zippi!

Yup I agree plan first what you will say anticipate questions and plan answers, what you have to bring to the role, why you want the job, smile be confident and look them in the eye. Most people make up their minds about you in only a few seconds. Practice speaking infront of a mirror and watch your body language.

well i am back

stayed in a hotel l;asst night so i was nearby

bf came and stayed with me so i didnt spend all night er wrroying or preparing

i tyhink i was rather crap and light weight in the interview

it was not really a challenging interview but i twlked too much and didnt really say the right things

have driven home and feel totally shattered

the actual ointerview was with the present incumbent and the director or marketing/fundrqaising

it was a n hour and a quarter

so felt a bit rubbish on the way home thinking i really wicsh i was better at this

well done for going and doing it
with present incumbent? - i would have found that a bit odd
how much of the talking did you do?
will keep my fingers crossed for you

finegrs crossed. Do you particualrly want to work aroundthat way only saw an ad for GOSH fundraising manager yesterday - a year's contract initially.

Good luck zippi!

No advice I'm afraid. Not had an interview for a long long time and when I did I used to get by on bullshit and bravado I think

fingers crossed zippi. when do you hear?

i hvae had one interview in 15 years and was shockingly bad. got job though. there is some free management training for women at the moment, european funding. i had some last year, very good for confidence.

she said she hoped early next week

and she hoped they didnt have to go to second interviews

two people were in the visiotrs book this morning before me both local

i dont know whether me coming from far away may put them off either

Double vodka!

Ok, I've been to a fair few interviews in my time, here's my tips:

Smart clothes - hot weather is no excuse for casuals, it's an interview and if you want to be taken seriously then wear something very smart.

Eye contact - don't stare at them, but do maintain eye contact, especially when they are talking to you.

Good firm handshake at the beginning when you are introduced to everyone.

Hands crossed on lap to stop yourself nervously twiddling - DON'T fold your arms.

Have some questions prepared beforehand to ask them.

Be prepared for questions such as "give us an example of when you last used your initiative to solve a problem"

Don't be afraid to tell when you made mistakes and how you learned from those mistakes, it makes you appear more honest and able to learn.

Be positive - don't talk yourself out of the job as my dh tends to do.

Smile and appear confident and pleasant. Practise your smile in the mirror.

Now hold your head up high and go for it girl!