Good luck to you job applicants, and MSK, congrats on your new job!
Congratulations on your job, MagicalSilverKey. I notice it has been close to a month since you started this thread. How is the new job going? Has the shift been as scary as you were told it might be? Good luck to you!
I was laid off from a factory job in March after working there almost 25 years, during which time I also completed my degree in psychology. I also gained some experience during that time working with developmentally disabled adults in a group home setting every other weekend for a year.
Now I am trying to break into the human services field and have had several interviews. No matter how much I practice mock interviews and go over lists of possible questions, when I get to the actual interview, my mind seems to temporarily go blank.
The latest interview I had was for County Social Worker. To qualify, you have to take a two hour exam and get on a state-wide list. Then they call you if you score high enough, and are granted a panel interview. I was told to arrive a half-hour early to preview their list of questions. The panel consisted of three social worker supervisors and an affirmative action representative, who is there to make sure the other three don’t ask any unfair or illegal questions. I practiced ahead of time and felt fairly calm until I actually got in the room, and then I had at least three blank spots. I felt proud of myself that I didn’t have any really obvious emotional breakdown about this, but I really need to do better than this. They wrote to inform me that the job was given to someone with more experience, and I’m thinking probably someone who interviews better.
My back-up plan is this: I am taking an office technology class, where I am learning computer skills such as Excel, Word and Access. I will probably try working at temp places and get used to meeting lots of new office type people, and hopefully eventually secure a position as an office tech at a social service type agency. Eventually maybe something will open up within that agency, and in the meantime I will be paying my bills. Right now TAA is paying for my class because my job was sent to Indonesia.
Sorry to hi-jack your thread. It was interesting to read about the experience of other people in their job searches.
Spider Woman - You need to have a T-shirt made which says “My job went to Indonesia and all I got was this lousy T-shirt” 
I’m sorry to hear about you clutching during the interview. I’m usually pretty relaxed about it, try to be honest and upfront. If I start tensing up I’ll make a little joke about nerves and go on.
Good luck with your job search!
StG
Thank you, and good luck with yours.
I’m an RN with over 10 years experience who is currently job hunting. I thought I was well prepared, rehearsing in front of the mirror what I thought were just the right answers to Strentghs? Weaknesses? Experiences?
The question I had no reply for was…So, tell me about yourself. Total Blank. I think I replied, Well I’m …uhn… er… sane, stable and well-adjusted. Just awful… I still think I got the jog though. I’ve got a meeting scheduled with the nurse recruiter to discuss “salary requirements” and would only a $5,000 sign-on bonus be enough?
Wish me luck.
I haven’t been in a job interview in over 10 yrs, but I’ve found it useful to find out as much as I could about the company I was trying to get a job with.
Do something that will impress your potential employer.
Try this: “Can you touch your nose with your tongue?”
Or: I betcha mine is bigger than yours."
Perhaps you could ask a few riveting questions yourself.
“Is it further to work by bus?”
“Is that spinach on your teeth?..oh nevermind, that’s their natural color”
“You’re fat…does that mean your lazy too?”
oh ya…thats the stuff
Good luck, although I think you already got the job.
JimmyNipples, you so funny! Cheered me right up.
Joking aside, JimmyNipples, asking questions about the company/organisation seems to be one of the keys to success. I had about six or seven failed interviews until someone I knew from an employment service suggested that tactic. First interview after that, bingo.