Job Interview Today [Archive]

Opti

11-05-2007, 03:26 AM

I have made the decision to move on from my current employer. I have a job interview today which is a similar role but with a different company, but with a greater degree of autonomy and larger salary. *

To be honest I am petrified of failing the interview *:scared: . I have experience of being the interviewer, but have only been the interviewee on 1 occasion. I more or less know what the potential questions could be and have been preparing answers & examples, however due to my work schedule over the past few days and short notice of the interview ..I haven't prepared enough ...

My main concern is that I will be thrown a question and I wont be able to react quickly enough with the answer.. which will make me come across as a slow thinker... When really my struggle is expressing myself verbally...

I am also concerned about the 'why do you want to work for this company' question, as I am actually going from a successful growing company, to one which is operating at a loss .... Not the wises of moves!

2.5 hours and counting....

vulcan

11-05-2007, 03:28 AM

Meditate.

Exercise.

Relax.

Or put on the ENTJ mask. I do it for every interview.

qwerty

11-05-2007, 03:41 AM

so how'd you go?

Hate interviews too. I much prefer word of month job offers and fortunately I've managed to do that successfully due to reputation. My average interview goes along the lines of -
Them:Hi
Me:Hi, I'm qwerty
Them: Do you have your paperwork?
Me:Yep
Them: Here's the contract
Me: Ok [qwerty reads contract and if qwerty likes then qwerty signs - they photocopy relevant forms - shake hands]
Them: You start on [insert day].

Or better still - can you do this we'll pay you $$$ for 2 months work - How many days a week? - 2 - Sweet - Shake hands

TruorTupnm

11-05-2007, 03:42 AM

Yikes! Ack! I am horrible at interviews. I have had many and haven't gotten much better. Argh. Is there a horrible interview thread about? I didn't think that the interviews that have gotten jobs for me have gone very well compared to others, so I haven't learned much. Garn. Mayhaps I just ran into very different interviewers or more desperate places. oh well.

Advice for the question that you were worried about (even though I don't know the anything about it) ---> "This company happens to have some pretty achingly impressive potentials." "It is my ideal job." "Seems reliable." "Ah, I enjoy a good challenge?" ::)

For questions that you weren't prepared for, well, I love the ones that make no sense and are merely there to trip you up ("Quick! What's your favorite tree?" "Do what? Ah, oh, the baobab, as a matter of course! So unique! Also, it's fun ta say?"), but for more practical ones ---> Have a mantra for many occasions to spout while thinking about it. "I am achingly reliable. I have all kinds of experience is this field. I am a workaholic." Or whatever fits.

thegnat

11-05-2007, 09:39 AM

Personally I don't try to make answers and practice them before hand with interviews. Maybe make ideas of certain things you want them to know. It makes me sound more natural. Ask *them* a question or two, they love that. And just relax. Hopefully they do some sort of ice-breaker.

mind_wander

11-05-2007, 11:07 AM

yeah, for me interviewee is not my think. yes, turn on your ENTJ hat. It does work, come on; you are with one on one, not one on 5 people. Then, ok INTJ go back to the silent shell.

For me:
Me: Hi, how you doing?
Interviewer: Fine thanx, so talk about yourself?
Me: Well, I am a hardworker, quick learner, willing to help out whenever I can, multi-tasking, persistent...[These are the things that pop into my head].
Interviewer: So where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Me: Graduating with an BAS degree, then find a job like this one, and hopefully to take courses for Masters degree, able to travel around the world .
Interviewer: What are your weakness and strengths?
[b]Me: My weakness is math, but I will always try to improve on those faults. As for strengths, like to solve problems and try to find a way to fix it.
Interviewer: What can you bring into this organization?
Me: I am a friendly person, try to stay positive, etc. [This one can freeze you, because you can bring something and fail too].

The flow should be natural, but always try to use great examples, because INTJ might tend to be descriptive and bore the interviewer.

Opti

11-05-2007, 05:42 PM

Hi All,

Well thanks for the advice. The interview was very easy, even though I was nervous. The interviewer spent the end 3/4 of the interview trying to convince me to take the position.... He must have been either A: Very Impressed or B: Desperate ... The salary however wasn't as good as I expected or hoped... I got him to up his second offer by 3 & 1/2k, he is going to see what more he can do and phone me... But the postition is there for me if I want it...

It was a good confidence boost ...

mind_wander

11-06-2007, 12:06 PM

Yeah, i know you can do it. Try to go with the flow, sometimes thats what I do. Think positive on how you wanted it approach and importantly be you. Well close to the real you because once your in the door, then slowly share your INTJness to other people who you like to hang out with :) Just my advice, after graduating, I will be in the same position, but I am not great with negotiating salary prices, darn need to work on that. So can you help me give advice for negotiating salary prices, since I give you an advice.

wise

11-06-2007, 12:21 PM

Best wishes to you on a successful interview.

mind_wander

11-06-2007, 12:23 PM

Best wishes to you on a successful interview.
Thank you, I don't think should worry about it all that much. Just certain questions being asked. But, I will be honest about those questions being asked to me.

Opti

11-06-2007, 01:03 PM

GOD

11-06-2007, 02:12 PM

Saw today that if you earn more than $40k in the US then you are in the top half of earners...

I thought it would be more...

mind_wander

11-06-2007, 10:28 PM

Mind, I don't think I am the best person to advise on negotiating salary, as it is the first time I have done it. *My bargaining power is that I am already with a successful company and it would take a good increase for me to move.. I didnt even mention a figure ... I just looked disinterested (not hard to do) in his offers and kept referring to my experience & current company .... I am going to accept the position if he offers another 2k (he is definately not an INTJ so hopefully shouldnt be reading this ;D)

yeah, u really don't want to talk about the salary negotiations on your interview; its a test to see, if you only care for the money or the job. That is what I mean, yeah I see what your saying. If you looked disinterested in it, that means hey, "when can I start?"

xtremegeek

11-11-2007, 11:34 AM

I dislike interviews too. I pretty much know the questions which will be asked. I easily navigate through the interview, but when it's over, I feel like the life was sucked out of me and I need a day or two to recoup. And I always undersell myself with regards to salary. So, I've taken to letting headhunters do the work for me. This limits where I can do projects because not all hospitals are willing to pay a headhunting fee, but the ones that do, at least I know they are serious about the project they need completed and I've secured a fair market wage without having to do the negotiation.

Good luck to you Opti!

generalowk

11-11-2007, 12:16 PM

I've had many interviews, some conducted quite well and some absolutely wretched. The older I get, the more I'm convinced that you should be yourself, and not "put on the ENTJ hat" so to speak. Depending on the personality of your interviewers, yes, be ready to make some small talk, but don't pretend to be someone you aren't. It's good that we don't get every job we interview for. Some will be a bad fit, for both parties. Remember, a job interview goes both ways: You are interviewing your prospective employer as well.

But congrats on your new job!