Interview Horror Story

Before I landed this sweet gig, I went through several rigorous interviews, phone screenings and personality tests for other companies. Many of them had me asking, “Am I doing this right?” But one haunts me to this day, creeping up on me just as I’m about to fall asleep and causing me to cringe. Ugh.

I went in prepared. I’d done my research, had a list of questions and knew answers to their most likely questions. Everything was going smoothly before they asked, “What is your biggest weakness?” No big deal, I had a solid answer prepared, and it wasn’t “I care too much.” So, I replied in all my eloquent splendor but the only response I received was silence. I wasn’t prepared for that. What did I do? I attempted to fill that space. To quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, “Big Mistake. Big. Huge!” There I was rambling away, and next thing I knew, I’m saying, “I think you could say my biggest weakness is I can’t take criticism.” WHAT? Somehow in my explanation I’d delivered a big red flag. The rest of the interview went downhill as I fumbled answers and regretted being born. I was not offered the job.

So, here’s your first takeaway. Give your answer and stop. Don’t fill that awkward silence with explanations. If they want additional information, they’ll ask.

The Interview

When I think back to the interview I had for my current job, it was a casual conversation about what I can bring to the table. This got me thinking: what if interviews don’t have to be cringe-worthy and uncomfortable? I spoke with Maser Consulting’s Traffic Engineering & ITS Department Manager, Adam Allen, to shed some light on the topic.

Expert Advice

When you arrive, Adam takes note of your physical appearance. He explains, “It’s important for candidates to look put together. Think about the message you’re sending if you arrive to your interview with a wrinkled shirt or unbrushed hair; some may argue a candidate may not care for the position if it appears they put in minimal effort.”

So, you meet with your interviewers and nail the handshake…no dead fish here! Alas, you’re faced with the most ambiguous part of interviews: tell me about yourself.

Well, I’m from New Jersey. I love pizza. I have a nervous sweat right now. 

This is one of the toughest parts of every interview. It’s often asked first while you’re battling your nerves, and great, now you’re blanking!

“For me, the purpose of an interview is to get to know the person behind the resume,” Adam continues, “I want to know where you’re from, what you like to do, your aspirations. Tell me your story!” While this takes some of the pressure off, keep in mind the way you communicate your story is a representation of your communication skills. “Be engaging,” he explains, “If you’re unable to tell your own story, I may have reservations about your ability to communicate with others.”

Allen explained it’s important for entry-level candidates to have some type of passion for what they’re doing. This definitely explains his exuberant attitude throughout our conversation; he literally told me he could talk about this stuff for hours. There’s a difference between being passionate about the position and describing yourself as passionate. When you get down to it, everyone describes themselves as passionate; the trick to differentiate yourself from the competition is to exemplify your passion through your interest in the role or industry you’re after.

In the STEM industry, a great way to convey this is to reference a recent project the company completed and articulate your thoughts and ideas on it. Discuss an interesting aspect or express your interest in getting involved in those types of projects.

“If you got the interview, I already think you’re qualified for the position. The interview is meant to get to know each other,” Allen said.

Pro Tip (courtesy of HR Recruiter Mike Weissman): print out one or two pages from the company’s website and meticulously place it where the interviewers just “happen” to see it. It’ll show you’re interested and came prepared.

The Conclusion

We’d love to hear your advice on how you steer clear from similar cringe-worthy moments, and any interview stories you want to share! Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time I ask, “Am I doing this right?”.

After you crush your interview, click here to read about how to nail your first day of work!