Need help to get ready for interviewSo next week I am interviewing for a position with an amazing company. I never thought I had a chance of landing that interview. Now, I'm completely freaking out. I am usually pretty good about maintaining composure in these situations, but I've been trying to score an interview with them for 2 years. I had just decided to give up trying, and here it is. Now, I've been to many interviews, but am yet to receive the right offer. With this company, I don't even care how much they pay me or how good their benefits are (although, I hear they are good). I just REALLY want to work there. And I'm afraid that I'll screw it up. It seems like the less enthusiastic I am about the position, the more likely I am to receive an offer. Whenever I'm really excited about the position and/or the company, that's when I seem to have trouble remaining in the running, probably because that's when my nerves take over. What can I do to make sure I don't blow this? I am going through a career change. I am very passionate about the industry, and this company is the industry leader. I am freaking out because I've never done this type of work before (even though I've had other jobs that provided me with the qualifications they are looking for, and this is an entry-level position so they probably expect that the new hire will need some amount of training), because they are a huge company with no doubt a lot of qualified applicants, because I don't know how to convince them to pick me over someone who already has industry experience. Like I said, even though I applied to this position, I never actually believed they would call and was absolutely shocked when they did. I'm glad I let the call go to VM because I probably would not have been able to hide my surprise had I actually answered the phone. Are there any suggestions on what I should do to prepare to interview for a position many more qualified people probably want with a company I'm crazy about? I just know my nerves are going to get the best of me.
I should probably mention that this is an HR interview, and I absolutely dread them. I never know what types of questions to ask HR, and the interviewers are next to impossible to read. The person who is going to interview me sounded kind of ditsy over the phone, but that doesn't mean the interview will be easy. These are usually the worst interviews for me. Any advice on what I can do to increase my chances of moving on to the 2nd round?
Hi LJ Planning to switch careers? Get the ball rolling on this exhilarating yet daunting process with these strategies. Goingfor a new career? Learn how to use your resume to pinpoint andhighlight the skills you have to help land the job you want. Planning to switch careers? Get the ball rolling on this exhilarating yet daunting process with these strategies. Hope these help! Best of Luck! MCCathy Community Moderator Monster Stay focused on your own words I am going through a career change. I am very passionate about the industry, and this company is the industry leader because this is your strength. My suggestions. 1. Read up on the company. Website, annual report, google search. The more you know the easier it will be for the conversation (interview) to be natural. 2. Network. If you don't know anyone on the inside, ask around on professional listservs 3. Practice interviewing. Even if you are a good interviewer, start reheasing (not memorizing) standard questions. Why do you want this job, strengths and weaknesses, where do you want to be in 5 yrs (the pap of an HR interview). 4. Your task is always the same: Tell em that you have done it, tell them how you can do it for them, and tell them that you fit in their company. Can Do, Will Do, How Fit. Good luck
Get some exercise prior to the interview and avoid caffeine. You don't want to sound TOO passionate. Good luck. Sounds like an exciting opportunity.
You may ask HR about the company, advancement opportunities, the history of the position, etc. Don't ask questions just for the sake of asking questions, ask only about things that really interest you (i.e. don't ask about a recent acquisition if it has no bearing on the position you're applying for just to demonstrate that you know about it). Just because it's HR, don't assume you need to stick to textbook questions. Don't be afraid to ask for personal opinion where appropriate. What does he/she like the most about the company culture? What attracted them personally to this company? Does he/she have any advice that would improve your chances of getting this job? The HR manager who interviewed me for my current job a couple of months ago gave the following answer to this last question, "I'm going to recommend you for the 2nd interview, but your answers need to be about 2/3 shorter". Most of the time you won't get a frank answer like that, but we established good chemistry during the interview and joked around a little, so the interviewer felt comfortable enough to be honest. The advice helped. This person's job is to look for reasons to screen you out. There are 2 ways you can handle this. One, you can be extra careful and make sure you don't give them a single reason to screen you out. Or two, you can give them a compelling reason NOT to screen you out. Since noone is perfect, option 2 is easier. Focus on your passion for the industry, your long term goals, and transferrable skills you bring to the position. Best of luck 1. Breathe. Yes, that's right, breathe. Many people, when excited or anxious, forget to breathe. Breathe from your diaphragm, not your upper abdomen. 2. Do not answer every question instantaneously, off the top of your head. Take a moment to let the interviewer's question register, then answer the question that was asked, not the one you thought would be asked, nor the one you wanted to be asked. 3. Speak naturally, but try to not speak too quickly. This is one of my main interview weaknesses; when I am eager about a job, I get all excited and start speaking too quickly. I have had to make a big effort to slow down--what to me seems slow is really "nomally paced" speech. 4. BE YOURSELF. This is one of the things I think sinks people. They try to be more sophisticated, more eloquent, more enthusiastic, more humorous, etc. than they really are. This is not to say "be a stiff"; on the contrary, try to relax without appearing slack, and professional without appearing rigid. Be honest & straightforward.
Thanks, the articles were helpful.
Thanks. I usually interview well, as long as the interview is with the hiring manager. Never had a bad interview with a hiring manager. Most of the interviews where I met with the hiring manager first have ended with an offer. However, the larger companies usually require that you go through HR first, which is what's happening in this case. This is where I usually get stuck. For some reason, my interviews with HR never go well. I think part of the reason is that I never know what to say to HR. Most of the questions are Interviewing 101, and I suspect that most applicants give very similar answers to these questions just because the questions are so standard and are covered in every interview books. I guess I just don't understand what would make a candidate stand out in such setting. Then, when the time comes to ask my questions, I never know what to ask HR. Most questions I have are about specific details of the job, about the department, the management style, you know, the types of things you'd ask a hiring manager, not HR. I don't want to say that I have no questions because I don't want them to think I don't care, so I find myself reluctantly repeating textbook questions like "What do you look for in a candidate?", which is a fine question to ask a hiring manager, but when addressed to HR it usually prompts them to read me the job description I've already read myself. Or something about the company culture, which usually leads to the interviewer reciting some lines from the company website proclaiming how great this company is. All the while, I feel like we are both participating in a play where all lines have been memorized and rehearsed to death, everyone is following the script, and each participant already knows what line comes next. The whole thing just feels like an empty formality and a huge waste of time to me. Despite all the interview articles I've read and the interviews I've gone through, I still have no idea how to talk to HR. Just talking about it now has gotten me down. Oh well, I guess I'll just do my research and go with the flow. Thanks for the advice.
Yeh, I've found exercising prior to the interview helpful too. Helps me clear my head and focus. | |
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