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What if you suck at interviewing? (vent)
I had an interview yesterday and I keep rehashing all the things that I feel like I did or said wrong. I feel like I look great on paper--M.S. from an Ivy League school, 3 years experience in a management role, 1 year at a finance firm in a customer service position, degree from a good undergrad, tons of internship experience, I sit on 2 nonprofit boards, and I've taught classes in my field at a local night school.
However, I can be sooo awkward when I first meet people. I feel like I ramble when I answer interview questions, no matter how much I practice beforehand. I also have a hard time thinking on my feet so some of the more complicated "what would you do?" hypotheticals are really difficult for me to answer if I wasn't expecting them. Add to that some of the things I can't control such as my lack of direct supervisory experience (the only people I directly supervise are work study students and volunteers--it's just the way our organization is structured) and the fact that they are looking to fill the position immediately while I have to give 30 days notice at my job and I just feel like getting a new position is such an uphill battle.
Thanks for reading and if anyone has any advice or thoughts, I'd appreciate any feedback you can give.
Re: What if you suck at interviewing? (vent)
I wonder if that's my issue (interviewing badly) for not getting a new job.
For the 30 day notice thing... the only suggestions I have are:
1) give 2 weeks and have a burnt bridge
2) Can you start a new job PT a bit on night/weekends while your 30 days runs out at the old job? Can you use up any vacation time during those 30 days to start FT sooner?
3) Can you give 2 weeks FT notice, then the next 2 weeks go part-time? (That way you could start PT at the new job in 2 weeks, and FT there in a month.)
I would say if the new company really wants you, they will manage for 30 days until you can start. If they push you to start sooner, it may be a red flag for the new company. My two cents.
It's probably not as bad as you think! Have you ever been on the other side of the interview table? Seriously, that has been so eye opening for me and I'm not nearly as nervous about interviews now.
And supervising students and volunteers absolutely counts! Why would you downplay that? Talk it up! I do. I'm sure doing so has given you some valuable experience in certain situations you wouldn't otherwise have.
I agree!
Can you get some free interview coaching from your alma matar?
If not pay a professional head hunter to coach you. It shouldn't take much.
Plus as others have said, it probably didn't go as bad as you think. We all tend to focus on our flaws in the post game analysis.
OK, I rock interviews. Seriously. It is a strength of mine and I don't know why but I'll share my thoughts on what you've written.
First rather than rehashing what you did wrong refocus on what you did right! Think of the things you articulated well. What set you up for success?
Avoid rambling by summing up your answer at the end. This me in in an interview, "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So basically, I faced X challenge, I responded with Y actions, and Z was the result." I think out loud. But in the end I sum up what gibberish I've spouted so the interviewer at least walks away with the key points I want them to understand. And by then they are positively relieve because I helped them understand my answer when all along they couldn't decide if they were idiots for not following or if I truly wasn't making any sense. It is a win-win.
Pause. Faced with a tough question I respond, "Oh, that is a great question. Let me think for a moment about this."
Laugh. It loosens every one up. It makes you appear happy and people like being around happy people. (Unless they are completely miserable in which case you don't want to work with them anyway.) So you will leave them with a positive personal impression on top of your ivy league education
Remember that you are assessing the fit of you and this job as much as they are. So walk in with 2 intelligent questions to close the interview. At least with those you won't have to think on your feet so much, except that you do want to respond to their answer.