I'm unable to get a got through normal interview

midimanuser

Hi, I don't seem able to get a job through an interview.

I get all kinds of excuses like :

I didn't look at the interviewer, there could be a team fit issue, or that I am all over the place etc..

These are not accurate, and they are normally just something to say back to the agency in order to justify their decision.

It is infuriating and confidence sapping, I feel like I am getting bullied by employers because they hold the upper hand in the process and I am unable to say what I would like to say.

I'm also in fear of turning the screw on the interviewer because I could ruin my chance of getting the job. But why should I make it easy for them to pull me apart, and ask questions about what I do in my personal life and/or past work experiences good or bad.

I don't tend to ask many questions as I'm fairly easy going and I'm not a needy employee. But maybe I need to change things.

I need to find some good questions to ask them. One of them was

[Question] Apart from my technical skills, is there anything else that you would like to me explain again, or are you aware of anything else that would prevent me from getting this job ?

How would you end it.

Thanks

elsien

I think you need to be a little more self-reflective than just dismissing the feedback out of hand. It is not usual to give feedback about an interviewee being all over the place, even as an excuse.

You are not being bullied and your comment about turning the screw on interviewers is just silly.
Is there anyone whose opinion you trust who could do a mock interview and see how it goes? You're obviously good on paper because you're getting the interviews so you need to translate that to interviews.
What roles are you applying for?

Blackpool_Saver

Having looked at your previous posts, do you think it is possible that your frustration with your work situation in general is coming over at these interviews?

midimanuser

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Having looked at your previous posts, do you think it is possible that your frustration with your work situation in general is coming over at these interviews?

I'm not in work and they may have been old posts. Past experiences may have tainted me. But I am currently doing everything I can to get a job to the point where I feel that I am getting P*ssed on.

I spent £20 in fuel and drove 120 miles yesterday only to be told that I seem disinterested and that I didn't look at one of the people interviewing over a video session properly.

midimanuser

elsien wrote: »

I think you need to be a little more self-reflective than just dismissing the feedback out of hand. It is not usual to give feedback about an interviewee being all over the place, even as an excuse.

You are not being bullied and your comment about turning the screw on interviewers is just silly.
Is there anyone whose opinion you trust who could do a mock interview and see how it goes? You're obviously good on paper because you're getting the interviews so you need to translate that to interviews.
What roles are you applying for?

These are IT technical positions that normally have a non technical IT manager and his main man questioning you.

Mock interviews don't really help unless you are catering for the normal type of interview questions.

One employer even asked me to sit a 2.5hr online exam in my own time for a role and then they never got back to me. I chased the HR department for feedback and they said that they would come back to me. But they never.

Friday1989

midimanuser wrote: »

I spent £20 in fuel and drove 120 miles yesterday only to be told that I seem disinterested and that I didn't look at one of the people interviewing over a video session properly.

Out of interest, are you disinterested? If you aren't excited about the potential job then unless you're an excellent actor it will come across. Equally, if you are passionate then they will be much more forgiving of anxiety, mistakes, being all over the place etc. I recently got offered a job (my perfect job in my top choice NHS Trust) even though the interview was awful. I panicked so badly I couldn't think of anything to say for the first two questions then couldn't stop speaking which led to me listing all the ways the world is different now compared to the 1980s (that wasn't the question at all) and then I fell over on the way out. When they rang to offer me the job I said I was surprised because it was a terrible interview and they agreed :rotfl: But they said they could see I knew my stuff and met all the criteria for the job. My point is, if you have the skills and experience, prepare for the interview and genuinely want the job for more reasons than you just need a job then you'll do well.

midimanuser wrote: »

But why should I make it easy for them to pull me apart, and ask questions about what I do in my personal life and/or past work experiences good or bad.

That's exactly what people normally get asked in interviews. They aren't trying to pull you apart but it is a test and, like any test, sometimes the questions are hard. Personal life questions are all about transferable skills and personable attributes. Asking about past challenging experiences or a time when things went wrong shows how you manage difficult situations and whether you learn and improve your practice as a result of experiences. Do you have have some examples of experiences which show your skills and experiences ready to speak about at interviews (e.g. Leading a project/team, managing professional conflict, working to deadlines etc)?

elsien

midimanuser wrote: »

These are IT technical positions that normally have a non technical IT manager and his main man questioning you.

Mock interviews don't really help unless you are catering for the normal type of interview questions.

One employer even asked me to sit a 2.5hr online exam in my own time for a role and then they never got back to me. I chased the HR department for feedback and they said that they would come back to me. But they never.

If the issue is how you are presenting yourself then it's no different to any other interviews.

lulu650

I was also going to ask how interested you were in the jobs you were being interviewed for and I also thought it was interesting that you want to think about the questions to ask them.

If you haven't got any questions to ask, perhaps because they've already been answered, maybe you could emphasise why you would be such a good addition to their workforce. This worked well for me with two jobs I really wanted and I must have sounded sycophantic with one when I said how the interview had left me feeling really excited with the job on offer and outlined my reasons. Apparently they thought this was "refreshing"

I know there are going to be interviews for jobs that don't always float your boat, but as long as you are going to learn something new and be paid for it, then think of them as stepping stones to something better in the future.

jobbingmusician

midimanuser wrote: »

I need to find some good questions to ask them. One of them was

[Question] Apart from my technical skills, is there anything else that you would like to me explain again, or are you aware of anything else that would prevent me from getting this job ?

How would you end it.

Thanks

I don't like the way you have phrased this question. Is this indicative of how you speak to interviewers? I always try to come across as slightly subservient (I mean, that's what they are paying you to be ) so would phrase this as

Apart from my technical skills, is there anything else that you would like to me elaborate on (or expand on/tell you more about)? Do you see any weakness in my application that I can explain further to you?

Your version - OK, I know written stuff is a bit different, but 'anything that you would like me to explain again' sounds really patronising to me....

In answer to your question, I often ask what they see as the biggest challenge and opportunity in the job, and then talk enthusiastically about how I would address the first and expand on the second.

Savvy_Sue

midimanuser wrote: »

I'm not in work and they may have been old posts. Past experiences may have tainted me. But I am currently doing everything I can to get a job to the point where I feel that I am getting P*ssed on.

It's not personal. They've invited you for interview, so they must have seen something they like. But if you come across face to face as having a persecution complex, it will show through.

midimanuser wrote: »

I spent £20 in fuel and drove 120 miles yesterday only to be told that I seem disinterested and that I didn't look at one of the people interviewing over a video session properly.

that's actually quite helpful feedback. Next interview, whether it's face to face or by video, try to make eye contact with everyone on the panel at regular intervals. OK, so A asks a question, and you want to direct your answer to them, but ALSO look around and include B and C in your answer as well. While it's harder when not in the same room, if that's something which often features in your field, work on it!

BrassicWoman

In just the few things you have written here, you sound like you think you're better than the interviewers, and they are all stupid.


So that's going to be a problem.