Work interview coming up

Cheers Jalapeno. I'm not sure what would annoy the panel. I do feel it is a two way process (no matter the state of the job market).

It's not entry level or management. But I have to rein in the temptation to ask challenging questions.

no matter how much you prepare I think one thing to factor is how the interviewers are - I suspect as its panel then they'll be taking it in turns to ask you questions.

I've only ever had a panel interview 3 times and probably 1-2-1 interview 30+ times - do listen to their introductions to work out what their interest is, one could be HR/recruitment and one may be line manager and even a colleague.  You may find one may not say much - may just be an observer to record the interview - to ensure all candidates are given same questions/opportunities to answer.  You may have a better rapport with one but try to keep all panel engaged and interested in you.

Well done on getting the interview and hope it goes well.  Be positive - the worst is they can say not this time, but don;t forget the process is two ways - does the job and people come across as a place you'd want to work. 

Have some (2 or 3 max) questions prepared for them in advance but nothing that could annoy one of the panel.  Even write them down if you need to

Good luck

PunkSwan said:

For me it's a case of eye contact divided amongst three people I've just met, while I answer.

I would keep the focus on the person asking the question with occasional glances at the others to see if they look like they want to interrupt you.

Don't stare unceassingly but break eye contact for a few seconds if you find it too much. It can be the difference between being focussed and being overly intense.

I meditate before an interview and have a routine to build up my self confidence where I run through my achievements to remind myself I am a great candidate and try to act in the interview as if I am the one interviewing them where I can - that shift in the power play can be successful when you are going for management roles but may not be great for entry level roles where they just want a subserviant minion.

Try to get some practive interviews in if you can - role playing is a great way to break the fear of these sorts of confrontations / interviews and you get a chance to script your responses.

Good luck

Hi, some people find the STAR technique helpful for interviews.

• Situation - the situation you had to deal with
• Task - the task you were given to do
• Action - the action you took
• Result - what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience

There is more detail and examples here:

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice/the-star-method

Interview tips:

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice

I like this preparatory video about the experience of interviews made by a late-diagnosed Autistic person:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=si0ZzEg-v0s

When I have been a candidate attending panel interviews; I have tried to think about it a bit like attending a family gathering / Christmas Dinner: by consciously trying to remind myself that each person present will contribute their feedback to the recruitment assessment / shortlist / decision-making hiring process. 

I try to vary a share of my attention / focus towards each person present (in some panels each person may ask a question, in others it is a few of the panel members who ask the questions - however, I believe each of those panel present should feel a proportion of my looking at them, now and again, while answering the questions.

The largest panel I have experienced was me : 10 panelists.  On that occasion I had not expected to find so many people paying attention to me.  I tried to think about like attending a Christmas Dinner - I don't need to engage with /;look at / impress everyone all at once (but it would be good to try and pace myself around the panel so that by the end of the interview - each panelist will hopefully have felt me trying to acknowledge / connect / communicate with them). 

I am working on the assumption that both there is a reason why each panelist is attending the interview and they will be providing input to the recruitment process.

If it is a situation where I am at ease using a notepad and pen to make my interview notes about bullet points of information the panel shares with me about about the organisation and role - at the top of the page I draw a basic layout of connected rectangles in which to jot down brief words about a panelists name / role / key piece of information as they are introduced or ask a question. 

This helps me to treat the interview a bit more like when I would attend a meeting in a workplace. 

It also helps me to notice if I have not yet at least paid attention in their direction at some stage as I participate in the interview.

When asked by the panel if I have any questions; I try to start my answer looking at the questioner, briefly shift my gaze towards a panelist who has yet to ask anything, then return my gaze back to the questioner as I finish providing my question to the panel.

Wishing you ood luck for next week.

Have you got people you could do a "mock" Interview with? Appreciate it's a bit different with people you know, but just a thought that came to my head

Good evening from the UK! As it happens this company's specialism is the same as a passion of mine, so that helps.   

Thanks. I find that being myself usually messes things up. I'm back to masking again; smiling a lot, presenting as more amiable than I really am, etc.

Definitely be yourself as pietro_21 says. For me, I always found an interview to be really successful when I have a piece of work to display, like a report or presentation on a topic. Not many other applicants will do that and it really shows everyone what you can do. You will do amazing, to get to this position means they're interested in you! 

Good morning from America PunkSwan!

Phew, a panel of three? That sounds intense. I don’t blame you for holding in the diagnosis for now; I would really only advise giving that in an interview if it is 1on1 and you feel the interviewer is going to receive it well.

Thank you for devising questions. That’s such an important thing to do before an interview, because that shows them that you are interested in the position/company.

My best advice is get into a headspace that you are about to talk about your favorite special interest, and that happens to be the work that you’re interviewing for. If you convince yourself that you are primarily interested in that job, then you’ll easily convince them!

Thank you, pietro_21. For me it's a case of eye contact divided amongst three people I've just met, while I answer... while remembering to show confidence (I didn't get a recent interview because apparently I wasn't assured enough). And not fidgeting. I have done this before, but my recent interview was the first one in years.

Yes.  Be yourself. The questions will probably be fairly standard, either relating tasks in the new role back to you experiences. Or asking of your past experience how did you deal with something, a difficult person or situation or challenge. How did you get through it and what was the outcome. Being upbeat and bringing it into the now is a plus - ie how those skills might be transferable. The main thing is talking about yourself positively and using real life examples. I'd recommend reading up beforehand and buy a coffee afterwards to destress.

Stay calm and good luck.