Interviews!

Question

Interviews are the bane of my existence! Anyone else suffer from "performance anxiety"?

Normall im a cool, collected guy but come interview time (even during practice) I turn into an incoherent fool. 

any advice from the pros out there?

londonluddite · Answer

imagine your interviewer naked

pelihu · Answer

I like rehearsing out loud. Prepare a list of questions, and then ask them and answer them out loud. Think about what you are saying, and ask follow up questions and answer them. This will help you get a perspective on what your interviewer is looking for. It will also help you get a sense of timing, flow and thinking on your feet.

Don't memorize your answers ahead of time. It will be obvious and you might get screwed by trying to cram your answer to fit a slightly different question, or get tripped up by a follow-up.

rhyme · Answer

This is what I did. Make audio cd of questions, practice in the car. It helps if you have a long commute!

zargo79 · Answer

Anyone get oddball questions? 
ie 
When have you demonstrated doing something nice?
What are your feelings on SOX? 
Why are you undressing me with your eyes?

sujith · Answer

I usually like to start by asking if they mind me smoking.

amorica · Answer

good thread...

I like to engage in 'interview forplay'...it definately helps calm me down..

For instance, just make small chit chat w/ the interview before you start the deed.

rhyme · Answer

weed.

johnnyx9 · Answer

I agree that a little interview foreplay is a good idea, just a little making out and maybe some groping, it helps break the ice, just remember to brush your teeth beforehand.

Seriously though, if you really struggle with interviews, practice. In front of a mirror, with a friend, just practice as much as you can, at some point you'll be too bored to be nervous because it will seem so natural. If you invest some serious time (like maybe a few hours a week) you can really make serious improvement.

GMATT73 · Answer

That was my first response. I guess offering a joint to your interviewer could have mixed results. If anything, it make take the edge off :wink:

rhyme · Answer

I usually like to ask for a glass of water with some ice at the start of the interview. When it arrives, I reach into it, pull out a piece of ice, put it on the table and smash it as hard as I can with my fist.

When the interviewer looks a little baffled I look em square in the eye and say "Now that we've broken the ice, wanna f***?"

braindancer · Answer

...that's exactly where my train of thoughts went when I saw the word 'foreplay'. :lol:

rhyme · Answer

Yea, and that photo of you you have as your avatar is HAWT.

imjimmy · Answer

So what is the length of time that you are expected to speak on a common question:

For instance: Why do you wanna do an MBA?

How long should you answer..(when's the time to shut up)? 3 minutes, 5 minutes..10 minutes? I speak fast, so i find that in 5 minutes i can pretty much rattle everthing about my motivation to do an MBA that i have written in my essays. 
Is it a good idea to preplan a duration for the common questions..

 
Your use of words is interesting. I'm not surprised that the discussion went a bit astray after people saw your message.

Interviews!

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