Some days you are the windscreen, some days you are the bug!

Some days you are the windscreen - Some days you are the bug!

What do I mean by this?

We all go into interviews and meet people, believing that we are fully prepared, with full knowledge of our own CV and a good understanding of the business we are interviewing for. Questions ready to go. We walk in, head high, or sit and look straight ahead at the screen on a video interview with those staring back at you and the above still applies. Different format. Same interview.

It starts ok, they tell you who they are and what they do and then, you talk somewhat about you. A few key highlights about your career and how great you are and the best possible candidate for the position. Then the competency questions start and the first one comes at you. 

You see the mouth in front of you open and close. You hear the sentences being spoken and you hear some abbreviations. The question comes at you fast and hard and with that, the worst thing possible happens……..

Your mind goes BLANK! Totally BLANK……NOTHING.

Your mouth goes dry, palms start to sweat as the pores on your forehead open. Under your arms and down your back, you feel the beads of sweat forming. Suddenly, it is incredibly hot in wherever you are (even at home) and in this instance – the lights are flashing, the barriers are down – but there is no train coming. You may as well speak alien.

Whatever happens – just do not panic. The world is not going to collapse, even though at that moment, it feels like it. 

Take a few moments, do not be afraid to tell the interviewer that your mind has just gone blank. You are nervous and believe it or not, it happens to all of us. If you need to take a few moments, open a bottle of water, take a sip or few, pour it out, adjust your tie, sit up straight and regroup. Let it come to you.

If you cannot remember what the abbreviation was (why is the word abbreviation such a long word?) – ask!  Do not be afraid. We are all human. We have all been there – even the interviewer was once a new starter and in your position. Things go out of your head faster than they go in. Like standing at the bottom of the stairs and wondering if you had just come down them or you were actually going up? You been there – done that. Who hasn’t?

If it happens and it will, ask to come back to the question later and move onto the next. You will then nail it.  Fall down 8 times, get up 9. You live and learn.

Remember – some days you are the windscreen, some days you are the bug. Some days you could glide over it and ride the wind and other days – you go:

SPLAT!

Best wishes,

Kevin Moseley

6th November 2020