Interviews

[Violet]

How did you act in job interviews? What's usually running through your mind while you're being interviewed? Any tips for interviewed-noobs like me (like how to stop feeling so nervous or how to answer the questions)?


I've only ever had one interview, and I think I did ok but I didn't do good enough to net the job. I'm not sure if it was me as a person they didn't like, or if it was the fact that I have no work experience. It was for a fast-food place, so I felt pretty worthless when I didn't get hired.

I applied again, but they've decided to go the online assessment test route as well.. and I always suck at those -_-. I hope they call back..

[Che]

Interviews always seem really fake and boring to me. People just try to make themselves seem better than they really are to "sell" themselves to the employer. I just try to be myself, because when I get hired that's how I'm gonna be, and if they don't like me enough to hire me then I don't want to work there anyway.

But, the main thing is to not be nervous. Masturbate before you go so you don't end up sweating and being awkward like a loser during the interview.

[Violet]

I don't even know what to say about stuff involving teamwork. I never worked together with friends towards a common goal.. lulz, do video gamez countz? Really now. What kind of stories about teamwork should be said in an interview? I've worked on stories with my friends.. I've had to group with people in high school on class projects and I would write the essays. Isn't that good enough?

[Che]

I don't even know what to say about stuff involving teamwork. I never worked together with friends towards a common goal.. lulz, do video gamez countz? Really now. What kind of stories about teamwork should be said in an interview?

"I really enjoy working together and being part of a team. I find I'm usually in the leader position when I work in a group because I thrive on having a real drive for initiative."

Something boring like that is probably what they want to hear.

[Violet]

I don't even talk like that in person, lol. I'm pretty incapable of changing my speech patterns just to sound more professional. I try my best to leave out impediments such as "like" or "um". When nervous, I tend to go "eheh" at the end of certain sentences(I absolutely hate it).

Overall, I think I'll do fine with presenting myself in an interview, but I don't know how I'll impress them with my lack of experience of any work(and lack of special achievements). I'm just someone trying to find some ground level in the workplace.

Edit: Also, I am a bit shy. These situations intimidate me. Forcing myself to smile when nervous and unexcited..it feels fake.. and I hate being fake. But frowning or looking too serious isn't a good option either, so I have no choice.

[RamesesII]

YouTube - Job Interview - Pepsi Max

I have never really had that many interviews I usually get nervous especially if the interviewee is intimidating or very authoritative but if they are easy and laid back then I usually am to, I guess I just answer the questions truthful and act interested in the job offer but of course we all know that I am not but hey it worked for every interview that I had. Plus I also razzle dazzle up my credentials or Resume to look good because that is usually what makes the first impression.

[GypsyElder]

My first job, and only job ever's interview was a group interview, and I was really freaked out before it started but my manager was really chill the the questions were kind of common sense, it wasn't as a competitive group interview as it could have been, she listened to what everyone had to say so it was actually kind of fun.

I guess it just depends on what job you're going for. I would say, even if you are nervous, try to act like you're not and make sure you smile a lot.

EDIT:

Edit: Also, I am a bit shy. These situations intimidate me. Forcing myself to smile when nervous and unexcited..it feels fake.. and I hate being fake. But frowning or looking too serious isn't a good option either, so I have no choice.

[Pete]

Just be confident. I've walked into every job interview, literally telling myself that I already had the job. Sometimes it panned out, sometimes it didn't.

The two main things are just to interview a lot and to be confident. You'll learn the process and the types of questions they ask. Once you learn how the process goes, you can figure out or at least formulate a way to think and act going into it. You really just want to put the best "you" out there, so be confident and smile, even if you feel fake. People don't want a Debbie Downer no matter how good you might be at a job.

As for groupwork, just make shit up. Say how you like to initiate work and delegate tasks. You can even use a made up example like helping a friend move. Just work it and know your story.

Lastly, don't let anyone intimidate you. Walk and talk confidently, be polite and courteous and smile.

[Copperfire]

I think I do okay, but I might come off as being TOO eager.

[Josh_R]

Only thing I know to do is keep constant eye contact. Managers seem to really like it when you keep eye contact. I haven't had many interviews so I don't know much to tell you on the subject. Just the one thing..

[Dodie16]

I've only ever had one interview, and I think I did ok but I didn't do good enough to net the job. I'm not sure if it was me as a person they didn't like, or if it was the fact that I have no work experience. It was for a fast-food place, so I felt pretty worthless when I didn't get hired.

I hate it when jobs tell you that you didn't get the position because of "lack of experience". You know what that actually tells me? That tells me that their training program is shit, and that I was better off not being there in the first place. Sorry for the rant, but I think that's a shit excuse from employers. You can TRAIN people for just about anything.

Sorry you didn't get the job though. I'm sure there's other places that would love for you to be working there. Don't give up, and don't berate yourself either for not getting the job. It's not good for you and it doesn't accomplish anything, so don't do it.

Like people have been saying: Be confident and yeah, sometimes you do have to hype yourself up to employers, but is that necessarily a bad thing? If you have that hype about yourself, wouldn't that in turn boost your confidence as well? Think positively, and if you don't get the job, don't let it get you down. Just say to yourself "Well, they missed out on a damn good employee."

[rJ floW]

Biggest thing to keep in mind is your non-verbal communication...if you don't know what to do with your hands or how to sit as per posture, emulate the person interviewing you. They will set the tone and you will follow and they will look positively upon it.

EDIT: Was that just a meaningful post by me? Without belligerence or sarcasm? Jesus

[Maridia]

The best thing I've learned is to be aggressive in these scenarios. I've applied to many places before and the nicer I am the more assholish they seem to be, from the way to talk to you and how they seem less interested. Which one day was a turning point. Cause then I changed my demeanor of I want to impress these people to these people are trying to take what should be my job. So stare at people in the eye and don't tilt your head down to show you're not pushed back. And most importantly just like teachers tell you to write papers as if you're stating fact be like stone when you say something. Not "Ah gee uhm yeah maybe" you just lookem in the eye and say "oh absolutely". You laugh now but it keeps people from walking on you and respecting you.

[Heartless Angel]

My best advice, get a refference from another employee, like try getting a job where a friend words and have em put in a good word for you. I've hooked tons of my friends up with jobs just by telling my boss that I knew someone was thinking of applying, and that they were a good worker, or that I'd done group work with em in school, and that I'd recommend em for whatever they were applying for.

As for the actual interview, just go in with confidence. Embelish a little on answers. Not sayin straight up lie, but make things out to be more than they really are. If you have no job experience, talk about school or something, brag about grades. Or talk about volunteer work, alot of places treat that as work experience. First time I applied at a fast food place, for work experience I just told em I did some volunteer work in the kitchen at a Veteran's home nearby, which I did, mostly because I need 10 hrs of community service per semester as an assignment for ROTC, but still, I did it, and it's remarkably similar to work. Something like that is useful in more ways than one. Not only can you call that work experience, you can also usually get whoever you talked to to volunteer to act as a refference. ANd don't be discouraged if you don't get a job the first time. It might not even be because you were bad. They could've already filled the position, or the guy who came in after you could've been someone whose life calling was flipping patties; who knows, just don't beat yourself up over it. If you fall off the horse, think about the fact that that horse will probably be made into glue at some point in time. That'll teach that damn horse...

[Unknown Entity]

I get nervous, but I push it away. o.o

Best thing to do though, is rehearse answers you'd give to certain questions, and just answer them how you would answer them - not some I-want-this-job-badly-puppy-eyes-long-winded way.

Don't suck up, be yourself, look and smell good, and don't worry too much.

[Rocky]

I've had three job interviews in my life so far, and I gave one job interview myself, but as a business major I should be ready to see plenty of them as I struggle to get a job after college. -_-

My first interview was when I was 14, where I applied at a local grocery store. I didn't know anyone there and I was really nervous, but I wore some khakis and a tie to the interview. I was asked just a few questions and was given some paperwork, then they asked me what kind of availability hours I could have. I found out later that the dealmaker for me getting a job where I was massively under the median age and knew no one at was because the assistant manager was so impressed that I had a tie. Thinking about it made me lol. He was a little wierd but a good guy overall, and he helped me get promoted and raises all the damn time too. Dress to impress kids!

My second interview was for a summer job, and my dad was the manager lol. The process was like "You want some extra cash this summer?" "Uh, yeah." "Ok I'll pay you extra just don't slack off too much." "Okiedokie!" I worked as a maintenance guy cleaning this giant ****ing school that had no ac in 90+ degree weather for 5 days a week from like 8-3pm. I got so much money those summers but I was physically wiped everyday lol. This was while I was working my grocery job too so I'd work from like 8am-10+pm 5 days a week, then sometimes on saturdays at the store.

My third interview was the most indepth one yet, where I have my current job. I was brought into a small office and two people were shooting at me with questions back and forth. It was a little intimidating but I did pretty well with it. About a year later I got to give an interview for my job, which was also interesting. It felt kinda cool being on the other end asking all the questions haha. Turned out the guy didn't get hired though, he was kinda sketchy at the interview, and really quiet like I almost couldn't hear what he was saying.

I've seemed to be decent at all of my interviews. My mom is a manager at a hospital and she gives interviews all the time, so she would help me out and give me some sample questions that they would ask me. It is okay to take your time and answer slowly if you need to, just try not to trail off, talk a little louder then you normally do, make a moderate amount of eye contact, and don't forget to smile!

If they ask you about working as a team during an interview, you don't have to say you are a very good leader, just say something along the lines of "I like working with a team, and I feel like I am a flexible person. I have great understanding of my peers and I am very supportive and constructive as well as being a leader if the need arises."

[Block]

I subscribe to the flip flop method of interviewing. The point of the interview is to seem like the best candidate for the job. A really good way of seeming to be the best candidate is being more inquisitive of the interviewer about how things work at their company. Asking them what the hours are like, lunch breaks, salary, and any other questions you can come up with that relate directly to the day to day concern of working at said place. In other words, if you treat the interview as a meeting with a guy who has already hired you then you're more likely to come off as the best candidate for the position.

[El Gatopod]

Yeah, ask the employer a shitload questions and make sure they don't get a word in edgewise. That'll work for sure!

[winterborn86]

I hate interviews, I lack sooo much confidence and hate answering questions, worst question ever is "What do you feel that you can bring to the company?" Whaaat!!!??? never know how to answer that, gets me everytime.
I suppose the best kind of advice to give someone for an interview is try and stay calm and keep good eye contact, I heard the the eye contact thing is a good thing to do for some reason.
Good luck in your interview x

[Polk]

I've had one job interview in my life, for the job that I have now. Pretty much all I can say is that you want to answer their questions the way they would want you to answer them. Places want to hear that you're good under pressure, can work well in a cooperative environment, and that you're responsible. Then, after you start working there, for about three months, be the ideal worker. Get to work early, be gung ho about everything, do everything in your power to be the ideal employee so that they feel good about their decision. After that, you can totally slack off.

OH. And if the person interviewing you tries to trick you by asking you make out, DON'T DO IT. It's a trick to make you look like the town hussy and not real but it's okay WHATEVER JENNY I DIDN'T EVEN LIKE YOU FOR REALZ ANYWAY JENNY. I learned that the hard way .

[Heartless Angel]

OH. And if the person interviewing you tries to trick you by asking you make out, DON'T DO IT. It's a trick to make you look like the town hussy and not real but it's okay WHATEVER JENNY I DIDN'T EVEN LIKE YOU FOR REALZ ANYWAY JENNY. I learned that the hard way .

That must've been an... interesting... job interview. Can't say I've ever heard that one before.