So, I just had my first significant interview.

[DonkeyKongerko]

Tips I've used in no particular order:

 

Maintain good posture and eye contact

Dress to impress, even if they say dress is casual

Research the company beforehand and prepare questions

Be prepared to talk about anything on your resume

Sell yourself but don't lie (this is hard for me)

Talk to the interviewer about his/her job if they're not just in HR

Talk yourself through difficult questions aloud

Show genuine enthusiasm about getting the job (also hard for me)

Find out when to expect a response a call if you don't get one

 

I have my first second-round interview ever next month. From what I've heard, the first level guys are usually the easiest on you during the process.

[Chisoxfn]

And I think I blew it.  I went through possible questions I would be asked last night, but I didn't practice my answers out-loud.  This was a mistake.  I came off far less eloquent and articulate than I actually am.  There were several 'ums' and 'uhs' that I was telling myself to avoid beforehand.  One question came completely out of the blue and caught me off guard.  I probably stalled for 6 or 7 seconds before I started an answer to that one.  The sad part is that I genuinely wanted this job.  I'm feeling pretty depressed right now, just needed to vent.

 

Do any of you have advice or your own stories about the interviewing process?

I've been going through internship interviews right now. Had one yesterday and just got called back an was invited to the inhouse next week, which is typically the final process. Its from 3 till 9:30 so I'm sure they will be evaluating the skills you can work in group, plus a few more interviews.

 

I wouldn't worry too much. My approach to interviews is different then a lot of other people. Typically people focus a lot on the behavioral questions and try and memorize there responses. I simply come up with a few examples because typically you can use those to answer a lot of other questions. Even then I don't focus much on that.

 

I try to be polite, take note in what they say, because typically the interviewer will tell you a bit about themselves to start and its important to have good questions at the end of the interview. I usually base one or two of them off there experience. You also can look around there office and see if you can notice some things of common interest.

 

Also I wouldn't worry about 6 or 7 seconds of silence. If someone asks you a question you may have to calmly think of a good response and there is nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't worry to much. The key is just go in and be calm. Make sure you get there early enough so you aren't rushed (because then your way more likely to be nervous) and specifically what I do is just take some real long deep breaths while waiting outside the office just to get myself real calm.

 

Hopefully you get the job

 

Oh ya, and after the interview ask for there business card if you dont' have it and make sure you send them a short thank you. This is the part I'm absolutely worse at. I am so bad at getting stuff like this out.

[Texsox]

Some real good advice being shared around in this thread, I've definitely taken something out of it.

 

My two cents. As it's been pointed out, practise makes perfect.

Any tips on spelling and making a professional appearance??

[3E8]

I was going to send them a thank you, but before I could they e-mailed me with a regret to inform me that I did not get the job. LOL

[southsider2k5]

I was going to send them a thank you, but before I could they e-mailed me with a regret to inform me that I did not get the job.  LOL

Still send a thank you.

[Middle Buffalo]

Consider, also, that you might simply not be who the company is looking to hire at that particular time. Not getting the job might not be a reflection of how well you interviewed, but you may simply lack some experience/skills that another prospect has.

 

I've interviewed unsuccessfully for two jobs that I really wanted. I thought I did well on both interviews. Knew the companies, dressed well, didn't feel particularly nervous, etc.

 

One job (postal inspector) was mainly hiring candidates who had law enforcement backgrounds at the time that I interviewed with them (I found this out after the interview from an inspector that I know). I don't have that. I met all the other criteria, though. Just the wrong guy at the time. I actually was flown out to San Francisco by the Inspection Service for the interview/assessment. The assessment was a series of exercises (done individually and with a group of other prospects). I know I did well because I reviewed my answers, etc. with some of the other candidates after the fact. I called my wife after the interview and said that I thought for sure I would get to the next level of the process. The only part of the assessment that I didn't nail was a mock interview of a suspect. I wasn't able to get enough info from the suspect, but I did get quite a bit. However, a guy I hung out with later that night said he got absolutely zero cooperation from the "suspect" because he used a tough guy approach to interview her. The suspect wouldn't even tell him her name. And this took place in front of five people grading the exercise. He was a correctional officer. He got the job.

 

The most recent interview I failed, I knew I had very little chance of getting, but gave it my best anyway. I interviewed for a local fire department. 1800 people took the test. 300 or so were interviewed. They were looking to hire a dozen or so people. I knew going in that I lacked experience, and I lacked relatives on the fire department. I was totally prepared for the interview, though. I did mock interviews with my wife, and got to where I sounded pretty smooth. I think I figured out 3 of the 5 questions that they ended up asking me. One of the other questions was where I got my work ethic from (not too difficult to come up with something for that). It really felt pretty conversational. I didn't get the job, but like I said, I don't really think I had much of a chance going in.

 

Anyway, you won't always get the job, but the interview experience is really good. Next time, definitely practice out loud (preferably with someone). It helps to hear how your answers sound. Research. Try to figure out what you might be asked. Relax. Try to show them who you are. It's not easy in a ten minute sit-down, but if you do things like maintan eye contact, thank them at the end, etc. you'll show them that you at least care enough to fake.

[kapkomet]

Wow MB, it took you 9 months to get to this thread?

 

LMAO.

[3E8]

Haha, I remember making this thread a long time ago. Since then I've had about a dozen interviews and fortunately a job in line after graduation.

 

The interview process becomes so much easier the more you go through with it. I sat down for several interviews of jobs I didn't want just for the practice.

[DBAHO]

Freaky. I was reading this thread before I had a job interview today, and I come back and it's been bumped.

 

Hopefully I get it. I think they were impressed with my skills and it fits the vacation job I'm going for. Helps that my sister works at the place though.

[SnB]

Helps that my sister works at the place though. 

everyone and their damn connections

[DBAHO]

everyone and their damn connections

Better start gettin some them.

[southsider2k5]

everyone and their damn connections

 

I guess that means you don't want to me to ask about internships up here...