I have my first real job interview Friday! Nervous, need words of advice

[NickB79]

Finished my major degree this spring (biotech), and worked over the summer to finish my minor degree (chemistry). I then took a couple months off to take a breather after 5 yrs of school. Now I have my first interview on Friday for a research associate position, and boy am I nervous! I've purchased a nice outfit, suit, tie, new shoes, the whole bit, and have gotten a nice hair trim, so I know I'll look good at least. I'm a bit unfamiliar with the area the business is located at, so I'm thinking of doing a "trial run" drive down there on Thurs to make sure I don't get lost on Friday (it's 80 miles away from where I currently live).

I'm just so worried they'll grill me with some obscure questions that I won't have any ideas about, or they'll be less than impressed with me. I have the urge to spend the rest of the day and night reading old textbooks at the coffee shop :-) I know I did fairly well in college, maintained a 3.0 GPA, did very well when doing research for my biochemistry professor. But I just feel so under-prepared, so unqualified, ugh!

Does anyone here have some words of wisdom, things that have helped you do well at job interviews? Anything would be helpful at this point, just something to calm my nerves. Thanks.

[Demobrat]

1. First off,

give yourself enough time to arrive 30 minutes early. Have a cup of coffee, use the restroom or whatever, and show up on time, relaxed and ready. Then, I know this sounds strange, but interview them. Ask them exactly what they are hoping to find in a candidate, and what their hopes and expectations are for the person they hire. I always say "what exactly do you hope the person you hire will do for the company?" By the end of the interview they will be selling you on the position.

[Goldmund]

2. No matter if you know your shit or not...

...before you go there, look in the mirror and tell yourself "I know my shit" 10 times, and act like you do. In my experience, confidence is more valuable than competence at most job interviews.

Unfortunately, that is. Maybe it is the same thing in our culture that makes personality more important than issues in elections.

[dkamin]

3. Relax

I'm on the other side now, having done some interviews. Unless you expect one of those brain teaser management consulting problems, the most important thing they're looking for is how you carry yourself; i.e. you're composed, seem easy to get along with, etc.

they've already seen your resume, so they're probably just looking to make sure you're a person they could see working with.

Though, I should warn, never interviewed for a science position.

[tridim]

4. Relax!

Maybe it's just my industry (first Architecture, then web development), but every interview I've had has been pure cake. I was so worried about them right out of college, and so relieved when I actually started interviewing. At one of my first interviews I remember saying to the interviewer (who later became my boss), "Is that all? I thought your questions were going to be much harder than that!" I got the job.

Focus your energy and worry on finding interviews, not the interview itself, and don't be discouraged if you have to interview 100 times before you get a job.

[Sagan]

5. As an HR Director, let me tell you a few things

1. Relax. Obvious nervousness will garner you some sympathy, but is not an impressive characteristic.

2. Relax. Be yourself. Studies have proven that first impressions are a BIG deal in hiring decisions.

3. Relax. Don't be afraid to engage in small talk, but don't babble. Over-familiarity is bad. Questions about somebody's obvious favorite hobby, team, activity is good.

4. Look over your resume carefully. This is what they're going to ask you questions from initially. If YOU were interviewing yourself and were looking at your resume, what questions would you ask? On what subjects would you probe deeper on? Be ready to back up EVERYTHING on your resume.

5. Do your research on the company. Read everything on their website. Then revisit point #4 with that in mind. If you worked at that company, what parts of your resume would be interesting to you? What would be alarming or carry negative connotations?

6. After the interviews, send very short polite thank-you emails to your interviewers. Thank them for taking the time to talk to them, express your continued interest in the company and hopes that you'll hear from them soon. If there was some salient or outstanding point of conversation with a particular interviewer, mention that. Maybe there was a question you flubbed, but when you got home you thought of the right answer. Talk about it! But be brief. No more than 5-8 sentences.

7. Firm handshakes, good eye contact and speak clearly. Don't mumble or mutter.

8. Relax!

Feel free to message me if you have any particular questions.

[idontwantaname]

12. be on time.. polite.. proper... willing to learn and work well with others

just remember that if you do get the job youll have to work with these people... so theres no sense in worrying about fumbling or being different than who you are...

knowledge of the company is a plus definitely... but for a first time bio-tech job how much really is there to know?...

peetree dishes and beakers.. theyre all the same.

[ohiosmith]

15. Good advice from Sagan. Additionally,

If you don't already know find out the names and titles of those you are meeting with. Do a web search, see if anything has been written by or about them.

Take with you a manila file folder with your name on it for each person you will meet with. In it provide a resume, references, and any supporting documentation such as letters of recommendation, citations, awards, etc. Hand them out when you are introduced/introduce yourself as you do say "here's a clean copy of my resume and some supporting documents." The folder will act as a reminder of your interview. It will remind them of your professionalism, organization, and consideration. Additionally regardless of how many resumes end up on top of yours, the tab with your name on it will still stick out.

You don't want to control the interview but you do want to manage it. Make notes about your skills, experience, accomplishments, and education that relate to specific position requirements. If the interviewer(s) don't touch on a particular subject that is relevant, give them the additional information at the point in the interview when they ask if you have any questions or have anything to add.

When you are asked if you have any questions, one should be "what is your timing for filling this position?" Doesn't matter what they say. You want that information so you can follow up.

Example: They say "we will have our final three candidates identified by the end of next week."


You will say "great, I'll contact you early the following week to see where I stand."

You are managing the process. Don't make it their responsibility to follow up.

Your follow up/thank you letter (I prefer hard copy to email) will then confirm that you are going to contact them as discussed.

One other thing, make a list of the questions you do not necessarily want to be asked. Sure as hell, if there's an issue you don't want to deal with, you will have to. Frame responses that are not negative or defensive.

Get someone to practice interviewing with you.

Good luck.

[Sagan]

17. great advice here...

Better than mine. lol

[Muddleoftheroad]

6. Some points

OK, first off, good luck:

* Bring extra copies of your resume, just in case.
* Bring a notebook. Take notes.
* Ask questions. They want a brain, not just a body.
* Remember, this is not about YOU, it is about THEM. How can you fill THEIR needs.
* Wipe off your hands prior to shaking hands. No one like s sweaty handshake.
* Research the company ahead of time. If possible, contact alums from your school who might work there to find out more. (Your career office will help on this.)
* Don't worry about the questions, it's an entry level job for God's sake. If you really are worried, pick up a book at the library or bookstore ahead of time. I recommend "Knock 'Em Dead," by Malcolm Yates.

Ultimately, the most important thing is they want to hire you. Yes, you read me right, they want to hire YOU!

They have a job opening. Speaking as a person who has hired plenty, it's a pain in the ass. With fairly entry level jobs, most qualifications are similar, so what they want is someone who has a good attitude, a good brain and a good personality. If you are those things, you fill THEIR NEED and are likely to get a job.

Let us know!

[radwriter0555]

7. Have a martini beforehand, bombay sapphire if you can swing

it.

That'll mellow everything out PERFECTLY.

Break a leg.

[GinaMaria]

8. Practice

I read recently where interviewers were asking 'obscure' questions like How many quarters stacked on top of each other would it take to reach the roof of the empire state building?

They don't really want to know the exact answer. The article said they want to know your thought process, so you should describe how you would figure it out. Also they want you to ask questions and get more information. Like: are the quarters stacked flat or are they stacked edge to edge?

My answer would be that I could do it with one quarter. Just send it up the elevator :-) Probably wouldn't get the job.

The answer they gave in the article was something like, first say a role of quarters (40) is about 5 inches, there are X stories in the building = x feet=x inches and do the calculation outloud.

don't know if this will help you.

Good Luck.

PS
Why do you want to work here? What kind of research do you enjoy? What sorts of experiments/equipment have you worked on in the past or in school? (never hurts to practice)

If you were a book, what would your title be? (The Little Engine That Could)

[tridim]

9. Not to nitpick but

there's no way a roll of quarters is 5 inches long. More like 3. Do I get the job? :)

[GinaMaria]

10. nitpickers need not apply

:-)

Actually we could use someone in the bean counting department, someone who likes exact numbers

[cally]

11. I doubt you need to study your field

what you need to know is the answer to routine interview questions. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Why do you want to work here? How does this job match your career goals? Are you glad you went to your school and took your major? Mostly these questions are asked to learn about you. Stay positive, don't criticize, be enthusiastic. Good luck.

[Bake]

13. EYE CONTACT!!

And SMILE (but don't be "flip" or tell jokes or anything!). You'll appear confident. Firm handshakes but not the death grip.

Good luck!

Bake

[geniph]

14. Don't talk too much

that's one of the cardinal sins of interviews. Don't volunteer personal information you weren't asked for. If you're asked about what you enjoy or other personal-type questions, bring it back to what you can do in a working environment. Never interrupt an interviewer, and keep your answers as short as possible without being terse.

We interviewed a guy last year who literally would not shut up. All his answers, even to simple questions, were half an hour long. One of the other interviewers actually asked him at one point to keep his answers short, as we were running short on time, but he still yapped and yapped and yapped. Every time I've blown an interview, it's been because I volunteered information that I wasn't asked for, and talked too much. Keep it professional.

Be relaxed in your posture even if you don't feel relaxed. I don't mean put your feet up on the desk, but don't sit rigidly upright with your hands tightly crossed, either.

The biggest thing to focus on in an interview is what you can do for them. Tell them what your skills are, and your strong points. And tell them you want the job; given two equal candidates, one who shows no enthusiasm and one who shows lots, guess who most people will pick? If you need time to think about an answer, say so; don't blurt out the first thing that comes to mind without thinking about it. Smile, be friendly.

They'll probably ask at the end if you have any questions for them. Do some research about their business ahead of time, and ask questions about how the organization is structured, things like that. Keep personnel questions like time off, pay rate, etc., for later, if you get an offer.

I've gotten several jobs from "cold" resumes sent for newspaper ads where I knew no one in the organization and had no connections, so I must be doing something right. ;-)

[ComerPerro]

16. When they ask you where you see yourself in five years

DON'T say "Doin' your wife".

[RebelOne]

18. As a veteran job hunter, I would always give the reply

that I would be hoping to be making a lot more money. That usually cracks up the interviewer.