Interviews. . .

piglet25

Can someone please tell me why my mind goes blank the minute I go through the door to the interview room?
I am fine until I get to that point! Any suggestions on how to remember my name at least while in the room would be welcome! I have two interviews coming up, which I really aren't nervous about, and I just know its going to all go pear-shaped when I get there.

AP007

piglet25 wrote: »

Can someone please tell me why my mind goes blank the minute I go through the door to the interview room?
I am fine until I get to that point! Any suggestions on how to remember my name at least while in the room would be welcome! I have two interviews coming up, which I really aren't nervous about, and I just know its going to all go pear-shaped when I get there.

So you aren't nervous but can not remember your name?

andrewjf

piglet25 wrote: »

Can someone please tell me why my mind goes blank the minute I go through the door to the interview room?
I am fine until I get to that point! Any suggestions on how to remember my name at least while in the room would be welcome! I have two interviews coming up, which I really aren't nervous about, and I just know its going to all go pear-shaped when I get there.

How do you approach the interview? Things I find useful in preparation are:-

1. Research the company, know what they do and what they have achieved
2. Know your own CV and be able to talk through previous roles and your accomplishments
3. Think how your skills can help them solve their problems
4. Have a prepared answer to 'tell me about yourself'. This concisely sums up your history, what you're doing now, and your aims for the future. This is also a good ice-breaker and gets you talking and relaxed.
5. Don't be stuck for words, and have some pertinent questions for them (but not too many).

Remember that if you get an interview, they are already pretty confident that you can do the job, so you're already doing really well even before you step in the room.

jm2926

Practice questions with friend(s) a lot

gizmo111

I have exactly the same problem and can't wait to get out of there, everything I know goes out of my head completely. last successful interview I had about 2 weeks ago - I told them at the beginning that I was very nervous and no good at interviews and the panel were fantastic helped me through it by rephrasing questions and making it a lot more interactive to allow me evidence my knowledge and expoerence - it lasted an hour and half as opposed to the one I didn't get the day before which lasted 30 mins. By about question 6/9 they couldn't shut me up!!

Good Luck hope you get the job you want.

[Deleted User]

It is quite ok to take your CV/interview confirmation in with you - use it as prop for getting names right

Remember some of the worst interviews can always be the best! never thought I'd say this don't try to hard!!

piglet25

AP007 wrote: »

So you aren't nervous but can not remember your name?

Not literally, but thank you for asking.
I am totally not nervous, I just go completely blank when the questions begin, even though I have done most of the jobs previously. Its really strange!

93123

piglet25 wrote: »

Not literally, but thank you for asking.
I am totally not nervous, I just go completely blank when the questions begin, even though I have done most of the jobs previously. Its really strange!

Maybe it's a different kind of nerves? I was the same in my first 2 interviews, I didn't feel shaky or sick or anything but my mind went blank.

piglet25

Thats me! how did you overcome it?

93123

I'm not sure I have actually, but I hope so. I've only had 3 in total, the first two were several months ago, the third was over a week ago. I only had 2 days to prepare and was in a major rush on the day of it, with only an hour to go into the city to try on and buy a whole new suit and then walk to the interview place, the shop opened at 9 and the interview was at 10 (I borrowed the same suit I always have borrowed because I couldn't justify buying one until I had more interviews or a job offer... and it alarmingly didn't fit on the morning! ) - Fortunately I was bang on time. Not early like I hoped to be but I don't think that's a crime.

I kept going over the questions, staying up til 3am both nights which I imagine helped as I had little chance to forget it as I would with an interview that was weeks away. I think the adrenaline from rushing and desperation to impress forced me to speak lol!

[Deleted User]

I remember that feeling very well OP! you are not alone, remember for any no's you only need one Yes, you will do it x

This should make you laugh in one of my interviews this week, I was asked how I planned my day! well I thought they were talking on a personal level.. and went to great length about how I'd pick what clothes I was going to wear god it could have got embarrassing!! d'oh oh no! afterwards I realised they were probably expecting me to say about to do lists!! can't imagine what they thought of me!

If they offer a drink take it, so you can have a sip when you find yourself getting stuck, that horrible dry feeling, sure I had some heart palpatations along the way too x