Interview Technique Help

[dogwomble]

Hey guys and gals,

I want to get a bit of advice out of you guys.

I have got a job interview with Prime TV next week for a "Desktop Support Officer". I haven't been told an income yet, but if it's at least what I'm on now if I were offered it I would take it because it's a job I really, really want to do. I have a real interest in computer networks and providing support, and I have a love of the technical side of media type things because I enjoy pushing buttons and swivelling dials and making lights flash.

The thing is, I really, really, really suck at interviews. Like majorly suck. They're obviously impressed enough with my Resume to call me in for an interview, and I would really like to go well at the interview so that it increases my chances of me actually getting offered the position - coz everything apart from an unknown income looks good. It's sort of a more 'junior' role, so there's a bit of learning involved which is what I want - coz I need to brush up on Linux and Active Directory and update my knowledge of other things. Plus it's in a field that I know I'm gonna love.

So what should I do? What sort of questions are they likely to ask? What sort of existing skills should I emphasize? (Incidentally, I gave them a Microsoft Word version of this (http://home.curl.aunz.net/dogwomble/resume.html) and would it be worth mentioning that I have my own hoee recording studio that I'm playing about with? (http://home.curl.aunz.net/dogwomble/studio_of_woof.jpg))

And what else should I know?

[dwarfthrower]

When I'm interviewing for technical roles I tend to look for a couple of things:

I like a candidate who has thought about the position and identified areas where they will need to do some learning - and thought about how they will go about getting up to speed in those areas. Candidates that show a good capacity for independence and self-education go a long way in my books.

This post (http://forums.zgeek.com/showpost.php?p=880753&postcount=6) has a mass of questions I lifted from our interview manual.

[BtrFly]

As to the 'HR' side of it, be calm, and comfortable in the room. if you start to get all shifty, or have a nervous tick, or tend to move around a lot, then they will think less of you. Also try and keep eye contact, make sure you enunciate your words clearly, and have a firm handshake, not just at the beginning, but generally at the end too.

Dwarfthrower - good advice :) i am not technical so...

Good luck dogwomble!

[dogwomble]

Well, I had the interview ... I think it went well, but then I ambiased and these things, well, you never really can tell. I hear next week as there are still a few interviews. I hope it goes my way, because if it does, I'm so looking forward to quitting my current job :)

[bronco]

I think if you do get more interviews a few things I try to remember:
- Breathe. Especailly when you are about to answer, so that you are relaxed when speaking
- Think before you speak. It's better to be silent and appear a fool than speak and remove all doubt.
- Be confident. If they have asked you in for an interview they obviously think you have potential, so be confident.
- Don't outright lie. You'll get caught