Because of the local government pay reform I am due to have my meagre salary cut by more than I can afford especially with daughter no. 2 off to university next year.
In a fit of pique at the injustice of it all I applied for another job beyond my current capabilities with a salary that reflects the weight of responsibility the position requires.
Once upon a time I could have done it and I do have the necessary qualifications, but it's ssssssoooooooooooooooooooo lllllooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg since I did any real grown up private sector work and I haven't really kept up with any professional developments along the way.
Anyway they've only gone and invited me to interview (bastards). Part of me thinks that they probably have someone already lined up and are only following current HR law by interviewing a few hopeless cases, and part of me really wants to give it my best shot.
My best shot, however, is crap. I don't say this so you will all say "no, you'll be fine", because I really won't. I am incredibly nervous in interviews, my mind goes blank, my blood pressure drops, the walls close in and I can't string a sentence together. Sadly this is true and I don't know what to do to get over myself.
I have been very lucky that in my last 3 jobs the Heads have known me already and bypassed the crap interview performance because of prior knowledge.
Anyone know any fast cures? Interview is next week.
28 comments:
do not say "you'll be fine" in an effort to be humourous because it WON'T HELP (Sid)
Think about reasons you don't want the job, then get yourself into the frame of mind that you REALLY wouldn't take the job if they offered it.
That translates into total confidence and self-assurance on the day and gets rid of any nerves.
Sounds daft, but it's worked for me. X
Well, Reg's idea might work...what about a glowing reference from the chaps who hired you in the current place? Or do they not know you may be quitting?
Hmm...open more dangerous wine?
And don't worry about the hair. Good god, Ziggi! If you miss out on that count you can sue the buggers for sexist prejudice!
Phone in sick and stay where you are.
some anti-anxiety tablets are in the post
actually, terrible terrible nerves used to be my downfall (professionally speaking*)(only took 15 years for the rest of my life to catch up). . .
(*before that, it was exam nerves)
. . .until I realised I was more than capable of coping with anything that might be thrown at me in any kind of job - thus would easily be able to accomplish anything for any position I felt like applying for. . .
the same is true of you, from what you have shared with us here!
the trick to nerves is to acknowledge your nervousness (even to the interviewer/s if you feel the need to), and there is nothing wrong with nerves anyhow - who actually enjoys being interviewed? presumably you'd be OK in whatever kind of real life situation you might end up in, and being "an interviewee" is probably not the career of your choice. . .
pause when you need to
ask them to repeat questions and make them be clear - take the list of things you want to know from them about whether or not you actually want the job! (take the list out, and see if there is anything you've missed)
and always always ask for more money than they are offering
remember, at the end of the day, nerves are only misplaced fight/flight adrenalin anyhow (unless you are being chased by a bull, or thrown off your horse)
or you could do that old thing about imagining the interview panel people sitting naked on the toilet
(but that never worked for me)
good luck sweetie - but you don't need it!
(if you mention hair again, I'll cry)
ha ha ha (just been reading a little further down!)
ALICE BAND
that is the solution to your hair dilemma. . .
obviously
Just don the outfit that you have on in your avatar. Show cleavage, and they won't have a choice.
Bring your broom along so you can clank them on the head if need be, or conjure up a dragon or something.
Just be you, Ms. Ziggi. Just be you.
Most HR depts search the internet to see what they can find out about you, so once they've read this post you'll have no worries at all.
I was going to say (but forgot)(for some strange reason)(maybe I shouldn't send you the meds, they cause ahort and long term memory loss - might not be helpful in an interview situation) I hope your blog is on your CV!! (but not the comments/posts you make during "office hours", obviously!)
Be absolutely honest with them at the beginning of the interview. Tell them exactly what you've told us. If you also add that you haven't had much experience being interviewed because you tend to get the job and then stay there for a while, it'll also sound good.
Ask someone in the know what questions are likely and what answers are wanted.
Rehearse the answers in front of a Teddy bear at the opposite end of the kitchen table. Do it again with ad libs so it doesn't sound rehearsed.
Ignore WW - the Teddy might be a woman.
NO, DON'T IGNORE ME!!!
OK, if it's a woman, tell her about how you hauled your dishwasher (or was it a stove) up to your house and then hooked it up.
(You don't have to tell her what happened after that).
That would show your incredible initiative, multitude of skills and ability to take on challenges.
You are all lovely and kind and I am so grateful you haven't taken the piss (except Murph whose advice is the what I really want to take!) but I am too old to go saying I'm nervous, I'd just look more stupid than I already do, especially at the level I'm supposed to be - practising makes me worse although I will learn some stock answers and there is stuff I really do want to know so I'll write down those questions as advised, but I think I'll do a reg and not care whether I get the job or not that way it doesn't matter and as I'm not going to get it anyway, I won't feel so much of a failure.
One Final Tip:
If they ask you "Have you ever done/Know how to do X?" and you have not, DON'T say, "No, I can't do that." ALWAYS say, "I've not done that before, but I can learn how."
sorted.
To ease your anxiety and calm your nerves you should chug a bottle of Tequila about a half hour before the Interview...and don't take any crap from them! You hear!
Way to go, girl!! Do as I do.....set yourself low ambitions and then fail to live up to them! Seriously, don't fret, be nonchalent and take a "so what makes you think you're good enough to earn my services" approach. You'll knock 'em dead! Good luck.
P.S. If you don't get the job, you can always go back at a later date and kill them all.
Look them in the eyes and go for it. I have a knack at interviews, its the jobs I can't do! Good luck.
Inderal.
concert musicians take it for stage fright...and I can vouch for its efficacy.
I hope you get that I was just tryin' to make a joke...I think you are far too intelligent.
If they can't gather that in your interview, then they don't deserve you. And you probably don't need them.
The right things will come through if that's meant to be. Always be profoundly proud of you.
:-)
honey, you are never too old or too senior to admit to nerves
but anyhow, I like what CB said about learning opportunities
she's smart that gal!
good luck and remember, at the end of the day you already have a job - even if it's not perfect!
and at the end of the day (sic) you have Himself to go home to!!
:-)
I am emailing you something ...
well Ziggi dear, obviously one doesn't need to work oneself but a chum of mind, a chum who you might be surprised to know isn't one for prentending to be something they're not in most areas of life, says she went to an interview and they asked her a tricky question and she said sorry, don't know, I'd just be guessing which would be rather a waste of everyone's time and that point was obviously something she'd have to gem up on if she got the job and they offered her the job, one which, incidentally was one she had wondered why they had even given her an interview, and commented on how refreshing it was for someone to admit they didn't know something and not bullshit about it, so if there's a moral there it's just kick back, be yourself and remember that at the end of the day no amount of huffing and puffing will make them think you're up to the job if you're not, and indeed a lack of huffing and puffing might just make them realise that you are (up to it)
Lie like your life depended on it.
And turn up with a hangover - it worked for Mrs TPF.
Seriously - good luck. Relax. . . what's the worst that can happen?
What happened Ziggi?
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