How To Deal (and not deal) With Job Interviews

Now I'm not pretending to be an expert by any means on this subject. I'm not schooled in the art of advice giving, but it's a subject that I've not only been researching recently, but have been participating in. Most online articles out there seem to give you advice and example question answers that are so clean-clipped and unrealistic that you would only ever hear them spoken on an educational school DVD. I'm generally pretty confident, but you can't pretend that trying to sell yourself to strangers is the most pleasant or relaxing experience. 

I hope these tips are a little more helpful. They're probably nothing you haven't heard or tried before, but if you're new to the interviewing world I hope they help...

1. Dress comfortably
I don't mean whap up in your Primark onesie, I mean wear something that you actually feel smart, confident and good in. Feeling good about yourself is the first step to confidence and it's going to shine out of your every pore. Honest. A couple of interviews ago I squeezed myself into a dress that I shouldn't have been trying to squeeze myself into and spent the whole interview panicking about sitting up straight to avoid a muffin top. 

2. Plan... But don't over-plan
I started off going to interviews with a practice script. I think I thought I was going to auditions, and whilst this helped me in some respects, in others it really screwed me over. Thinking of sample questions and answers is obviously a must, but just give yourself some key bullet points of ideas you want to get across for each answer, not a blow-by-blow answer. Read the job description and try to see how you can prove you fit each point. It's very unlikely that they're going to phrase the question in exactly the way you've rehearsed it, and having a scripted answer can throw you off guard. I'd once rehearsed answers to both 'what can you bring to the role' and 'what interested you about the role'. When they asked; 'what are your thoughts on the role', my mind went into a mini meltdown of trying to mash up my two answers in a vaguely coherent way. Bullet points are definitely the way forward. I've found that answering questions unprepared can sometimes be for the best, and make you appear much more truthful and like a real human being. 

3. Think before you speak
I am not one for awkward silences. Oh nonono. This trait has meant that in the past I've exclaimed 'super!' rather loudly in the middle of a silence for absolutely no reason at all. It's also caused me to exclaim to another interviewer that I had clammy hands. (Who even says super or clammy anymore? I'm starting to see why Uni friends used to think I belonged in an Enid Blyton novel). There is most definitely a difference between being yourself and being weird. Pauses and thought-gathering moments are FINE. 

4. Laugh at their jokes, shake hands firmly and smile. 
In my eyes, you can't have a bad interview if you do these three things... Even if you do share your woes of having clammy body parts. They're only human, and aren't there to catch you out. If you feel it all does go terribly wrong, just tell yourself that you'll never have to see them again so it's fine. Unless you get the job...

Ps. If you've got any tips or little lucky quirks, I'd love to hear them. When I did piano exams I used to paint a blob of nail varnish on each of my little fingers. But now I've grown out of that and just wear my lucky knickers. 

x

Flat Hunts and Bills.* (*Not the Nice Food Place Where You Get Good Brunch)

This weekend was spent in Manchester on a fly-by-flat-hunt to find a new place to live. London I love you, but it's time to move on to pastures new and cities grey...

Firstly, the questions. I went armed with a list of questions in the hope that the estate agent would think me highly knowledgeable and not try to rip us off. 'Is there double glazing, how does the heating system work, what are the additional admin fees, can I test the shower pressure..?' This last question was Steve's personal favourite.

This failed on the first hurdle when I forgot to take my notebook in to the first property and promptly forgot any questions apart from to ask if the rug was included in the furnishings. Priorities.

I did progress with my questioning tactics as the weekend went on, but also as the weekend went on the estate agents seemed to up their condescending levels. Yes, we both look about fifteen, but believe it or not we don't actually come bearing Monopoly money. Condescending estate agents are the biggest turn off in the whole entire world. I wouldn't buy the place if it came with a year's supply of free jaffa cakes.

Anyway, we finally found a beautiful little new home in West Didsbury, and it's just off a road full of cafes, independent shops and log-fire pubs. (Any Manchester readers, please give me your recommendations!) So excited. That's the fun bit, or the good grown-up bit. But now apparently I have to cancel all bills, cancel direct debits, set up direct debits, re-set up bills, take meter readings, switch TV licences, get a deposit back, put a deposit on, buy a car, insure a car and insure a flat.

Now I don't want to grumble, but if this is grown up life then I want a partial refund.

 It's a sad business leaving London, and I've absolutely LOVED the year and a bit I've had here. The places, my family, the people, the food. But I hear Manchester is the next best thing, and the opportunity to explore a new city is getting me oh so very giddy...

x

PS Sorry for the pictureless nature of this post. All will be back to normal next time! I didn't think a screenshot of my water bill would be all that riveting...

In Bruges

Oh Christmas, where have you gone?! I do that thing of doing another thing straight after the main thing so you still have something to look forward to. Last year we popped off for a rainy weekend in Brighton, and this year booked two nights in Bruges in order to ease the pain of post-Christmas blues.

Ever since watching the film In Bruges, I've felt a need to go and see if I can rescue Colin Farrell. Unfortunately Steve hadn't seen the film, but dutifully put up with my shouts of 'that's where so and so happened and I'm SURE it doesn't look like this in the film...

After arriving and heading straight out for a bowl of mussels the size of a small boat and a chocolate beer, (I know), we went for a tour round De Halve Maan Brewery. Recommendation number 1. Great tour, and beer at the end. Perfect!

There are probably three main attractions in Bruges - the Cathedral, The Church of Our Lady, and The Belfry. Oh and Jesus' blood. We did all four, and The Belfry is a definite must. It's the one that features quite heavily in the film and is over three hundred steps, but you get a lovely, if not pretty nippy, view from the top.

The Basilisca of the Holy Blood contains a phial said to contain a cloth with the blood of Jesus that was brought to Bruges during the second crusade. It's only on display at certain times of the day and is a bit of an unusual experience, but whatever you believe you can't not go and see it.

Everyone we met was so friendly, and unsurprisingly spoke perfect English. That always makes me feel so guilty. So guilty in fact, that in an attempt to look slightly less English touristy I thanked a waiter for my meal in Spanish.

We'd booked in at a restaurant on the final night that had been recommended to us called Bierbrasserie Cambrinus. The food, atmosphere and thousands of beers was wonderful. I ordered a traditional Felmmish stew cooked in beer, which would honestly have been beautiful if I hadn't pre-bloated myself up on a selection of taster beers. But again, highly recommended. Just don't do the beer part.

It's such a beautiful place to wander around, and being such a small city, you can't get lost. Even I managed it.

I'm now on to the next mind-occupier which is trying to find a flat in Manchester. We've got one day and one day only to find a place. Wish me luck!

x