job i really wanted - i really fluffed up @ interview

fsdss

i went for my dream job, got to last selection stage - made excellent preparation ...............then fluffed up in interview!!!!

i couldnt believe that i got the attack of nerves during the interview (which i never normally do) and forgot all the right things that i was going to say. my mind went a complete blank and i ended up feeling like a right dummy. i wouldnt mind but i've spent all week preparing my answers and presentation.

the salary was excellent (almost double what i'm on now), and i've been waiting for about 5 years for a job like this to come up. the only thing that went well was the experience that i have on the paper sift, only couldnt manage to sell it today.

been informed tonight that i have been unsuccessful.

i'm completely out of interview experience and need some tips please, i need to get a new job with more challenges, with more hours better money (dont we all!!).

clairefun

I'm of no help to you (as a stay at home mum, my last interview was 4 years ago) but I just wanted to send my commisserations. Have a nice glass of wine and move on - I'm sure other people on here will be able to give you some great advice!

domestic_goddess

Hi there, Sorry I cant be of help but just wanting to send you a hug...:grouphug: :grouphug:

Is it just me or does that hug look rude;)

fsdss

sickofhavingnomoney wrote:

Is it just me or does that hug look rude;)

now you've mentioned it i can see what you mean

Symbeaux1

the interviewers should have been qualified in some way (informally at least) as such they should be able to provide you with feedback on your interview and advise about techniques that will help you with future interviews. Ask them for it , you've got nothing to lose. By 'techniques' I mean any coping mechanism you can instantly employ when you become tongue tied , you were obviously well prepared with your knowledge base and need something to help you formulate and express ideas and appear to the human dynamo that you know you can be. Requesting feedback after a negative response is a very adult thing to do, but use this experience to its best effect.

suzysue_2

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job. My advice would be to apply for jobs that you don't want. It may sound silly but if you reach interview stage you get free real interview experience which is far better than any practicing you can come up with. Its amazing how confident you can be at an interview for a job you don't really want!

I attended many interviews before I got my current job and the lessons I learned on what to say and what not to say on my failed interviews made me a proficient interviewee. I was also so used to being interviewed that I'd lost my nervousness of being interviewed. If you do get offered a job you don't want you can always politely decline it.

Hope this helps.

(Mr) suzysue

Counting_Pennies_2

You can apply to large organisations to be a dummy interviewee for their inhouse recruitment training.

That way you get free training although you may have to book time off.

Alternatively there are career consultants out there who at a price will do interview training, if you want to find out more info give me a PM as I used to work for such a company and they do have several offices around the UK, so I could give you more details if interested.

elona

You could also get a friend to "interview" you - it does feel very awkward but can really help.

DrFluffy

fsdss wrote:

i'm completely out of interview experience and need some tips please, i need to get a new job with more challenges, with more hours better money (dont we all!!).

:sad:

The best piece of advice I have ever been given is be prepared, but beware of being over prepared.

Over preparation can (apparently) give you a false sense of security, and lends itself to those 'gargh - I've gone blank' times, and because you rely on the fact that you are very prepared and had answers prepared, it makes it difficult for your brain and natural problem solving ability to spring in to action and save you.

Even in an interview that you consider to have been a dream, being over prepared can make your answers seem passion-free and you do not get over that "Wow! factor"...

Sorry that you didn't get the job, but don't let it dent your confidence, keep applying for everything. Not sure of the ethics of these things, but apply for things you don't want to do too - just for the real-life interview practice...

Tustastic

Symbeaux1 wrote:

the interviewers should have been qualified in some way (informally at least) as such they should be able to provide you with feedback on your interview and advise about techniques that will help you with future interviews. Ask them for it , you've got nothing to lose. By 'techniques' I mean any coping mechanism you can instantly employ when you become tongue tied , you were obviously well prepared with your knowledge base and need something to help you formulate and express ideas and appear to the human dynamo that you know you can be. Requesting feedback after a negative response is a very adult thing to do, but use this experience to its best effect.

Hey fsdss, Symeaux1 is giving you great advice. Plus the feedback session is another opportunity for you to shine. You can emphasise how much you would have loved to do the job, work with this team, this company. You can throw in bits and pieces that you didn't do in the interview. Enthusiasm always sells. And suppose the successful candidate backs out, and the second choice's references don't stack up?? They might have to interview again and might be prepared for you to reapply. At the very least, they could retain a favourable impression of you for the future, remembering your enthusiasm and your eagerness to learn from something that didn't go well.

east2west

This type of phenomenon is normal. Some of us as students in school, performed very well with classroom activities but when it came down to test time we "choked". Understanding that this is a normal response is your first step in feeling more comfortable during interviews.

I train non-native English speaking students how to apply for English speaking jobs. (imagine that kind of pressure) The fact is, this is a mental response due to your own insecurities. (i do not wish to offend you just speak the truth) You must believe in yourself and your abilities.

Some of us are "salesmen" we can sell ourselves to anyone, anytime. (even if we are not qualified, we are just good Bull Sh&*ers) Others need to believe that they are honestly the best person for the job, to be able to comfortably sell themselves. And even still, there are those who are the best qualified, but lack the social skills to make others understand that they are in-fact, just that. These are the 3 basic personality types.

My point is, you should determine which of these scenarios best describes you. Then we can "zero in" on a specific remedy.