Hi yall after being on disability income for years and job searching for months I finally got to step two of the job search process: a job interview.

I am wondering if anyone had any tips for the job interview process? I am very nervous.

  • Snart@beehaw.org
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    3 years ago

    Clean up, dress traditionally, get there extra early so you have time to familiarize yourself with the location and decompress (breathing, stretching in the parking lot, etc.), and get into the building early to wait ~10-15 minutes before your interview is set to start. Do not bad mouth ANYTHING, be optimistic and portray yourself as an obedient worker but a free thinker. Make sure you drink lots of water the day before and eat before you go, try not to overcaffeinate. You can message me if you need hyping up or more information :>

  • LucyLastic@beehaw.org
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    3 years ago

    It depends on where you are and what sort of job you’re applying for as to what constitutes good advice.

    If you’re nervous, are there any things that you can do which would help you feel in control? Some people meditate, some drink a bit of herbal tea, some listen to a particular type of music. Some might get a friend to take them through an interview roleplay, though you really need a friend who actually understands interviews for that to work.

    The main thing to remember is that if it doesn’t go well the world won’t stop spinning … there will be other jobs, other interviews, and practice really helps!

  • molls@beehaw.org
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    3 years ago

    Being nervous is super super normal, I was downright terrified for some of my first interviews. The good news is that they tend to get easier over time as you practice! If you can get a fake practice interview in before the real one, even better. Recruit someone trusted who can ‘pretend’ to be a stranger and really grill you so you’re ready for the real deal. This is a good time to try out your prepared responses to the most typical interview questions.

    Ahead of any interview, you should do research on the company/industry and come with some specific, meaningful questions. Some all-purpose questions I really like include asking about what your training period will look like, what success metrics/performance indicators look like for the position at 3/6/12 months. That tells the employer you’re forward thinking, goal-oriented, and want to be successful.

    As far as dealing with pre-interview jitters, if I can I like to do as many push-ups as I can. This may or may not work depending on where the interview is (easier at home for a remote call) or your physical ability. Just try do something that requires all of your bodily will and mental concentration as a nice hard-reset. Plus, endorphins feel great!

    No matter how well the interview goes, take it as a learning experience and be proud of yourself for getting it done. If I’m job hunting, I’ll even take interviews for positions I know I don’t want just to be able to get practice. Good luck!

  • Gray@lemmy.ca
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    3 years ago

    It really depends on your field of work, but if it touches customer service (or even is just a job that will involve socializing with peers) at all then I think my biggest advice is to just be very friendly and approachable. Practice your regular conversational skills.

  • Biotic@beehaw.org
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    3 years ago

    Have a glass of water at the ready. It always helps to soothe my nerves and if I get stuck on answering a question, taking a sip gives me time to think things through. It’s also practical because if you’re doing most of the talking you’ll end up with a dry mouth and no one wants to croak during an interview. All this applies for both video call interviews or on site, in which case ask for a glass of water before you start the interview.

  • TheCalzoneMan@beehaw.org
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    3 years ago

    Assuming this is a corporate job, come up with a couple questions for your interviewer. Get them talking about the company and they’ll remember you as a good listener. My usual go-to questions are:

    • “What’s the company culture like?”

    • “What aspect of the company do you see as the most enjoyable?”

    • “Why did you chose to work for the company, and what’s made you stay?”

    Questions like that. Try to make it personal and specific, since it’s usually the hiring manager that you’re interviewing with. You can write them down and bring them with you; as long as you’re bringing multiple copies of your resume, you can stash the questions at the bottom of the stack.

    If it isn’t a corporate position, then it depends. I can’t answer for those since I’ve only done labor and corporate, so I don’t now how to interview for technical or artistic positions. I would assume make sure you have your portfolio on hand, though be careful about doing on-site consultations since you would be giving them designs for free and they have no obligation to hire you after that. If they try to do that to you, do not continue the interview with them. Just thank them for their time and leave.

  • BricksDont@beehaw.org
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    3 years ago

    Look up popular interview questions ahead of time and think of ways to answer them, then practice giving the answers! You really can’t practice enough- the more you do it, the more confident and prepared you’ll be in the moment. Bring a copy or two of your resume, and paper to write notes on. At the top of your paper, list some of your accomplishments (to remind yourself if you blank in the moment).

    When answering questions, be direct and give concrete examples whenever possible. Try not to ramble on or talk around the question.

    If it’s in person, get there a little early so you’re not rushing in with sweat dripping down your brow lol. If it’s online, login 5 minutes early to make sure the technology is working. Wear something professional (what this looks like will vary by job, but generally nothing too revealing or casual, like a t shirt and sneakers).

    Remember that you are there to evaluate them just as much as they are evaluating you! Show that you’re interested by looking into the company a bit beforehand, mentioning what you appreciate about their company values (or whatever), and having questions at the ready for the interviewers.

    Read www.askamanager.org! SO many amazing tips on not only interviewing but lots of other work related stuff!

    Good luck!