4 Things I Expected In My First Job Interview That Didn’t Happen

If you’re in the market for a new job, or looking for an entry-level position after uni, you’re probably going to have to go to a job interview or two. Interviews are easily one of the most intimidating parts of a job hunt, but in reality, the internal build up to the chat is so much more stressful than the interview itself. 

To help take the edge off, here are a few things that I was sure would happen during my first job interview, but in reality, never did. This isn’t a flawless guide, because interviews definitely differ between workplaces and industries, but I feel like most of these things are pretty standard. 
 

To Be Asked About My Uni/School Results

This may not be the case for every industry, but I have never been asked a single thing about my school or uni marks in a job interview. I have the fact that I did a degree on my CV, but that’s as far as my mention of education goes. Your experience and eagerness to learn are more important than your marks. I didn't get the ATAR I needed for my degree, I was just fortunate to receive early entry into the course I wanted. And at the end of the day, employers don't really care how you got into uni, as long as you have the skills needed for your job. So if you weren’t happy with the ATAR you received, or stressed about your uni marks, just remember that it’s who you are as a person that will leave a lasting impression after the interview, not your GPA. 
 

An Intimidating Interviewer

Job interviews would be scary enough if it was your own Nana asking you the questions, let alone a bigwig from corporate. Thankfully, that’s not really how interviews work. The company doesn’t want to wean out the weakest applicants by facing them with someone intimidating – they want to get to know you. You’ll probably chat with one of the sweetest people in the office. Someone that loves to chat and is great at reading people. Remember, they’re not just hiring someone to do the work, they want to find the right person to join their workplace. 

Trick Questions To Catch You Out

Idk if you’ve seen the side of TikTok and Insta Reels that starts to become incredibly boring and corporate, but somehow my algorithm has adapted that. It’s probably because of all the entrepreneur and motivational accounts I follow for a laf (it’s ironic, I promise). Anyway, they started showing me these job interview hacks that are designed to show the true character of their applicants. Like for one of them, the interviewer offered the applicant a glass of water or tea and then if they didn’t clear their own cup at the end of the interview, they were immediately ruled out for the job. Seems flawed to me because I’d be way too nervous to ask where the kitchen is in an interview. But for some reason I expected they’d definitely try one of these during my first interview and I was way too focused on catching them out and it probably impacted my performance. Of course, they never tricked me with any questions. It was just a regular chat with the intention of genuinely getting to know me as a person. Plus, if they're the type of business to try and catch you out, it's probably not somewhere you want to be working anyway.

That I Had To Be Perfect 

When I was preparing for my first job interview, I was so stressed about being absolutely perfect because I thought that was my only chance at landing the job. In the end, I was far from it. I forgot basic words, lost my train of thought, and gave sloppy handshakes. But in the end, I still got the job. As long as you’re respectful, can explain why you are a good candidate, and have the opportunity to show them how amazing you are as a person, you’re in with a really good shot. 


So next time you’re getting ready for a job interview, prepare as well as you can, but don’t spend too much time worrying about rejection. Who knows, you might have dodged a massive bullet anyway. Just do your best and be as genuine as possible, because they're hiring a person, not a qualification.