topic Re: Interview Techniques in Community Spirit

Interview Techniques

meh_too — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:14:08 GMT

As previously posted, due to a number of incidents at work, and that some of my colleagues are less than honest, I think its time I moved on. I don't really want to, but I am wasting my time where I am.

So here is my question - I have a good resume and skills however, I interview poorly. I am aware I also come across here poorly most of the time too, but the person I appear to be at interviews (and here) is not the person who does the job.

Any tips on how to approach an interview and come out not feeling like I have made a complete pratt of myself,

Thanks for any help

Re: Interview Techniques

trulyspecialgoodies — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The most important accessory you can have when going in to an interview is a big smile, which will make the interviewer feel that you're happy to be there. After making that good 'first impression' you should say something along the lines of "thank you so much for seeing me - I hope you can understand that I'm very nervous but I feel that my qualifications make me suitable for this job". Keep that smile on your face while you're saying this.

Bear in mind that what you want to achieve is that the interviewer remembers you out of all the candidates for the job and if you're warm and friendly (as well as brilliantly qualified) this aim should be accomplished.

Re: Interview Techniques

izabsmiling — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:02:35 GMT

Hi Stars, Sorry things aren't working out where you are .

In what way/s do you feel that you interview poorly ?

Re: Interview Techniques

meh_too — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:21:26 GMT

Hi Stars, Sorry things aren't working out where you are .

In what way/s do you feel that you interview poorly ?

I think the questions they ask are stupid, especially the scenatrio ones. And I can never think fast enough to answer them like I know what I am talking about.

Re: Interview Techniques

cherry*135 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:51:00 GMT

I am not much help as I feel the same way as you little stars, and don't interview well.

Going for an interview is like 'game playing'.

Re: Interview Techniques

givemeaspell — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:57:36 GMT

I agree it's very daunting going for interviews these days. I had a friend went for a group interview at Bunnings which involved role playing different scenarios out, she said there were mostly young people and she felt ridiculous. Another at one of the large banks who also had to role play, seriously that would def put me off. Some of the questions they ask as well? I also hated 12 montly reviews "where do u see yourself in five years?"......"umm hopefully winning lotto and not working here"....."what are your goals?" - "don't have any except just to do my job"...........give me a massive spell!

Re: Interview Techniques

givemeaspell — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 04:59:25 GMT

Sorry no tips...........LOL only a vent!

Re: Interview Techniques

bright.ton42 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 05:17:54 GMT

Role playing before the interview can help a lot - if you and a friend who plays the

interviewer go through a whole lot of questions you are likely to get and you practise answering them.

Even without someone else you can rehearse out loud your answers and practise until

you feel more comfortable.

Good luck. I hate interveiws too. .

Re: Interview Techniques

izabsmiling — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 05:22:33 GMT

Little stars, the interviewer may feel the same way about some of the questions as you do.All I can suggest is what you probably know ..ie; try to relax ,take your time .Try not to view it as a be all and end all thing.

I've been told that if that fails imagine them in their underwear .That may have varying results though I'd imagine lol

Re: Interview Techniques

izabsmiling — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 05:23:20 GMT

I hope that it all goes well 🙂

Re: Interview Techniques

crystal**flake — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 05:25:54 GMT

Relax and smile, you have to be confident also it shows if you're not.

Re: Interview Techniques

mum*of*goldens — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 06:36:55 GMT

Read up about the company, it's history etc. Often they will ask you "Can you tell me what you know about XYZ?"

If you can rattle off a short spiel about the company and it's history, how it's grown, what attracts the public/customer about it.......they tend to like that sort of stuff.

Re: Interview Techniques

kopenhagen5 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 06:57:18 GMT

Like others have said, relax and smile.

Be yourself and don't think of it as an interview, more like having a conversation with someone over a cuppa. Employers more than often want to see the YOU behind your preparation for the interview.

I employ a lot of people and the first thing I do is get them to relax, then they open up and just begin to be themselves. It makes it easy and even enjoyable for both.

If your mind frame is, "It doesn't matter if I don't get this one, there are others", you tend to relax.

Good luck. 🙂

Re: Interview Techniques

shhh_its_me — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:17:27 GMT

Put your hands on the table in front of you so you don't fidget.

Smile.

Fake it.

Put your resume in front of you so you can refer to it.

Dont ramble.

Look the interviewers in the eye.

Have about 4 scenarios in mind that arerelevant to your job and use them for anyquestions asked.

If there is water drink it when thinking.

Look at the businesses website and try to integrate their beliefs etc into your answers.

Make sure you're comfortable in your interview attire.

Good luck.

Re: Interview Techniques

krylekathe1 — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 01:02:42 GMT

Present beautifully.

Hair & makeup done tastefully, professional outfit & take a Valium before the interview if you get anxiety.

You don’t need to answer straight away, if you need time just say ‘I’ll need a moment to reflect on your question before I answer it”, and you can always ask a question to clarify what they want you to say, these give you thinking time. You can also say “that’s an interesting question, does this situation come up often in this position”, it’s a way of buying time to think about the question.

If you smoke - don’t the day of the interview! Nothing worse than interviewing a smoker, it’s so obvious and puts you off.

Remember - the job goes to the best candidate so you need to appear to be that person.

Re: Interview Techniques

domino-710 — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 01:16:31 GMT

aaah,

The OP has probably had a job for the past 5 years.

Where did you dig this old thread up.

Re: Interview Techniques

zanadoo_56 — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 01:58:10 GMT

@givemeaspell wrote:
I agree it's very daunting going for interviews these days. I had a friend went for a group interview at Bunnings which involved role playing different scenarios out, she said there were mostly young people and she felt ridiculous. Another at one of the large banks who also had to role play, seriously that would def put me off. Some of the questions they ask as well? I also hated 12 montly reviews "where do u see yourself in five years?"......"umm hopefully winning lotto and not working here"....."what are your goals?" - "don't have any except just to do my job"...........give me a massive spell!

I can't stand role playing. It is so fake and often irrelevant to the work. I was in a job where my posiiton was amalgamated with another section where all the staff were new (to their employer as well as the jobs). I didn't actually have to work with them, in my case it was 'all on paper' which section I belonged to. However, for the new employees there was a three day workshop of role playing to get them to feel like a team. Unfortunately I was also roped into it. It was garbage and I began to get very angry at having to be there. In the meantime for every silly thing we had to do the rest of the group congratulated themselves on how much a team they were after doing this stuff. The orientation did not include anything about their actual work or what was expected of them as employees.

After the three days they began their new jobs. One person lasted two weeks then just stopped coming to work. Another 'found it hard to start so early in the morning'. Two staffers developed such animosity towards each other the atmosphere became toxic. A new supervisor came in to sort things out...and failed. Eventually it got so bad that a special section in Human Resources had to be called in to restore calm. From my experience with my employers, I could see these newbies were not going to immediately settle in, no matter what role playing we all had to do. Their working backgrounds were so diverse and they were so certain that they could make their section like they wanted it, rather than how their employers wanted it, that once they started working there it was like a cultural shock.

Role playing.....pffttt.

Re: Interview Techniques

johcaschro — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 12:25:37 GMT

I used to work on weekends and every Saturday morning I would find a workmate perusing the newspaper for jobs for which he would apply. (this was a long time ago now)

Anyway, when i asked him why he was applying for so many jobs, he told me that he often applied for jobs he didn't actually want, just t get the interview experience.

He reasoned that if he sat so many interviews he would deaden himself to the experience and would be able to relax more in future interviews (as he was so used to them and the novelty had worn off) and when he came to apply for a job he really wanted, he would be better able to present himself.

I know it's different in the job market today; I'm remembering a time when there were lots of jobs available to choose from.

Still, if you don't get the job you didn't want anyway, but learned something about the interview experience, then that's important too.

Re: Interview Techniques

chameleon54 — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 02:15:40 GMT

I,ve been self employed for the last twenty years. When one business slowed down or I got sick of it, I just started another one. Frankly I couldnt put up with going to interviews, working for a boss and the 9-5 grind with the traveling to work. And at my age I doubt that too many people would want to employ me.

Plus it is a lot more interesting running your own business rather than watching the clock all day. Its worth trying if you have never done it.

Re: Interview Techniques

johcaschro — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 07:02:45 GMT

"Plus it is a lot more interesting running your own business rather than watching the clock all day. Its worth trying if you have never done it."

And all those tax deductions, eh? Mouth-wateringly interesting.