Interview nerves...

king_jeffers

Really stuffed up today, undergoing restructure with my current employer, short of a long story; my current job has been realigned and I need to reapply. It was my turn today for the dreaded interview, unfortunately nerves really got the better of me. I was okay until I got into work and then they hit. Totally stuffed the interview, although I was able to answer the questions I didn't do very well. Delivered all my replies in monotone, stuttering and stumbling my way through, feel like I've really let myself and my partner down, I'll ultimately end up out of work if I'm not successful.

I've been applying for loads of stuff externally, and I'm really excited about some of the vacancies I've applied for however I'm worried nerves will let me down again at the interview stage. Any tips to help me beat them? I've always been an anxious person but with a little one on the way I really can’t afford to lose.

Deep breaths, pinch points on the hand - Google's help has failed me!

disgruntledgoat

Quick tip for interviews... walk in and look the biggest person on the panel straight in the eye, then punch them in the face.

Really sends a message.

chrisaonabike

I'd suggest a couple of things.

The first thing to do, in an effort to safeguard your existing job, is approach your current boss, or HR, or whoever will be involved in the decision making, and let them know that you didn't feel that you gave them a fair impression of yourself - and that you'd welcome an opportunity to give a better account of yourself. Don't come up with any weasel excuses - just be honest and say that since the job means a lot to you, nerves overcame you momentarily. Presumably, if you've done good work for them in the past, they will be aware of that.

You could accompany this approach with a prepared one page (no more) CV, summarising your key skills, with brief references to things you've done in your current job that give actual evidence of these skills. Make sure it's prepared well, and get it proof-read by someone competent.

Deep breaths, pinch points, and other snake oil remedies are all b0llox. What you need is interview practice. Find someone that knows what they're talking about, and ask them to give you some mock interviews, and then feedback on how you coped.

Good luck.

capt_slog

Practice.

Ok not as easy as it sounds, but have your partner interview you for instance, and make it awkward, have distance between you so that you have to project (not necessarily shout) which will help you gain confidence.

Don't be in too big a hurry to reply sometimes, give yourself time to get your answer straight. You can't leave it too long obviously or you look like an idiot.

Don't be afraid to say "I don't know", but try to qualify it with "But I know it's connected with XYZ" or "I understand the difference" etc. Don't make it up.

ALWAYS research the company for outside interviews, find details.

disgruntledgoat

On a more serious note, I always find it useful to make a lot of notes and take them in with me. That way, I can jot down thoughts as they occur to me, whils the interviewer is talking.

morstar

I shan't even try to suggest what techniques might work for you as we're all different.

However, in order for you to try an pinpoint the right technique for yourself...

Can you think of a stressful situation where you do cope well? If so, can you approach an interview in the same way or identify the similarities between an interview and that other situation so that you can treat it similarly and gain control?

e.g. I'm an opinionated bastard, far too likely to shoot my mouth of when not appropriate. I spent many years in retail having to regularly smile and be nice whilst dealing with idiots (both staff and customers). Before going into certain situations that are totally removed from retail but potentially contentious, I can coach myself to treat them as retail situations so that I remain smiley and nice and not upset people.

Does this make sense?

greasedscotsman

I dunno, if it's your current employer, they will have a pretty good idea how good or bad you are anyway and probably not judge you totally on your interview. Who knows, you might have done enough!

Capt Slog is right though, it is all about practice. I used to be pretty bad at them, but I've done enough now that I don't find them a problem. Sure, you will get questions wrong, you won't ever be perfect. It's like anything else you want to be good at, you practice it.

Hope it works out for you!

fevmeister

Where do you work? I'm in the north east and it seems this is a recurring theme up here. Some guys at my old work had to interview for one position, short story was there was one job with two of my colleagues going for it. It's dog eat dog out there

solosuperia

I think practice is probably the most important...
But then to rehearse with a friend or whatever doesn't exert the pressure.
Will help get your story right though.

The last interview I did, you know someone asks you a question and that is the key for you to launch into a short introduction about yourself.
Nerves took over and I was gabbling like an idiot.... Realised this and basically stopped and said :-
"Nerves took over and I am gabbling I am going to start again and do it properly" .

It seemed to work, because I suddenly felt I had the panel on my side.
Did get the job.

pdstsp

Mrs pdstsp works on the "imagine the inerviewer sitting on the bog" technique. It's a leveller!! (And it works for her)

natrix

I've used NLP anchoring with great success for medical procedures (Trans oesophegeal echo cardiogram (apols for spelling) for example), try googling it, it seems to work.