18 Aug 2020

Job interviews make me really respect celebrities for having to be interviewed all the dang time. How do they come up with answers so quickly? How do they remain so cool, calm and collected? How do they sit up straight, look presentable, maintain eye contact and speak eloquently all at the same time? 

If you, unfortunately, aren't a celeb and you're not used to being grilled with convoluted q's to see if you're a perfect fit for a company or not, here is what to expect from a job interview. They can be nervewracking and frazzling, but it'll alllllll be alright!

1. Inevitable awkward vibes

Don't freak out! I'm just ripping the bandaid off first.

There will most likely be slightly awkward vibes. These days, you'll probably cop the good ol' "do we shake hands or not because of corona?!??!?" case.

You might stumble on some words from nerves. Just embrace it because let's be real, interview's are kinda wack and you're not expected to have celeb level answers!

2. Nerves

Dude, interviews are pretty rattling! You're putting yourself out there and there's a lot of pressure to show the best version of yourself. I find the best way to calm nerves is to be prepared.

Do your dang research. People want to hire enthusiastic people that align with the job they're going for so suss out their website, Instagram and Facebook page.

Preparation will ensure that you aren't stumped on any questions like "what's your favourite flavour from our select macarons?" and you're thinking what the holy hell is a macaron. 

3. The interviewer will be looking for top-notch behaviour

What the heck are interviewers looking for?

  • Eye contact
  • Open and confident posture
  • Neat, clean and appropriate attire based on the job
  • An ability to listen
  • Appropriate language (probably not the time to slip some F-bombs)
  • Ambition and passion (even if this job is kinda just a means to an end).
  • Be enthusiastic and upbeat

4. Wack questions 

Hey, did you know that during an interview, you'll be asked questions!? Wow! Revolutionary content over here folks. But for real:

  • What are your weaknesses? I hate this question because I don't have any... haha kiiiiiidding. I hate it because you're meant to put a positive spin on your weaknesses and it's a real trap for young players because seriously, how can I put a positive spin on "I have no self-control" or "I have no patience with dumb customers." Everyone always chooses the cop-out answers "I'm a perfectionist," or "I’m a workaholic" but these are a bit overdone so get creative with it and think of a weakness sorta related to the job. Maybe it's "I'm a little nervous about public speaking but I'm working on it."
  • Give me an example of conflict in the workplace and how you solved it? This is a behavioural question and it’s basically designed to predict how you will act in the future based how you’ve acted in the past. Before an interview, have a situation prepared. This can be a time when work was so busy that customers were getting antsy and how you worked around it or a time you were given a task way out of your comfort zone and how it all ended okay.

5. To talk about me, myself and I

Interviews can feel like a hypefest of yourself since you're just talking about you, you and you. Don't feel like you're being narcissistic in throwing some strengths in there, especially if they're relevant to the workplace. Be ready to talk about the ins and outs of yourself with questions like:

  • Tell me about yourself? This gives employers the hot goss on your world. Your hobbies, passions, studies... this is a great question because no one knows you more than you so just chat away! 
  • Why do you want the job? This is when your preparation on the company comes into play. Interweave your skills and ambitions to the workplace. Even if you just need a cafe job for some extra cash, talk about your passion for customer service or mention that this is where you get coffee every morning.
  • What were your responsibilities in your previous jobs? Let them know about your experience in customer service, retail, food, reception... whatever you have up your sleeve! Talk about what you learnt and achieved!

So just take a breather, g up to talk about yourself and put your best foot forward! And if you need more advice, jump on over here to our Year13 Future of Work expo to get some hot tips by some of the best in the biz.