Work

[gmoney]

My standard general advice is to try and sound as enthusiastic as you can. If you want the job that is (though why you'd be interviewing if you didn't, I don't know). I know that sounds obvious, but having been on the other side of the desk, you often get people who seem like they're trying to play it cool or just genuinely aren't that bothered, if you've got it down to a couple of candidates then you're going to plump for the one who seems like they're more excited about it. Personally speaking too, when I focus on putting some energy into my responses, it helps a lot with nerves. 

[organizedkaos]

I realise things feel different if you're in a position where you need a certain job but thinking of interviews a bit like a date can be helpful. Its about finding a best fit between two entitees, just in this case one of them is a company/team.

Sure, try and be your best self and it's absolutely fine to want it to go well but if you don't project who you really are then that's going to be a problem at some point. No-one wants to hire an actor playing a character (well unless you're trying to hire an actor to play a character). If who you are doesn't fit with what they're looking for then it was never to be a good fit. You really don't want a job where you're expected to be someone you're not

 

EDIT To add to this post above. This is also very relevant, if you're not good at projecting enthusiasm you can just say why you're really interested in something. I have straight up had a situation where there was uncertainty about a potential candidate because he didn't come across as being that excited to work in our industry. The guy in question is hugely interested in our industry and it's a big part of what he does in his personal life, he's just a quiet somewhat introverted person and didn't convey this excitement. Again, not saying he had to be some big bold personality but if you don't necessarily convey enthusiasm through your general demeanor then find some other way of conveying it (I argued this sort of point, we hired the guy and it worked great)

Edited November 3, 2025 by organizedkaos
Avalon Emerson - E after next

[King Coconut]

15 minutes ago, organizedkaos said:

thinking of interviews a bit like a date can be helpful

Until you try fingering the interviewer. 

[gmoney]

Yeah, they just asked me why I was balancing a popcorn on my lap. 

[westlondonmist]

35 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

I can't give you better advice than whats been offered, and as someone who helps people into employment for a living, this is VERY basic help but it genuinely changed my life.

I used to be the same, hate interviews and wasn't very good at them, I'd waffle and even though I've only ever had a few interviews I haven't got, I always felt like I'd just done enough until someone told me "Listen, at the end of the day, it's just a conversation with another human and nothing bad can happen" and that changed my thinking.

I stopped building it all up in my head as a huge event and putting pressure on myself, adopted the thinking, and understood I was interviewing them as well (hard when you're out of work and need a job I know) and genuinely started to enjoy interviews. I also felt myself being more me and giving better answers. 

It's the only piece of advice I can give you (and everyone else) no one is perfect at interviews and they aren't an exact science but nothing actually bad can happen. Unless you headbutt someone...always a sign it's gone wrong.

IIRC you're in local government(that scenario question is pure local government) so on that I'd give the answer that best sticks to the policies/values/procedures if you know of them vaguely.

Good luck brother!

Yes, we have these fairer policies (economy, city, environment etc). I know them vaguely, I think it's waffle but they do take them seriously. So I'll read through those tonight. 

[Chris B]

20 minutes ago, organizedkaos said:

I realise things feel different if you're in a position where you need a certain job but thinking of interviews a bit like a date can be helpful.

Considering the history of dating stories on this forum, this may be terrible advice.

[westlondonmist]

27 minutes ago, gmoney said:

My standard general advice is to try and sound as enthusiastic as you can. If you want the job that is (though why you'd be interviewing if you didn't, I don't know). I know that sounds obvious, but having been on the other side of the desk, you often get people who seem like they're trying to play it cool or just genuinely aren't that bothered, if you've got it down to a couple of candidates then you're going to plump for the one who seems like they're more excited about it. Personally speaking too, when I focus on putting some energy into my responses, it helps a lot with nerves. 

I've interviewed for a couple of jobs I didn't really want, or kind of knew I wasn't getting, at senior levels to me to sort of prepare me for job interviews at a similar level to what I want. Get feedback from those and knock on. Also think it showed my seniors I was interested in taking on more responsibility etc and they've put me on courses to build what I had missing to get those jobs. In one my boss was on the panel, who'd interviewed me twice before and said my interview was a lot more confident and far better. 

Edited November 3, 2025 by westlondonmist

[westlondonmist]

As a follow up, the interview seemed to go well but turns out a lot of people applied to manager H&S, Cemetaries and Public bogs and 6 people were being interviewed. From the others I could find out names they seemed to either have Contract Management or Health and Safety experience but not both, which I have, but they are probably more experienced in their own fields. It's internal and I imagine their decision is pretty much made up. Although I partner said they had gone in to an interview with the idea of giving someone internal the job but they turned up unprepared, put no effort into the interview and ended up not getting the job because my partner thought it was disrespectful and they obviously didn't want the job that much. So things can change and I can at least make an impression and keep my name in their head. 

 

The 5 minute presentation was just a question to find out if you understood which departments to go to in a situation where things have gone to shit.  

[gmoney]

1 hour ago, westlondonmist said:

Although I partner said they had gone in to an interview with the idea of giving someone internal the job but they turned up unprepared, put no effort into the interview and ended up not getting the job because my partner thought it was disrespectful and they obviously didn't want the job that much. So things can change and I can at least make an impression and keep my name in their head. 

That's quite common, and you never know what's going to trigger an interviewer into getting annoyed at someone. I heard of a bloke who was a supposedly a shoe in for a job in my company, but didn't put the effort in, and the final straw apparently was not taking his jacket off in the interview which really narked one the hiring people, They gave it to someone else who'd clearly prepared and was not as cold, presumably. That sort of thing is why I always wear a suit for an interview, no matter how casual I might think it is. You're not going to lose an opportunity by overdressing, but you might if you underdress. Play the angles!

Good luck mate. 

EDIT: Suit for an in person interview that is, smart shirt is fine for Zoom. Don't even have to wear bottoms or pants if you're confident you won't have to stand up. 

Edited November 5, 2025 by gmoney

[DavidB6937]

Always always always make an effort for an interview. Doesn't matter how casual the culture is once you're there. You absolutely only get one chance to make a good first impression. So if people can't be arsed dressing well, turning up on time and be prepared then I can't be bothered with them.

It's very easy to lose interest in people immediately at interview stage.

[westlondonmist]

1 hour ago, gmoney said:

That's quite common, and you never know what's going to trigger an interviewer into getting annoyed at someone. I heard of a bloke who was a supposedly a shoe in for a job in my company, but didn't put the effort in, and the final straw apparently was not taking his jacket off in the interview which really narked one the hiring people, They gave it to someone else who'd clearly prepared and was not as cold, presumably. That sort of thing is why I always wear a suit for an interview, no matter how casual I might think it is. You're not going to lose an opportunity by overdressing, but you might if you underdress. Play the angles!

Good luck mate. 

EDIT: Suit for an in person interview that is, smart shirt is fine for Zoom. Don't even have to wear bottoms or pants if you're confident you won't have to stand up. 

 

19 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

Always always always make an effort for an interview. Doesn't matter how casual the culture is once you're there. You absolutely only get one chance to make a good first impression. So if people can't be arsed dressing well, turning up on time and be prepared then I can't be bothered with them.

It's very easy to lose interest in people immediately at interview stage.

Yeah, interviews on Teams/Zoom I've had shirt, tie and tracky bottoms. I wear a full suit for every job interview usually though. One of the interview panel never wears a suit unless he's at an award ceremony or we have international visitors; He's usually wearing a tee or a fleece, He was in a suit (no tie, but a suit). if he was making the effort I had too. I say effort, I actually quite like wearing a suit and if I could afford several suits I'd have them. 

[Chest Rockwell]

I like to see how long it takes new hires to start dressing down after they join.. it's a fun game to play, and then tell them about after. 

[DavidB6937]

2 minutes ago, Chest Rockwell said:

I like to see how long it takes new hires to start dressing down after they join.. it's a fun game to play, and then tell them about after. 

Took me about 2 years! Someone finally told me I didn't need to wear a suit and I've not looked back since.

[Chris B]

I've kind of gone the opposite way in interviews in recent years. I stopped wearing shirt and ties to work about a decade ago and haven't looked back - and if a place is going to be weird and expect me to dress up like I'm going to a first communion, I probably don't want to work there. I also found out I almost lost out on a job in one place because 'we're not really a suit and tie place, so I don't know if you'll fit in with our culture', which was the last straw for me. So I tend to go on the basis that I'll do better by just being myself - so I tend to go for black boots, black jeans and a t-shirt/shirt.

Mind you, I work in content/marketing, so I rarely have to be in front of anyone external and there was usually a little more leeway given for creativity.

[SuperBacon]

You adapt to the situation/client/company. I wouldn't turn up in a suit to interview in hospitality for instance, and I wouldn't advise anyone to do that. 

Reminds me of the time I was recruitment scum, I used to recruit sales people for the construction/building materials industry and turned up to a large aggregate manufacturer with my manager fully suited and booted, to speak to their sales director.

We were sat outside his office and he asked if we were there to audit him. I felt like such a twat and never dressed like that for a client visit ever again.