To Be Absolutely

[GhostShip]

BRICKING IT in regards to a job interview I've got next week - and to ask you all for any advice?

I cant eat, can't sleep.

It's not even for a special or mega paid position but it's one I'd love to have, in the NHS.

I know I'm probably being stupid, I've never ever been like this over an interview before but have serious anxiety issues so that's not helping!

Any tips?

[SageStuffingYourOrifice]

There's a great book called Perfect Interview by Max Eggert that my DH has found useful. Visualisation techniques eg imagining yourself in the interview, what you might be asked & rehearsing answers can help.

I swear by Bach's Rescue Remedy spray and you can get a nighttime one that takes the edge of jitters and helps with sleep.

Oh and YANBU. When we really, really want something it's normal to feel like you're feeling. Good luck!

[SageStuffingYourOrifice]

OFF jitters. Bloody iPhone!

[MoonlightMerrimentandMistletoe]

Well firstly - good luck!

Secondly,
Run through the 'scary' scenarios and how they can be resolved
At the interview, if your mind goes blank - to buy yourself time, take a deep breath, repeat the question back, pause, and then begin to respond.

Remember if there's more than one person interviewing, make brief eye contact with all of them when responding to a question, irrespective of who asked.

Draw up a list of concrete examples of your strengths (and a couple of weaknesses) based on your previous working experiences

Use strong, positive, action words and phrases ('will/won't' rather than 'can/can't', 'I successfully did...' etc) from now, not just in the interview. The brain acts on an 'action' words rather than any 'noise' surrounding the action word so, if you use positive actions words when talking about you and your experience that is what the interviewers will remember.

The reason so many people trip up after being told 'don't fall' / 'don't spill' is because the brain acts on the 'action' word in the sentence - it hears 'fall'/'spill' and so is more likely to act on it. If, instead, you were to say 'be careful' it is more likely no fall or spill will occur.

When asked 'why do you want this job?' talk about what you can bring to the role and why this excites you instead.

Make sure you have a good handshake.

If offered any form of drink, don't accept.

I'm sure there'll be others along shortly with other advice too. Let us know how it goes next week.

[GhostShip]

Thankyouu! It doesn't help that I cant talk to my friends about it - I work with them all! So it just helps having you lot to have a whinge too :o

Bachs Rescue Remedy! My mum swore by that.

[MrsTerrysChocolateOrange]

I love Bach's. I'll tell you why, it's BRANDY. All the flower essences in the world aren't as good as a bit of brandy. Cheaper to just buy from Tesco but if if feels better to buy it in the tiny bottles, go ahead.

Good luck.

[HildaOgden]

I'd also (if noticeably nervous on the day ) start off by apologising for appearing nervous and explaining that it's because you are really interested in getting this job (It always amazes me when I interview potential employees,how many of them appear not to give a damn whether they get it or not.)

[GhostShip]

Luckily I'm good at making myself seem outwardly confident, just inside I'm a nervous wreck. Wish this week would hurry up...

[cozietoesie]

Do you have any friends or relatives who could do a realistic mock interview with you over the next night or so ? And I mean a serious mock interview, not one with only giggles and fun. You may be hopelessly tongue tied in front of people you know or make a hash of it, but it can be surprisingly relaxing afterwards because the real thing is rarely as bad.

Best of luck, anyway, for the real thing.

[cozietoesie]

Sorry - that should have been

[Allergictoironing]

Make sure you've read the job spec through & through so you know it almost by heart. Same with your CV (or your application) and be prepared to use examples from it to show how you can fulful the requirements of the job. Make sure you take both of these to the interview along with a map (unless you know the location intimately). Plan your journey & add at least 30 mins for travel issues, and wear something that isn't just suitable but you feel good in. Making sure you have prepared properly should give you more confidence!
Don't make any changes to your normal routine apart from making sure you get a couple of early nights in the last days before the interview and DON'T drink the night before - your nerves may be strung really tightly but just a glass of wine could end up being half a bottle because of the nerves and you really don't want that.
Read Moonlight's post about 50 times - all excellent stuff .
Consider getting some herbal sleep tabletsand use them for the last couple of nights - these shouldn't make you feel stuffy in the morning & you definitely need to sleep. Planty of lavendar smells around the house to help you feel more relaxed & calm and maybe some on a tissue in your handbag to sniff just before you go in, lemongrass just before going in is also good as it's calming but keeps you alert, and if you're having nightmares about the interview try rosemary under your pillow at night.
Remember nerves (within reason) can be good as you are on your toes, but as they are affecting you too much you need to do everything you can to relax a bit more (although alcohol just before going in is NOT a good idea), so make sure you get in planty of long baths between now & then & try to indulge yourself a bit more than usual. Depending on your mindset, either ignore the non-critical housework as you can always catch up later, or use housework as something to take your mind off it like blitzing a messy room/clearing out old clothes
I've spent an awful lot of time both sides of the interview table, and Hilda above is right in that you do need to tell them at the start if you're feeling nervous and that it's because this particular job means so much to you.

[cozietoesie]

I'll have to disagree on that last, Allergic. An interviewing panel will assume that the interviewee is a bit nervous - and likely look askance at anyone who doesn't appear to be so, if only just a little. If you go so far as to voluntarily apologize right at the start for being nervous, they might wonder just how you'd function if any pressure was put on you in the job on offer.

I'd certainly be sure to make clear, at some point in the interview, that you have a strong desire for the post and what you can bring to it. I wouldn't however, start off the meeting by talking about nerves. It's not positive enough.

[Allergictoironing]

You could have a point Cozie - though normally the first question is "how are you today" so that may be an opportunity to say "a little nervous/keyed up". I've never had a problem with people I've interviewed saying that to me, and if someone says they are nervous yet still copes very well in an interview (one of the most stressful things out there) then I feel they've proved that they can manage. I would prefer that to someone who doesn't seem to give a flying one whether they get the job or not, or comes over as arrogant

[cozietoesie]

'A little keyed up' would actually be fine to me. (And you're quite right - a nonchalant 'can do it all without even waking up' type gets marked out by me before they've finished the meeting.

[Allergictoironing]

Yep think we are near enough agreeing here Cozie - there's a difference between being told an interviewee is a little nervous, and words to the effect that they are almost wetting themselves with panic! I think it was terminology only.....

[GhostShip]

Ah you lot are ace, some brilliant stuff to take in board! I'm at work now and the more I sit here freezing my head off the more I want this job! I know the spec off by heart, I've answered all sorts of questions in my head, planned the journey and outfit.

I never get like this its quite strange

[GhostShip]

UPDATE: had the interview, it went okay. They seemed to really like me, the consultant who was on the panel said it had been a joy to see me and that I should be very proud of myself: that I'd been one of the 3 shortlisted out of hundreds. I sort of knew then I hadn't got it.

Got a phone call later and the head of department said although it had been a great interview, they'd love me to be part of their team, I'd been pipped to the post by another woman who had 'ambulance experience'. Which I found a bit odd since this was for a Assistant Cardiac Physiologist, so I'm assuming the experience must just be St Johns voluntary.


I'm gutted, but least I still already have a job and the praise was nice. She was really positive.