Badmovies.org Forum

I got a job interview tomorrow and believe it or not, it's my first ever interview for a job (probably won't be the last either).  Does anyone care to share any wisdom or offer any advice on how I should handle myself, what questions to ask or avoid, or anything else?

Avoid the pitfall of "I'm a people person" for an answer.

If you get a question like "why do you want to work for us?" or "what makes you the right person for us?", if you haven't prepared for that question, just be honest and tell them you're looking for work and, if you know something about the company, that they are a good company to work for (don't use that if you can't back it up). Usually those two questions are posed for jobs involving sales skills. The interviewer is looking most promisingly for someone who can answer the question with a close; if you are not a salesperson and closer, don't try it, just answer it honestly.

Maintain eye contact; no, I don't mean get into a staring contest. Just don't let your eyes wander away from from your interviewer when answering questions or just talking to them.

Don't search for answers when answering questions. Hemming and hawing does not look professional, prepared, or necessarily honest. If asked a question for which you don't have a good answer, just say the first thing that comes to mind. Yes, it's better to say something stupid rather than looking into the air while going "uh...uh" and saying something stupid anyway; it's better to look stupid and honest rather than stupid and dishonest.

If you have a chance, research the company. It doesn't have to be in depth, and don't offer anything you are not asked about; you're just preparing yourself.

Question and answer practice helps. Come up with some potential questions you think an interviewer might ask you, and come up with some answers for those. If you get asked any such question to which you can give a practice answer, pause, don't hem and haw, and then answer; you don't want to answer questions too quickly and especially not before they finish the question.

Watch your body language; don't cross your legs and fold your arms.

Of course, there is always the potential that it is a simple interview where they look over your application/resume, ask a few questions about you and some questions off your application. Those are pretty straight forward and they are just getting to know the candidate. Just be at ease and don't try to oversell yourself.

Just relax and treat it a bit like an new experience and forget about the whole job bit.
You may have butterflies in your stomach now, but don't let them get to you.


Best of luck to you, IG.
 :cheers:

Meh...  turns out that job seems to be a scam targeted at college students.  They interview people, make them buy a $150 training kits, attend trainning classes you have to pay for, and you end not even making 5 dollars a day.  Oh well...  at least my dad has started up a business and has offered me a job there.

The interviewer will usually ask you to discuss your weaknesses.  Make sure you spin your answer into something positive.  For instance, if you talk about a time where you may not have had the skills or experience to perform a task, make sure you go on to describe how you overcame this and turned it into a success.  Never leave weaknesses hanging out there.

This wouldn't happen to be with Vector Marketing, would it?

After reading about them online I hope that it isn't them.  :buggedout:

Just go in there with the mindset that they need you more than you need them.  You can do the job otherwise they wouldn't have granted you the interview.

They are just people like you and have the same problems and fears and likes/dislikes so don't endow them with power they don't have.

Also, if you get the job or not take comfort in the fact that it's supposed to be that way.  And if you don't get it, it's because it's not the right one for you and the best fit is still on it's way.

Good luck, hon.  Go in there and slay them!   :thumbup:    :teddyr:

Bingo!

Heh, oh Vector...making such promises that you'll make so much money in a short period of time, but more often than not you break even. Mind you, there are rare cases where students do make a crap ton of money, but that's not too often.

Keep your hands on top of the desk with the tips of your fingers touching. Put them anywhere else and they get sweaty before the final handshake.

Don't do anything distracting to the guy interviewing you. Say you have a hanging booger out of your nose that he doesn't mention. It's ALL he'll remember you for.

Hey!  They were at my school too!  I was actually this close *indicates with hands* to signing up.  But I decided to Google them at the last minute, and changed my mind after reading some information on them.  Thank goodness I did. :lookingup:

I hope that you'll find a job that works for you InformationGeek!  :cheers:

It sound rudimentary, but make eye contact and speak clearly.

Also, no matter how tempting - don't criticize your former employer, particularly don't go into personal issues. 

I was doing interviews for our non-pfofit agency several years ago.  I remember we were interviewing this woman who was well qualified but she would not stop talking about a particular supervisor who she felt 'had it in for her' - even after one of the other people conducting the interview said "Oh, I know her. She's a friend of mine''.   :buggedout:

You're asking a group of people that INTENTIONALLY watch BAD MOVIES, for advice. You might be in more trouble than you think.

Probably so, but it doesn't matter now.  More importantly, your back!  Hooray!