So in case anyone was dying to know the outcome... I didn’t get the job!
The past week, I took time to reflect on my performance and thought about all the questions I was asked during my interview. It helped me realise where I gave strong answers & where there were gaps in my experience. I am not a fan of bullshitting so I wasn’t gonna pretend I loved networking at external events when I dread being in a room full of people I don’t know.
This time also helped me think more about the job and whether it was right for me. Most of the questions were focused on some aspects of the job I wasn’t too keen on so by the time I heard back I was seriously considering declining the offer (if by miracle I was successful). The feedback I received was exactly what I was expecting. The reflection time helped me take the rejection well as I already knew what they’d say and focus on the positives.
So I thanked them for the opportunity, put on my #livingthedream t-shirt, some lipstick and tried to have the best day possible. What’s next? Focus on enjoying the rest of my mat leave and finishing my #luvyourjob programme to help you get the job you deserve.
So remember, being able to think objectively about your interview (especially when you fucked it up) will help you anticipate the outcome and receive the feedback gracefully. There’s no need to be upset, just learn and improve. #betterlucknexttime
This week, I went for my first interview in 3y. I’ve been on mat leave watching CBB and singing ‘Row, Row, Row your boat’ for the past 4 months. Needless to say that my brains have turned into mush!
Took me a week (between naps, poo explosions & trips to the park) trying to remember situations when I demonstrated the skills I though they wanted. The day before the big day I felt as prepared as I could be: CV ✅ spare pen ✅ breast pads ✅
On the day, I woke up tired (thanks B. for keeping me up all night!), dropped off the girls to nursery, worried about how they’d cope, and went to work. Once there, I realised I’d left my mojo at home (or maybe in the delivery suite). I sat on the chair ready to open my notebook full of all the great answers I prepared, but as soon as I got asked the 1st question, the bloody baby brain kicked in! I couldn’t remember any examples (or that they were right in front of me), could barely string a sentence together, 1/2 way through an answer forgot what the question was and to conclude I did a nervous over the top laugh... Cringeworthy!
I doubt I’ll get the job (who knows, maybe they saw past my nonsense) but I don’t care, it was a good experience & I’m happy I went for it.
If you haven’t had an interview or been out of work for a while, your 1st interview will be shit and you’ll come home thinking about all the stuff you should have said, have a good cry and spend the next week checking your phone for your rejection email. So yeah, you’re gonna feel like crap, but pick yourself up and think of the positives!
1. Be proud of yourself for pushing yourself and giving it a go.
2. You know what you did wrong. Next time, you’ll get a good night sleep, give yourself a big confidence boost & look at your notes!
3. All the examples you’ve prepared are still relevant & you WILL use them.
4. Now you know the questions. Don’t keep thinking about what you should have said, just write it down!
5. Get some feedback & take it as an opportunity to improve or to think about what is the right job for you.
So fuck it! If you don’t try you don’t get & if you don’t fail you don’t improve.
Go on share your #interview #epicfail to cheer me up!
