Job Interviews Options

[Relentless]

What was you're bad experiences with job interviews or how was you're first time?

Apparently, I have a "group" interview tomorrow (It's my first interview, and I really need a JOB!), and I have a feeling it's going bad. The fact that it's a group interview, it's more pressure due to the people around you trying to compete for the position. One of my friends told me sometimes in group interviews, they usually make you sing a song or dance or tell a funny joke, and I have a feeling that's going to go bad if it happens. LOL. I have no idea what kind of questions that I'm going to expect other than introducing my self. Anyone know any good advices what to say in an interview and such (especially in group interviews)?

[Rosemary]

When I got my first job at sixteen (working at my local pub) the interview was very informal, all it was was a five minute chat with the landlord and that was that. Since then I've had lots of other jobs and all interviews have been fairly different, with a range of tasks and interview set-ups. It's always best to know what to expect from the interview, and it sounds like you've been given some information about the format and so on, which is a good start!

For the job I currently have, I was asked at the end of the panel interview to speak for a minute about a topic of interest to me, but completely unrelated to the job I was going for. It threw me for a few seconds, but I got into it and enjoyed myself, so perhaps try to think about what hobbies or topics you could speak about in advance, in case you ever get a question like that!

The most unpleasant interview questions I've had tend to be very direct or overly negative ones. I was asked at the interview for my previous job why I had only stayed in the job before that for three months, and "what makes you think you'll want to stay here any longer?". In the end I got through by being straightforward and honest, making his negative question positive, and trying to act completely unfazed by the question!

Prepare well for the interview by imagining questions you might be asked, and don't forget to think of questions to ask them (even if you don't really care about the answer, it makes you look like you've given plenty of thought!). Above all, smile, be friendly and polite, and try to enjoy the experience, strange as that may sound! The interviewer is as likely to be nervous like you are, remembering that may put you at ease!

I think a good thing to bear in mind is that if you get invited through to the interview stage, the employer obviously likes you (well, on paper at least), so you should try to feel confident and as good as the next candidate. They already know about your qualifications and experience and obviously think you'd be suitable for the job in that respect, so half of the work is already done. The interview is basically there to see whether you're a nice person and the sort of person the interviewers would want to work with! This is important to remember at a group interview, because even if other candidates seem super-prepared with loads of slick answers, it can sometimes come across a bit arrogant. There's a happy medium to be met there between being "sporting" to the other candidates and letting them have a chance too, and showing off your own strengths!

Oops, sorry this was longer than I intended Best of luck with your interview!