I have a job interview tomorrow. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I got the call on Friday morning that this environmental consulting firm wanted to arrange an interview for a staff scientist/geologist position.
I go tomorrow at 11 am. I have been waiting for this for so long, a job that I actually will get to use the education I worked so hard for. YAY!!
I have been “practicing” interview questions with my husband- how to answer those pesky questions like “tell me about yourself” and “what makes you the best person for the job” etc.
I am so nervous, I am afraid of becoming tongue-tied :eek: during the interview. What is the best way to relax before an interview? How can I be less fidgety? Any other tips that may be useful for making it through an interview?
I’ve done more than my fair share of hiring. Take that for what it’s worth.
Relax.
Nothing is more distracting in an interviewee than someone who’s completely nervous and jittery. It gives off that ‘desperate’ glow and turns off the interviewer.
Instead try to be relaxed and confident. Do you know your stuff? Then fine…there’s no reason you shouldn’t be confident.
I had a professor (Elly Burkett of ‘The Baby Boon’ fame) who used to recommend to her students with large amounts of test anxiety that they have a beer an hour before a test. Not enough to screw you up but enough to help relax.
I’m not saying YOU should do that…but the priniple applies. Relax.
I find that a workout the morning of a job interview does a good job of de-jittering me. Not such an intense workout that I’m left shaking after, but enough to work off the nervous energy.
And try not to rehearse too much in your head before going in… I practiced stuff over and over once, and I sounded like a robot answering questions!
Good luck - let us know how it goes!
I think I will try and meditate for a bit in the morning to try and focus myself. That seems to help some, if not I will take half of one of my low dose (25mg) Xanax pills. I generally do not take them unless it is absolutely necessary (i.e., getting on an airplane, going to a funeral etc…) to take the edge off.
I do know my stuff, but I have not been rehearsing “the perfect answer” but just the basic points of what I would want to say which is way better than a rehearsed answer. I have this “issue” of speaking in front of groups of people, and I am afraid that my nervousness will “show” through my voice if not through my face. ::sigh::
I have been trying to think of ways to have good “eye contact” without staring right at thier eyes- as that gets kind of unconfortable for both parties. Is looking right above or below thier eyes a good idea?
I think I will take a long soak in the hot tub tonight, meditate, and then tomorrow, try to be me (but less neurotic ).
This is all good advice, but one more thing: listen. Don’t be so hung up reviewing your rehearsed answer that you miss the intent of the question.
I don’t know if other people do this, but in Silicon Valley giving little quizzes to candidates is very popular. Not much you can do to prepare for that, except not to fake an answer you don’t know. This was not allowed in the part of Bell Labs where I worked, and I think it is bogus, but it does happen.
What interviewers are supposed to do is to ask an open ended question. Be ready to tell a story about something you did that shows your excellent qualitications. For instance, instead of just saying you are creative, give an example of a project where you came up with a creative solution.
Interviewing is like acting - in fact actors are great interviewees because they audition so much. Don’t worry about not liking to speak to a crowd since this is an audience of one, but try to keep your energy level high.
All good advice. I’d say: Keep in mind this is a team effort. They’ve obviously decided you look like a decent enough fit and you just have to HELP them see how incredibly awesome you are. Work with the interviewer.
Thanks for all of the advice! I am feeling abit more relaxed about it. I am going to make sure I try and get enough sleep and not to worry so much.
You’re right, GMR, if they weren’t interested, they would not have called. I have just been overly neurotic. Ill let y’all know tomorrow how it went
I think it’s still the 11 o’clock hour in her time zone, so that might be expecting a little too much SDMB dedication. But let us know when you hear, LVGeoGeek!
You are absolutely correct… I was still knee deep in the interview
hahahaha… too much SDMB dedication?.. is there such a thing
Nope just the right amount and plus a bonus… Mel Brooks *History of the World * was on this morning… That helped take the edge off of being nervous
I was a bit nervous at first, but that feeling went away almost immediatly. The people were really nice… and cool too! I think the interview went very well and I never got “the look” of having said something that they didn’t like or whathave you, In fact they seemed fairlyinpressed with the amount of experience I had- even before I got my degree and with what I had done since The fact that I am a co-author on a published abstract for GSA (Geological Society of America) didn’t hurt either.
The HR person said they have two more interviews this week (oh :eek: no) and they would be making a decision sometime early next week. (insert nervous smiley here)
[inner monologue] *I hope all the other candidates are a bunch a idiots who have no work experience whatsoever… * [/inner monologue]
I had an interview this morning, too!
They were very nice and kept me from being too nervous, but this chick was a straight-up poker face. Usually I can tell during the interview if they’ll offer it to you, but this time, UGH I got nuthin.
Then they called me 2 hours later to tell me I have it. And I start tomorrow.
).
