Comments on Confessions of a Passionate Tester: Nervous about an interview? Try this!

Terrific idea and advice. Candidates forget that ...

2010-04-11T12:56:57.789-04:00

Terrific idea and advice. Candidates forget that often interviewers are not trained on how to interview. Unfortunately candidates sometimes have to figure out how to 'manage' and interviewer/interview. I like your idea. Nervous candidates also suffer sometimes from talking too much, often without thinking.
We also coach candidates to try and slow things down. Nervous people tend to just say the first thing that pops in their mind. Slow it down, take a sip of water, repeat/rephrase the question come up with a couple of short stalls so you can formulate your answer until you get into the flow. Finally it really helps to get into the flow if you are prepared to answer the typical questions like, 'tell me about yourself'.

Knowing the answers to 5-10 typical questions cold can boost confidence, because you won't have to think and chances are 1 or 2 will come up.

Great post! I bet another HUGE advantage of this ...

2010-02-04T12:39:51.006-05:00

Great post! I bet another HUGE advantage of this is that when you're speaking conversationally in something as stressful as a job interview, it really makes you come across as more confident (cool, confident, collected :) ) and, for better or for worse, people perceive confidence as competence. ;-)

Great ideas - and in the comments too, thanks Adam & Paul.

Aha, Paul, having a list of questions is a good id...

2010-01-07T10:21:12.916-05:00

Aha, Paul, having a list of questions is a good idea too. I've done that as well, and also have written questions down *during* the interview.

Recently I started making sure to include questions that gave me information analogous to something I have not liked at a previous job, or the flip side (aspects I really did like).

I do believe that the written backup helps to alleviate some of that "deer in the headlights" feel where your mind goes blank from anxiety.

Dawn, I had an intense series of interviews yester...

2010-01-07T09:40:06.943-05:00

Dawn, I had an intense series of interviews yesterday - six in three hours - and my preparation for it included a lot of research into the company and the people I was scheduled to talk to. Another thing I did was bring a list of questions.
These questions were based on a list that a salesman might use to help qualify and close a deal and the purpose was to help me evaluate the company and the position in case they make an offer and I have to decide.
I have found that an interviewer will often ask, at the end of the session, "do you have any questions for me" and by that time I can't always remember what to ask. This list really helps me to bring closure to the conversation.
Your questions will depend on your situation but the point is to have them ready in advance.

Adam, I would totally agree that interviews should...

2010-01-04T08:41:20.999-05:00

Adam, I would totally agree that interviews should feel conversational. I spent many years, however, so paralyzed with nervousness that *I* was unable to *be* conversational. I am hoping that for others who get nervous like that, a tip like this may help.

Good advice, Dawn. IMO, interviews should feel co...

2010-01-03T23:19:00.288-05:00

Good advice, Dawn. IMO, interviews should feel conversational, and if they're not, it is an indication of what type of company you many be going to work for.