Feedback After Interviews

rover2000

Hello.
I had an interview last week and I managed to get some feedback.
Not getting the job has really dented my confidence so I have an appointment with a careers advisor to see if they can help.

However the feedback I got wasn't how I remember the interview at all!
I even asked if they had the right candidate.
Does anyone have any advice on confidence building or how to get over this?
At the moment, it's all going around in my head and I'm really starting to doubt myself.

Has anyone been on any confidence building workshops?
I really want another job, but it's now bugging me that I can't pass interviews!!

morganedge

I know how you feel. I'm the worlds worst person at interviews.
I tend to only land jobs where no real 'interview' is required.

I think some people were just born with bags of confidence and have the 'gift of the gap'.
I'm not sure it can be learnt (?)

Some people are just very extroverted and loud which employers seem to love nowadays.

I'm sure you're not as bad as me. My mind goes blank on every question. I fall over my words. It's a train-wreck, lol.
So, there's always someone worse off than you if that makes you feel better

balmk

Hello

It's fine to be nervous at an interview so don't worry about that.

It's important to make a good first impression as an opinion of someone is formed very quickly. Be punctual, clean, smartly dressed, and well prepared.

You can prepare by doing research about the organisation that you are looking to join. Look at the job description and person specification (if they have one) and think of examples where you may have met their requirements in previous (not necessarily work) situations.

Think of 3 things that you do particularly well, and 3 things which you feel sometimes let you down, and be prepared to talk about how you work to your strengths and are overcoming your development areas. Never answer the question "Do you have any weaknesses" with "I'm a perfectionist".

Go armed with at least 3 questions which you would like to ask. You maya lready know the answers, but it's always good to demonstrate that there is a 2 way exchange of information. If they have already answered a question as part of the interview, DO reference that you were going to ask the question, but it was answered when you were discussing [insert topic here].

And most of all, just try to relax and enjoy it; it's an opportunity to show off, and one of those rare occasions that you get to talk about yourself to people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say.

It's also an opportunity for you to see if you want to work with them; they need to make a good first impression with you as well, remember, so if they keep you waiting around or are disorganised or appear unprofessional in the way that they are interviewing, you probably don't want to be working there.

Hope that helps, and good luck for the next one!

Little_Vics

I have no idea if this will help or not, but when I recruit I already know by interview stage that the person will be able to do the job by their application form. What I'm looking for is someone who will fit with the team - and I would hate people to pretend to be someone they are not to give that impression to me.

If you are confident, happy, friendly, then you are most of the way there. You just need to get yourself to that point by researching the job and company (don't forget to check out twitter!), and ensuring you're prepared enough to relax.

Hope that makes sense and helps a little.

Raggie

balmk wrote: »

. Never answer the question "Do you have any weaknesses" with "I'm a perfectionist".

Or may I add.. "interviewers with blue eyes"..


or "Gin... I never function well without a G&T"


or "my back.. goes the moment I look at something heavy"..


just adding a little personal experience to the discussion..


Rags

InsideInsurance

balmk wrote: »

Never answer the question "Do you have any weaknesses" with "I'm a perfectionist".

I hate it as an answer too, along with "workaholic" and a couple of others.

If you do feel that this is actually a weakness then you need to (1) first say why you think its a weakness and (2) say what you are doing about it.

It certainly can be a weakness to be a perfectionist as things dont get done on time because the person spends too long trying to perfect it/ review it rather than getting something that it is fit for purpose out the door and then on to the next thing.

To many rote learn it as an answer but dont go on to do the other two points and fall over when asked to


To the OP - it may be easier to say what the feedback was so that others can potentially help you

melysion

I had really good feedback from my last interview. Said I did great, but it seems that the job was given to someone who had done an internship with them (rolls eyes). A good interview does not a job offer guarantee sadly.

Just remember though, OP, that you can always put a positive spin on even the worse feedback. You now know what you "did wrong" if anything so you can make good positive steps to ensure you don't do it again.

p.s. I've never been asked the question "what is your biggest weakness" - but I think I might be tempted to say something truthful but has nothing whatsoever to do with work. I'm really cr*p at playing most sports - thank goodness coxing only requires a quick brain and a loud voice.

Don't let it get to you. It's just a bump in the road - your final destination WILL be that new job.

InsideInsurance

melysion wrote: »

I'm really cräp at playing most sports - thank goodness coxing only requires a quick brain and a loud voice.

Unfortunately this will normally result the question being reworded to ask for a work related example

melysion

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Unfortunately this will normally result the question being reworded to ask for a work related example

Well, I've never been asked so pfft. God only knows what I'd say for a "work related" weakness though - the very question puts you on the back foot. I sure as hell wouldn't admit to my actual weakness.

Woolwich_Kim

Best way to build your confidence is to keep appying and going for interviews. If you're applying for similar jobs then chances are the questions will be similar and you will get better each time - practice makes perfect.

All interviews are good practice even if you don't want the job (You can always turn the job down).

cherryblossomzel

Re the "weaknesses" question: If possible I like to give something skills-based i.e. it can be fixed. "I don't have much experience with xyz software, but I'm using it at home/have done a short course", or something similar. Regarding personality flaws, I think as long as you can confidently say that you are working on the problem and have noticed an improvement. (I say I can be too impatient with people when I think they should know better, but to combat that I actually volunteered to train people at an old job, which really helped, I'm much better at explaining myself over and over again if necessary.)

I once heard of a guy who answered the weaknesses question by saying "kryptonite". Apparently he got the job. Wish I had the courage.:)