Interview nerves help

[Pixie]

I've got a job interview coming up next week but I get terribly nervous in interviews and either my mind goes totally blank or I waffle too much.

I've been prescribed beta blockers in the past to help with this but not sure that they did much good. I do all the right things like doing my research beforehand, setting my clothes out the night before, knowing exactly where I'm going and allowing plenty of time to get there.

Has anyone got any suggestions as to how I can get over these nerves? I really need a job!

[LooLoo]

Re: Interview nerves help

Calm and breath.

think about the questions they ask you and then reply just don't blurt out.

We have just interviewed 11 very nervous 19 - 25 year olds.

Just come accross as you.

Maybe have a glass of water and sip.

I know it is hard but you have to try to relax, interviewers know that people will be nervous and that is taken into account.

xx

[Pixie]

Re: Interview nerves help

Thanks looloo.
Very much appreciated xx

[HelpingHand]

Re: Interview nerves help

The best piece of practical interview advice I was given was to make sure you have a copy of your CV with you so that when they ask you questions about it you can look at the same information that they have in front of them.

Also, take a small notebook with a couple of questions written down that you might like to ask them. Even if they end up telling you everything, when they ask if you have any questions you could say I was going to ask about xyz but your information has been very comprehensive.

Lastly, remember that an interview is a two way street - you're interviewing them jsut as much as they are interviewing you. Once I managed to fully grasp this concept, interviews became less daunting for me.

[Angelic]

Re: Interview nerves help

Hey Pixie,

The best practical advice I think I was given was to always make sure your heels are clean as this is the last thing that the person doing the interview will see and there's no point looking smart and having polished shoes when your heels are dirty ;LOL (Apparently shows your attention to detail 2 )

What kind of job are you going for Pix?

xx

[Pixie]

Re: Interview nerves help

Hi HH and Angelic.

Sorry I've not said thank you to you both before but I don't really log on at the weekends now because my fella comes over.

I'm going for a teaching job and I'm pretty lucky to have been shortlisted as it's really difficult to get a teaching job at the moment.

It's a good point about the heels Angelic - I hope I always make sure they'r clean and polished but I'll double check in future!!

Teaching jobs are a bit odd HH as we don't apply by sending CVs; with us it's a supporting statement. Not sure if it would be practical to look through it in the interview as it's a couple of pages of font size 11 'essay'!

I'm already feeling nauseous at the thought of the interview - plus I have a 45 minute observed lesson to plan - in an age group that I don't have a great deal of experience with!

Oh well. Fingers crossed!

[Angelic]

Re: Interview nerves help

What age group are you doing a lesson plan for? What age of kids are you used to teaching?

I suppose you could use that to your advantage though...you're 'looking for a new challenge' k

[jen_br]

Re: Interview nerves help

I always take a clipboard to take notes.. but I always have notes written to.. like my highlights..things that I want others to know about me.

Even if you don't use the notes sometimes having them ust gives you security. As a chef when I go for interviews I always have a working element to it so I know what you mean about having a lesson plan.

What is the age group there is a lot of information online about teaching and what you need to teach for every age group.


Be confident.. evenif your not turn the interview around... why would you want THEM. sometimes I find it easier that way...

You will do great.

[Pixie]

Re: Interview nerves help

The observed lesson is for Reception children (4 year olds), I'm more used to teaching 7-11 year olds.

I know there's a lot of info online - I look on the Times Educational Supplement forum and Teacher's TV (yes, there is such a channel!) plus I know a few people who teach that age group.

I just get very nervous regardless of the age group. I've yet to get a teaching job through interview - the couple I've had I've got through my actual teaching.

Thanks guys. x

[findingaway]

Re: Interview nerves help

Hi Pixie, I can't offer any help really just wanted to say good luck.

When is your interview? All I can think of is reception children usually LOVE their teacher's (as so many m&d's hear miss says...lol) Sooo I think as long as you plan in something that will grab their attention & imagination you'll be fine.

Try & forget you're being observed if you can & just enjoy the situation, pretend to yourself you've already got your job & it's your first day so you'd be so enthusiastic wouldn't you?

Everything crossed for you

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Interview nerves help

I always take a clipboard to take notes.. but I always have notes written to.. like my highlights..things that I want others to know about me.

Bear in mind this action depends entirely on the role in question. For a practical job, such as normal office environment then this would almost guarantee in refusal - for a manual job, like chef/builder etc then I guess it'd do no harm but still only ever take notes if you feel they will be absolutely necessary....

I have interviewed many hundreds of people (ex jobcentre as well) and the one thing i'd always refuse for is taking notes, if two candidates arrived and one had notes and one never, who do you think i'd give the job to? ;Hmm

Point is, be careful - a lot of employers in this day and age want to see ability to retain information so a good memory is paramount, we can all refer to notes but that does down mark you in a high percentage of positions...

best of luck Pixie - fingers are crossed for you.... ;Qt

[SaltnVinegar]

Re: Interview nerves help

Hi Pixie

What i find is a good interview technique (especially if you are being interviewed by the person who would be your 'boss') is after answering their question is to almost throw it back on them.

For example if you're asked 'Why do you want to work here?' after you have given them the rehearsed answer you have say something like 'You've been working here for a while now, what in your opinion is the best thing about working here?'

If theres something in their answer you like or can relate to talk about it some more with some examples from your own experience.

The important thing is to get a dialogue going. The interview is a two way process, its as important for you to find out if its the right move for you as it is for them to find out if you're the right employee for them.

If you can make the time fly (and so the interview starts running over time) you know that you caught their interest.

Easy to say, but try not to be nervous, engage in some small talk on the way to the interview room (thats where you can find out how long your interviewee has been working there) and smile as you enter the interview room and meet the panel.

Very best of luck

SnV

[Pixie]

Re: Interview nerves help

I'm an absolute bloody nervous wreck now - I've just had a phone call inviting me to another interview on Thursday ;EEK No teaching in this one, but an half hour unseen task ;P-; and a 10 minute presentation and then the interview!!! Think I'll have to give the quiz a miss tomorrow night!

[Pixie]

Re: Interview nerves help

Back from first of the interviews - after waking up at 3.30 and not being able to get back to sleep.
I think I did ok but not good enough to get the job. It certainly wasn't the worst performance I've ever had at interview. Now to do some more preparation for tomorrow's interview, along with appointment at jobcentre to see what I'm doing to find work

[5corpio]

Re: Interview nerves help

Back from first of the interviews - after waking up at 3.30 and not being able to get back to sleep.
I think I did ok but not good enough to get the job. It certainly wasn't the worst performance I've ever had at interview. Now to do some more preparation for tomorrow's interview, along with appointment at jobcentre to see what I'm doing to find work

Good luck Pixie ;K7

Our JC, can't do much help for me (as its a specialist field i work in), the computer comes back with 'No'.....thats what i've been told, even tried to appling for random jobs working in a shop (comes back as 'No'...lol)...going to wait till next year now, just sent off 20 letters and cvs last night for part time xmas work in town to get me bye....retail market will struggle after xmas with the 20% Vat hike though, so going to look for a different career me thinks (like to get into the catering again but as Chef)...Just called a company this morning with reference 2 wks ago for an interview date as the diaries not been updated, even this morning the diaries not been updated with times yet....thats on the back burner (already been screened but failed the last 3 day exam by 2 questions to get in)....so hoping to pass this time around have had to wait a 3 month cooling period before applying for it though.......