The Last Poster Wins! [v21]

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Parents: STUDY AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK!
Me: Mkay
Me: *gets back to dorm* *proceeds to not study*

FIGHT THE SYSTEM! *raises fist*

[Noblejanobii]

FIGHT THE SYSTEM! *raises fist*

I always do this. It's the reason I have to get an 80 on my final to get a B.

[Neo Emolga]

Parents: STUDY AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK!
Me: Mkay
Me: *gets back to dorm* *proceeds to not study*

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[Pokemon Trainer Sarah]

sufjsfsdhfsbdfjsd!!!!!!!

so i applied for a research position in my field, kinda for fun tbh, and i got shortlisted for an interview. o_o

i didnt think there was any way this would happen and now i am really scared.

i've never even had a job interview before.

its super competitive so i prob won't get it anyway but i am happy but terrified about this. ahhhh.

it's a 60 minute interview. what even.

*cries*

[Neo Emolga]

sufjsfsdhfsbdfjsd!!!!!!!

so i applied for a research position in my field, kinda for fun tbh, and i got shortlisted for an interview. o_o

i didnt think there was any way this would happen and now i am really scared.

i've never even had a job interview before.

its super competitive so i prob won't get it anyway but i am happy but terrified about this. ahhhh.

it's a 60 minute interview. what even.

*cries*

Urf, I've been on so many job interviews it's insane. I've had great ones, crappy ones, and just about everything in between.

I wish I even knew what to say what works best, but I'll be honest, it depends a lot on the interviewer. I dress in formal attire, have a folder with prepared questions to ask the interviewer(s), and I take quick notes during the interview (It also helps avoid the too much eye contact issue where it starts to feel like you're trying to gaze into their soul). I feel taking quick notes helps show you have a genuine interest in the position and it also helps as reference when you write your thank you for the interview letter (make sure you get their business card or at least their email!).

If they offer you a drink, take it. It may sound silly, but the psychology behind it says typically people appreciate it if you take their offer and appreciate their generosity. Not to mention you may be talking a lot when you explain your background and experience. That could make your throat a bit dry, so sipping some water in between the back and forward conversation sessions helps.

I typically ask these kinds of questions, usually in this order. The recipe calls for two position-specific questions, two company specific questions, and finishing it up with a rapport-building question:

Position specific: What would you say is the best way for a candidate to succeed in this position?
Follow up by mentioning things you've done that match what they tell you.

Position specific: What are three qualities you're looking for in a candidate?
Link those qualities to yourself and give examples.

Company specific: What do you enjoy the most about working here at <company>?
Usually, nine times out of ten, they mention how they like working with the team. Mention any kind of great team-based presentations or work teams you've been a part of and explain how you enjoy working with people (it's okay if it's not always true! You enjoy working with us and we're people! XD).

Company specific: Where do you see <company> in the next five or ten years?
This shows you have a genuine interest in the future of the company or firm and it shows you're a person who prepares for and anticipates change.

Rapport building: What are some of the things you and the team enjoy doing outside of work? Do you do team-building exercises or volunteer projects? And what are some of the things you personally enjoy doing in your free time?
This, to me, feels like the best way to really connect with the person and find things you both enjoy and can talk about. Sure, you may have only just met, but if you find the person watches the same TV series as you or does a physical activity, sport, camping, or anything along those lines and you do that too, you can talk about that and finish up the interview on a nice, sweet note about something you both enjoy. That way, you both connect. I find this would help make you a more memorable candidate in a positive way and it shows you're out to connect with them.


And that's pretty much the deal on how I handle an interview. Usually it works pretty well, but I can't say it has a perfect score for everything. Lately and many times before, I have missed getting offers by silly, stupid, marginal amounts and because of things totally out of my power, so I'm not sure what to say about that, especially considering I've been out of work for almost a year now (and it does bum me out a lot :\). I'm not giving up, though, but it is a struggle in this job market.

Still, best of luck on your interview! Hope it all goes well. :3

[Noblejanobii]

This would have been helpful before my MUN interview.

[Neo Emolga]

This would have been helpful before my MUN interview.

Well, I can't say I'm an interviewing master. If I got a job offer after every interview, maybe then I could say I have the credentials to teach others the best way to do things, but eh, I can't. I've just been on a lot of them and what I have here is mainly created based off of what I find works with past experiences and what online interviewing guides have said work well. But at this point, I'm beginning to feel the only reason why I haven't gotten offers is just raw, bad luck.

I'm not sure these kinds of questions would fit for a MUN interview either. I'm not sure how that whole process works, but it could be very different.

[Noblejanobii]

Well, I can't say I'm an interviewing master. If I got a job offer after every interview, maybe then I could say I have the credentials to teach others the best way to do things, but eh, I can't. I've just been on a lot of them and what I have here is mainly created based off of what I find works with past experiences and what online interviewing guides have said work well. But at this point, I'm beginning to feel the only reason why I haven't gotten offers is just raw, bad luck.

I'm not sure these kinds of questions would fit for a MUN interview either. I'm not sure how that whole process works, but it could be very different.

Not all of the questions are the same but about half were.

[Neo Emolga]

Not all of the questions are the same but about half were.

Yeah, this batch is what I usually use for office and desk jobs. From what I've read, a standard interview is really only supposed to last about forty minutes, but obviously this varies on several things (having more than one interviewer definitely tacks on more time). I've timed it and that's about how long it takes for me to answer the interviewer's questions and how long it takes for them to answer my questions.

As I realized this morning, yep, it's just as I suspected. December is a heck of a dry spell for new jobs and new hires. I'm definitely going to at least try, but I have a funny feeling nothing's going to happen until 2017.