Hello all,
Had my first interview for a local ambulance company today, and to be frank, I think I bombed it. Granted, all I went in to do was a written exam before the "suprise" interview. I say suprise because my interviewer explained that she thought she got a more genuine view of people rather than the "polished" answers she would get when they told people there would be an interview.
I stumbled on half the questions asked to me, not even really able to comprehend the questions asked to me and I am pretty sure I used the same general answer for about 3 questions. I tried to make eye contact as much as possible but I found my eyes wandering around the room while I tried to pull an answer out of my butt for a question I really didn't even understand. I was so nervous I couldn't think straight or even come up with basic answers to basic questions.
I am sure I did well on the 50 question exam about EMS protocol and basic knowledge questions. But as with a few pre-interview screenings I was given a 200 question personality exam that I have failed before. I tried answering with what I thought would be the answer they were looking for and failed, so the next time I tried answering as truthfully as possible and failed. What are they looking for with this exam?
My question is how did you practice interviews? What is the interviewer looking for? Is there a website or book I can get that gives me mock interview questions so I can be prepared next time?
I was nervous out of my mind and I think that was mostly the cause of me stumbling on the questions, but I think I was mostly nervous because I was not prepared. If by some miracle I make it through to the next round of the hiring process I go in front of an oral board.
If anyone has any personal advice/websites/books about how to be prepared for interviews and oral boards please let me know! I know this will not be my last interview or oral board but I would like to be prepared for my next one!
Thanks
Had my first interview for a local ambulance company today, and to be frank, I think I bombed it. Granted, all I went in to do was a written exam before the "suprise" interview. I say suprise because my interviewer explained that she thought she got a more genuine view of people rather than the "polished" answers she would get when they told people there would be an interview.
I stumbled on half the questions asked to me, not even really able to comprehend the questions asked to me and I am pretty sure I used the same general answer for about 3 questions. I tried to make eye contact as much as possible but I found my eyes wandering around the room while I tried to pull an answer out of my butt for a question I really didn't even understand. I was so nervous I couldn't think straight or even come up with basic answers to basic questions.
I am sure I did well on the 50 question exam about EMS protocol and basic knowledge questions. But as with a few pre-interview screenings I was given a 200 question personality exam that I have failed before. I tried answering with what I thought would be the answer they were looking for and failed, so the next time I tried answering as truthfully as possible and failed. What are they looking for with this exam?
My question is how did you practice interviews? What is the interviewer looking for? Is there a website or book I can get that gives me mock interview questions so I can be prepared next time?
I was nervous out of my mind and I think that was mostly the cause of me stumbling on the questions, but I think I was mostly nervous because I was not prepared. If by some miracle I make it through to the next round of the hiring process I go in front of an oral board.
If anyone has any personal advice/websites/books about how to be prepared for interviews and oral boards please let me know! I know this will not be my last interview or oral board but I would like to be prepared for my next one!
Thanks