Stressssss! >.<!

[Maria Sunderland]

Hey guys!

I'm in need of some advice to try and well... calm down. LOL

Here's the situation: on the 16th, I'm going for this HUGE interview for a full time job I really, really, REALLY want. In fact, it's hilarious: it's the job I'm doing now, only right now I'm part time.

The interview is an hour, and I'm pretty confident with my studying. I know how interviews go ( dress well, no chewing gun, good preparation, shake hands, eye contact, etc..) but it's that DAMNED STRESS!

I'm not as bad as I was 10 days ago when I got the date and time I was to go to the 1 hr long interview... But I still have some painful butterflies fluttering in the belly, and I know it's only gonna be worst once I get to the waiting room.

So... Any advice on how to relax and try to take it easy? I know the one thing that stresses me is me really wanting this job... but maybe there's a way I could just calm the hell DOWN. lol

Thanks in advance for reading :)

[BioShockWins]

Slip Viagra in their coffee. That will at least give you enough of a laugh to forget about it.

[PrivateJoker]

I'm having interviews for full time jobs as well. I did really well in the first interview (first of four, its a pretty serious job) and it was supposed to take an hour and ended up taking an hour and a half, which I think is a good sign.

Anyways I have to take an online personality profile thing and depending on how I do I will get the second interview. Can anyone give me some advice on taking this thing?

[BioShockWins]

Don't get high before hand.
Even if Towlie can pull it off, doesn't mean it's a good idea.

[4theloveofgodBS2plz]

If this is competitive, I bet it'll be mainly a lottery. I would say that letting a part-timer interview for a fulltime version of the same position is a formality and they've got enough information on you already - just don't take it for granted and don't **** it up and you'll be fine.

[4theloveofgodBS2plz]

I'm having interviews for full time jobs as well. I did really well in the first interview (first of four, its a pretty serious job) and it was supposed to take an hour and ended up taking an hour and a half, which I think is a good sign.

Anyways I have to take an online personality profile thing and depending on how I do I will get the second interview. Can anyone give me some advice on taking this thing?

really, who knows what they're actually testing for? Just be yourself. Or do your best to be a splicer. If I were taking this test, I would be Sander Cohen, mainly because I don't know how to spell Big Daddy language..

[BioShockWins]

I'm not sure if that was incredibly stupid, or genius.
But anyway, reward yourself afterwards with something you like to do alot, but tend to not have the time for.

I guess that gives you something to look for. And maybe just take a really really long shower before hand. That un-stresses me.

[Marko Shadows]

i know its hard to do, but you can force yourself just to calm down, and not think about it... if you can do that, you'll kill your interview...

[dacbietazn]

bow chika wow wow

[Grim Ripper]

bow chika wow wooww

breathe deep, thats my only advice, dont try to not think about it, thatll just make a headache, just, rest and relax

[CDog]

I was always the same way when I had to take a test. I used to play Tetris until about 30 minutes before test time, it helped me get mentally ready and at the same time forget it was coming.

[dacbietazn]

I was always the same way when I had to take a test. I used to play Tetris until about 30 minutes before test time, it helped me get mentally ready and at the same time forget it was coming.



that IS a good way to get ready, tetris is so fun =]

[Iyul]

Don't think to much of the job.

[Katfather]

1)When you go into the waiting room, try to take a notebook with you. As you're waiting notice the ugliest thing (or better yet, person ) in the room with you. Write in the notebook everything ugly or stupid about it (or them) This will take your mind off the interview. And don't worry. You can ALWAYS find something stupid or ugly in Any office. I would suggest doing that in the interviewers office, but be careful; sometimes the interviewer is just too good to not laugh at.


2) Think of all the reasons you DON'T WANT THE STUPID JOB. No matter how much the job is so good for you, there will be at least one lousy thing about it. Think of that for a short while before the interview. Then you'll be less nervous, and not do stupid things. Don't think about it too much though; you may think too long and tell the interviewer to go to hell. (Mr. Trump never forgave me for that).


3 Get out your cell phone and pretend to have a delightful conversion with the funniest comedian you know from the movies or TV. Not only will you give yourself some laughs while you watch others looking at you, you may impress the hell out of them. But remember, TURN OFF THE RINGER AND THE VOLUME! It can be very embarrassing if the phone rings while you're "talking" to Robin Williams. I had to fix it by saying "Hey, Robin, I've got Lucas on the other line calling from Hawaii. We're suppose to talk about Jurassic park 4. I'll call you back, o.k? Thanks" (Funny, I don't believe two of the people watching me believed me, but they left rather suddenly, and that was ok too, since they were also going to be interviewed for the job too..)


Good luck! Write back and tell us if you got the job.




Damn.. I just remembered. I never DID call Robin back... He is going to be sooo pissed

[Pat Shants]

Think of the interviewers as being naked.

That should take away some of the intimidation factor, not to mention a titter or two.

Think of how lucky they are in getting you for the job.Swap roles with them, they aren't interviewing you, you are interrogating them to see if they are worthy of you.

They should be the nervous ones.

[Death]

Uhhh, not naked, in their underwear dude...

[Pat Shants]

You have your fantasy, I'll have mine.:D

[Death]

So if its a guy and your a guy?

[Pat Shants]

I would look him in the eye, then somewhere else, then look him in the eye again ...and smirk knowingly.

Lesson #14 in "How to make men feel inferior for Dummies"

Of course, if it was a babe, then I'd do exactly the same thing.:rolleyes:

[Maria Sunderland]

Hahaha thanks so much guys, I really appreciate all your help :D

Pat Shants

Well one of the interviewers is kinda cute... I might not mind so much! ;) hahaha!


Katfather

Oh man, I had such a good laugh reading your post! Did you seriously do those things!? Hahaha! You're crazy ;) I'm tempted to try the cellphone thing, but although my interview's on the 16th, there's another 20 or so interviews given for the job so I'd need to stay in the waiting room for quite a few days to discourage them ;)



However, I have been studying for that interview, and as the days go by I'm less and less nervous and more confident. ^^ So... I think I'll be fine.

Thanks to everyone!

[yogibbear]

The interviewers are just as nervous. I'm on intern work at the moment during my 3rd year uni break, and the people i work with are currently interviewing new hires, and they get sooooo nervous about it.

If anything being a little ity bit nervous isn't bad at all. Just shows you're a real person. My only bit of advice is know a little bit about the company you're applying for (which you do because you work there) and take a notepad or clipboard with a few questions written down that you want to find out about. Seriously I can't believe how much less nervous you feel when you have something to rest your hands on, and pretty much instant good impression if you ask them "Why do you enjoy working for <insert name of company here>?". I think the answers you hear to that question tell you a lot about the company.

Oh and those online test things are so lame. Whether it's myer-briggs or those hermann brain dominance things they're really just pathetic imho. Putting people into boxes and saying only this type of personality can do this type of job is simply wrong. (Although that's not what they use them for anymore... if they're any good at HR. Usually they use them for putting you into a team environment where you're slightly different to the other people so you are all complementary rather than all the same). Just answer exactly what you think. No answers are wrong.

[Katfather]

Maria, this is Robin. Kat's busy on the other line right now talking with Steven.(He wants Kat to play a thricera, uh, a trices, a thrsir, a three horned dinosaur) and he's asked me to tell you you're welcome. Oh, and let me warn you, don't try the "imagine them naked" trick. I tried that while waiting in the green room to go on to the Letterman show for the first time. The problem was the Rockettes were waiting with me there and I got so horny that Dave never forgave me for getting out of control (I did, however, get a real nice card from Paul..)

[Admiral_Needa]

Hey guys!

I'm in need of some advice to try and well... calm down. LOL

Here's the situation: on the 16th, I'm going for this HUGE interview for a full time job I really, really, REALLY want. In fact, it's hilarious: it's the job I'm doing now, only right now I'm part time.

The interview is an hour, and I'm pretty confident with my studying. I know how interviews go ( dress well, no chewing gun, good preparation, shake hands, eye contact, etc..) but it's that DAMNED STRESS!





So Maria... how did it go? :cool:

Did you have to resort to picturing your interviewer naked or did you nail it? :p

[TheBuddhist]

The stress might of killed her..

Hopefully not, it's bad enough that stress makes people stink while alive.. :p

[dacbietazn]

D:
-filler-

[Maria Sunderland]

Hey guys!

First and foremost I want to thank everybody for your advice. Each and every single ones helped... except for the ones picturing them naked ;) hahaha!

Alright so... When I came out of the interview, I had a big bright smile and I thought I had done really well. But as the day progressed, followed by the evening and even the night, I started doubting myself royally. I know it's just my brain trying to scare me but it's really working lol So for now... I'm not sure anymore how it went. I don't remember half of what I said XD But I'll know in about 3 weeks if I made it or not and I'll let you all know. :)

Thanks again guys!

[CDog]

So, did you get the job?

[jokerthesplicer]

say a prayer or take a leak a lot.

[Maria Sunderland]

Hey guys!

It's been a long while, hasn't it?

Well the last few months have been quite horrendous. I had to juggle constantly between two jobs with about 60 to 70 hrs of work per week, awaiting to know the results.

In mid-february, my manager called me into his office. He was handing out the results personally to each and every person who entered the competition for the job. I passed the interview! :) Out of 7 retained, I was the 5th one chosen.

Now all that was left was for me to do a physical test. You see, what I do requires a lot of walking and lifting, etc.... It's not hard at all. It's mostly about walking. Well the test was ridiculously hard. I still try to understand how pushing a 500 pounds cart is supposed to simulate opening and closing a door. See my drift? It's kinda like saying "We'll simulate flying a plane by driving a train". Anyways. During the test, each time I was done with a task, I'd be asked "Do you think you can SAFELY lift a little more". Well I was the smart one. When I was starting to feel it could be dangerous or that I'd get strained, I'd stop. I passed, but with 'restrictions'. What this means is that I didn't complete all the tasks 100%.

For example, I was asked to left a milk crate with a little above 20 pounds, with one hand, over my head. I'm a string gal, but this was pushing it. Never will I try to lift such a weight with just one hand, and above my head to top it all off. I went up, then back down, and said that no, I could not do that, and that I'd break my back if I didn't use both hands.

My manager had me come into his office to see how the test had been and what it was about. The company making the test are from the outside so he has no say in it. He actually went to make the test himself and thought it was ridiculously hard for the job. He didn't understand how I didn't pass it 100% at first, then he did. I was being smart.

Everybody who passed with 100% ALL got hurt. I don't understand how that qualifies as passing the test. One of the girls ended up with a cold compress on her back for two days after. Another couldn't move her arm for a week, etc...

So luckily, he let me in because he knows I can do the job, and because I used my brain instead of pushing myself overboard like the rest.

So... all this to say that I gave Costco my resignation last week, and I'm officially starting as a full time employee at the House of Commons on the 17th :D

I'm so glad it's over...

[thesuperjman]

CONGRATULATIONS! what a struggle, but you came out on top:):):)

[CDog]

Awesome to hear and congrats from me as well! :D

[bioshock_fan]

Great news, congrats Maria:D !

[Maria Sunderland]

Thanks a lot guys! Now I can hop back on the forum more often :) Hehehe!

[Death]

There are two ways to get a job. Being a smart person and not a dumbass like Maria did. Or the second method which I shall not say.

[Maria Sunderland]

Hahaha! Thanks Death.

I'm very proud of one thing out of this though. A lot of people tried to discourage me into either not entering or not get my hopes up. It IS a government job after all. And I think a lot of you guys know what they say about getting a job at the government: "It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know."

Well I was able to prove a lot of people wrong. Sure, my new supervisor knew me, but not so much on a personal level as some people who were applying for the job. Otherwise, no one in my family works for the government, nor do I have any friends there. No one was there to help me. I did it on my own.

So now I'm proud to say that while that saying may be true in some cases, it's also not the norm. Hell, one of the girls who applied was the daughter of the Sergeant-In-Arms. That's way high up there. She didn't get it. We all thought she would though.

So yeah, it's about being smart, believing in yourself, and studying hard. It may sound strange, but some people, who had been doing this job for 4 or 5 years as part timers (like me) didn't even make it in the list. Why? They thought that because they had been doing the job so long they knew everything about it. I've been working there for a little over a year, and for 2 weeks before the interview, I studied a minimum of an hour every day. I asked questions, I simulated interviews, and I went to what they call a "coaching" where someone tells you how the interview will go without revealing the questions. Most didn't go to the coaching on the account that they knew they had the job. Wrong. If I hadn't gone to the coaching, I wouldn't have made it. I'm number 5 on the list. The first 4 retained were from Maintenance, which has nothing to do with the Messenger and Distribution service. I'm the only current part time messenger who made it as a full time.

Gah... sorry for the novel ^^ I'm just pretty excited!