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 HI, this is my first post. I had an interview this week that I felt went pretty bad. This is for an internal position, a promotion for me. There are 8 slots and 10 people applied. I listened to a number of interviewing casts, but not with enough time to practice or implement effectively. I was excited and energized. I dressed professionally, I was on time, I reviewed some answers I had to a few behavioral questions, and answers about my background. The interview was straight forward, 4 behavioral questions and that's all. At my company we must answer the questions using the STAR method. There were two managers conducting the interview. I answered the first question, but I didn't even answer the question they were asking. I was so fixed on providing an answer using the STAR method and using one of the scenarios I had practiced. The interviewer actually said, I think you are trying to use a rehearsed answer and you’re not listening to the question. I wanted to just walk out the room. I was so embarrassed and felt all of my energy immediately drain from my body. I couldn't focus clearly on the next three questions and don't even know if I answered those properly. I feel like I gave terrible answers to the remaining questions and they were just asking what they needed to get the interview over. I did leave thank you cards on the interviewer's desks immediately after I left the interview room.

I intend on reviewing the Interview series in full before I sit for another interview and practice whatever I learn. I will never go into an interview again unprepared. It was a humbling experience and it felt horrible. I am 30 years old and hope to have a successful career in management one day. Thanks for reading my post. Any words of wisdom, encouragement, or feedback are welcome. 

 

Thanks.

donm's picture
Training Badge

Success does not mean you never fell down. It means that you always stood back up.

MiamiPrimo's picture

 Thank you for your support. It helps to know someone is in my corner, cheering me on. Thanx.

Kevin1's picture

Hi,

I think very few of us have ever not stuffed up an interview.  It can be shattering when it happens and i'm sorry you are having to go through it.  I can see you've already learned from it and are determined to prepare a whole lot more next time.  With that attitude, you are bound to impress in the future.

since it was internal, are you able to get candid feedback on your performance?  It may hurt to hear it, and if you can get passed that it would certainly be quite valuable.

kind regards

kevin

duplicate_account_MarkAus's picture

Don't sweat it, just learn and move on.  Do better next time.

Everyone has a blowout terrible interview.  I spent a week preparing for one (at a well regarded famous company) last year - had great answers for every question I thought they'd ask me.   I'd studied the MT interviewing series exhaustively was readier than I'd ever been for anything.

They didn't ask me a single thing I'd prepared for (including "Tell me about yourself") - they never referred to my experience once.   I got totally thrown and babbled like a moron.  Didn't get the job obviously.   

It won't happen like that again.  I know what to do next time and I'm sure you'll be the same.

Other opportunities will come along.

 

 

 

MiamiPrimo's picture

Its comforting to know that I'm not alone in this type of situation. Thank you for support.

I was able to get some feedback. They didn't want very much just simple answers to the questions in the appropriate format. I was told I was very professional and that they (the interviewers) could tell that I prepared for the interview, which no other candidate did, and that was a plus. Also, I am still in the running for the positions.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

teaguek122's picture

 I blew an interview too once. Came really prepared, it was when I first started listening to Manager Tools back in '08/'09.
Nailed the interview for the Human Resources representative, everybody smiling, everything was good, I knew I was going
to get an offer, and then the head engineer butts in. Asks me to define some engineering terms in such a way that I could
neither understand the guy or get a clarification from the guy, horrible English speaker. Totally threw me off, I got nervous,
and defined the engineering terms as an English definition with the Latin root word explanation. The engineer got offended and angry,
so the interview ended right there. 

Good news in the end. Even though I blew the interview I still got a call back and offer for work later on,
it was just too late and I had already been working at another new company.

So cheer up, even if you blow an interview you could still have given a great impression.

mfculbert's picture

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On...

This stuff happens. The BEST thing you can do is continue to seek and apply and interview. Even if you do not plan on moving from your current job, the practice of preparing and interviewing keeps you on top of your game. That way, when the PERFECT position opens up, you are ready and prepared to give the perfect interview. 

If it is the only interview you have done in five years, I can guarantee it is not going to be a good interview. 

yorkie's picture

 

 I know how you feel theses competence based interview can be a real pain and the person may not be qualified for the job, that is what happens where I work anyway.

 Almost 2 years ago I had an interview for promotion, as soon as I walked in it was very obvious they were just going through the motions I did not have a chance it was very off putting - communication skills sometimesdon't help, but this is life. The recruiting manager has little idea of management anyway and the other manager's favourite got a job - that was   going to happen even though they know nothing about managment and still don't.

keep trying and keep listening to Manager Tools you will be successful one day.

 

Yorkie

 

 

 

yorkie's picture

 

 I know how you feel theses competence based interview can be a real pain and the person may not be qualified for the job, that is what happens where I work anyway.

 Almost 2 years ago I had an interview for promotion, as soon as I walked in it was very obvious they were just going through the motions I did not have a chance it was very off putting - communication skills sometimesdon't help, but this is life. The recruiting manager has little idea of management anyway and the other manager's favourite got a job - that was   going to happen even though they know nothing about managment and still don't.

keep trying and keep listening to Manager Tools you will be successful one day.

 

Yorkie

 

 

 

yorkie's picture

 

 I know how you feel theses competence based interview can be a real pain and the person may not be qualified for the job, that is what happens where I work anyway.

 Almost 2 years ago I had an interview for promotion, as soon as I walked in it was very obvious they were just going through the motions I did not have a chance it was very off putting - communication skills  help, but this is life. The recruiting manager has little idea of management anyway and the other manager's favourite got a job - that was   going to happen even though they know nothing about management and still don't.

keep trying and keep listening to Manager Tools you will be successful one day.

 

Yorkie