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Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs - Jobs/Vacancies (4) - Nairaland

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8 Things To Avoid At An Interview / 9 Things You Should Avoid During Job Interviews. / Technical & Brain Teaser Questions Asked During Job Interviews (2) (3) (4)

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Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by deavicky(m): 9:17am On Oct 05, 2014
victorVIC1:

hmmm...plz, any1 wit suggestions on how to overcome fear?
what u should know to avoid fear is, ur life is not tired to that job. whether u ve it or not life goes on.
Be prepared for the interview but not expect any question becos if u do and question comes from where you donot expect, u will definitely become uncomfortable.

2 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Nobody: 9:18am On Oct 05, 2014
elbyno:
. I also had that nervousness in d last interview I did.And I have made up my mind that d next one,imma have to take some alcohol since it gives me some hyper confidence

Please don't use alcohol, because it will either show in your face or through mouth odor, Moreover, it is very easy for someone who does not drink to perceive alcoholic odor. thank you.

1 Like

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Melahou(m): 9:19am On Oct 05, 2014
What are your short term and long term goals and where do you see yourself in the 5years
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Emmachina24: 9:23am On Oct 05, 2014
What's the difference between resume and cv?
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by slym1: 9:23am On Oct 05, 2014
I quickly stood up after realizing that i was not asked to sit in the first place,although non of the panel noticed as their heads were down making inscriptions before attending to me,I got the job finally.

7 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Twistone(m): 9:38am On Oct 05, 2014
victorVIC1:

hmmm...plz, any1 wit suggestions on how to overcome fear?
overcoming fear is easy. The interviewer is also a common man like you. He is either going to upgrade your status or leave you the way you are; he can't degrade your current level. Have that at the back of your mind whenever you are going for an interview.

6 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Nobody: 9:44am On Oct 05, 2014
abdulslutsky:
Talking too much
I always have the urge of putting in a right way what I might have said correctly initially. Thus, confusing myself and the interviewer.


Very bad

Hehehehehehehehehe..... I used to be a victim of that...until I enrolled on a graduate employability training with the bridge leadership foundation (TBLF)..couple of years ago...I got drilled.

Well, my best contribution to anybody who's to face any interviewer is that...the person should try as much as possible to tell the truth and avoid
unnecessary EXCUSES! If you're at fault, jst admit it.

Don't try to be nice, accept ur wrongs....and make sure u study ur CV as if it was ur life!

Again, if a question is thrown to you and you dnt have an idea on how to tackle it..be smart about it. And watch wateva is coming out of your mouth...

Never rush into answering a question, pause for seconds and ponder on it. But in most cases, ACCURACY might be what the interviewer is looking for. A smart and sharp applicant.

My last contribution, I must say! Be prepared! Make calls, gather info and browse about the fame! To avoid fear, you must set ur mind to be free from fear.

I've been to interviews and never joke with a female interviews if u're a female. And if u're a man dnt joke with a male interviewer. Don't try to impress anybody.

Dnt give them the room to sense the fear in you. Being bold has to do with u believing in ur self. The first thing u need to tackle is the fear...and u must do diz at home so u'd be able to comprhend whatever u're reading.

I can remember doz foolish smiles I used to share with them whenever am called to face the HR. Hehehehehehheheheheh

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by datarex: 9:47am On Oct 05, 2014
Mine was a couple of months after service and that was my second interview. I was so jittery because i was desperate for the job.

The interview panel was made up of a number of my peers and there was a pretty lady in the group. Everything was going well until i was asked how much i would want as my take home pay. i gave the usual "pay me the standard rate" reply. I didn't want to commit to a particular figure because i didn't want to short change myself by mentioning a low figure as there seem more to the company than meet the eye.

The lady now asked if i would accept 15k as salary and i pointed out to her that a 15k salary was a joke in Abj in 2011 and wouldn't even meet my basic needs. she then told me that there are ladies who take home pay was 15k in Abj.

*At this point i should have politely stuck to my gun & kept my mouth shut but the next few minutes was like an out of body experience for me. my brain shut down and my mouth took over, i watched myself from afar blow my chances of getting a job with that firm with the things i said.

I Agreed with her that some ladies taking home 15k a month but pointed out to her that ladies don't always spend their money & have other ways of getting money. The group became animated and wanted to know how. That's when i finished the job with a list that includes money from admirers, dates and all. I cringed with each word but couldn't stop myself. The look on their faces especially that of the lady's when i was done told me all i needed to know. I knew i wasn't going to be called back ever. There are just somethings you don't say. I guess that daily 5 mins of madness chose that moment to manifest in the worst possible way.

Till date, i still can't explain what happened or what took over me because I'm not usually a chauvinistic Prick. it was all so surreal[/quote]
Quite hilarious.
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Tundeajani(m): 9:49am On Oct 05, 2014
IdeeEsperanza:
I've not been to an interview before. However, all the jobs I've done so far, whenever it reaches my turn to be interviewed, they're usually either too tired or they'll just not interview me but will eventually employ me.
ishe eyonu niyen..your babalawo is working oh..abeg share me dat black soap abeg

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Emmachina24: 9:52am On Oct 05, 2014
What is the difference between resume and CV?
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Nobody: 10:01am On Oct 05, 2014
Tundeajani:
ishe eyonu niyen..your babalawo is working oh..abeg share me dat black soap abeg

Buahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
grin
Tundeajani:
ishe eyonu niyen..your babalawo is working oh..abeg share me dat black soap abeg

Buahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Ayowumie(m): 10:06am On Oct 05, 2014
Be familiar with the contents of ur CV.
I was asked to expantiate on the places I had worked before. After talking for few seconds, the interviewer asked 'do you have that in ur CV?'

I started blabbering, I said "yes, no, yes. Oh I'm not pretty certain I included that".
I saw the interviewer smile and put down a note. What happened was that I took the contents of my CV for my granted; which is really bad for any interviewee

2 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by ChelseaDotCom: 10:09am On Oct 05, 2014
Can an interviewer gets intimidated by ones cv and achievements?
I've ones had an interview with a coy, a panel of 3 and they kept asking how I was able to fund myself to LBS. Also, they asked me why I didnt choose lecturing instead of their offer...at last, I wasnt called for the job. They gave me a flimsy reason.
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Nobody: 10:13am On Oct 05, 2014
ChelseaDotCom:
Can an interviewer gets intimidated by ones cv and achievements?
I've ones had an interview with a coy, a panel of 3 and they kept asking how I was able to fund myself to LBS. Also, they asked me why I didnt choose lecturing instead of their offer...at last, I wasnt called for the job. They gave me a flimsy reason.
yes....they do.
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Nobody: 10:14am On Oct 05, 2014
Emmachina24:
What is the difference between resume and CV?

The difference is in the writing. A resume has to do basically on the person's full details and qualifications, projects, achievements, etc... Giving full analysis of everything.

But a CV in the other hand must have ur objectives, attributes, skills, academic and professional qualifications most to state the dates u achieve them.

Check diz resume out...but it varies! Many country have diffrent ways of writing a resume!

1 Share

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by clubone05: 10:17am On Oct 05, 2014
Let me give all u guys a tip....dont care too much. ...if you got called ur probably good enough. ..but they are gonna have to cut some peeps off..

be your self....there are no right or wrong answers. .just the perspective of the interviewer. .


P.S. ..u guys need to start ur own gigs...work is scarce cus everybody wants paid employment. ..

3 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Tundeajani(m): 10:17am On Oct 05, 2014
some times it is not about your at look but what you have got in you.rember my first interview which i wore an oversized shirt and yaradua shoe to..when the interviewers saw me their eyes were like iru eeyan woh tun leleyi..by the time i handle them with my oratorical verbosity and intellectual content..kia loju won yi pada ti wo n rerin simi ti won tun patewo..
In summary develop yourself and eved if you wear agbada go bill gate company..by the time he hear you speak he get no option than to give you the job:.learn also to have a good fashion sense like me now..baba ti upgrade...in yq's voice i sing bata ti mowo na tear rubber.:...

9 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Mr9iceGuyDbrain: 10:25am On Oct 05, 2014
Good morning sir,i'm an undergraduate,i have not gone for any job interview before. I'm coming across a particular phrase on this topic "knowing your resume". Can You please explain that phrase for me. I don't know what resume is all about. Tnx
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by MunAKeyzZ(m): 10:36am On Oct 05, 2014
Egonec:
I need an answer to dis question pls-

How do u respond wen an interviewer asks u, "wat will u do if u are given a job witout a pay?"
ANSWER- I will sue the company.

2 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by 27naira(m): 10:38am On Oct 05, 2014
hardeyswaggz:
THIS WAS MY STORY LAST WEEK;

INTERVIEWER : Do you know anything about colours?

ME : (wondering his point exactly and scared of a yes or no) Nodded.

INTERVIEWER : Have u ever bn to an interview?

ME : (still wondering) Yes, About four....

INTERVIEWER : Do u knw why u av never bn picked?

ME : (...

INTERVIEWER : Tell me why you used a red Tye?

ME : (looked at the tye maybe it cld give me an ansa) Cuz i wanted to be distinct

INTERVIEWER : So if you have come in here and saw any of us use a red tye what would u have done?

ME : (Looked at their necks maybe an ansa cld come) i knw none of my interviewers av ever used a red a tye and i knw today cannot be an exception.

INTERVIEWER : Do u knw a red colour is offensive

ME : (Shocked)

INTERVIEWER : thats why u av never bn picked in any of your four interviews

ME : (Tryna change it) I have bn picked in two of the interviews but i turned them down

INTERVIEWER : WHY
.
.
.
.
.
.
MY HAND DON DEY PAIN ME JARE I WAN SLEEP....WATCHOUT FOR PART TWO.


Whoever interviewed you was out of ideas.
Red has never been and will never be an offensive color for a tie. That opinion is subjective.
I will assume you are a fresh graduate with little or no experience, that may likely be the reason why the interviewer had no productive subject matter to discuss.
By the way, in the States, democratic congressmen prefer red tie smiley

I have been to a couple of interviews where expat candidates showed up on jeans and t-shirts, and was only present NOT for the interview par se but to negotiate their wages. lol

Silicon valley tech firms don't give a hoot if you show up shorts and flip flops as far as you have what they need.

Things you need to know when going for an interview:

1. have a grasp of the corporate policies of the company you're gunning for. If it is a financial firm, go corporate, preferably not a shiny tie like pink or yellow! cheesy and also, get a hair cut and a manicure. Those frauds are particular about appearance.

2. For oil and gas, those assholes are bossy and snobbish. Be patient. Most likely, they will not ask you anything out of the ordinary if you are a fresh recruit, we most likely will ask you about your degrees and academic related questions. A question that i found candidates have not answered appropriately is "what do you want to be"? its vague and tricky right? the truth is that your approach to the question will show us your line of thought! For experienced hands, we are only interested in your career history and why you left your last employers. Some O/G people are professional ashawo, jumping from one company to the other without loyalty to anyone smiley. Nobody wants to mobilize you handsomely today and you will quit the next day. mbanu!

5 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by jahbiz: 10:46am On Oct 05, 2014
If u are ask do u drink alcohol/spirit? Yes don't be surprised the interviewers could ask that. I was asked the same question on friday by an Insurance co. Tell them u dont except under duress, no matter how they frame the question to trick you even though u can empty 60bottles of beer per minute and go along with ur original copy of ur credentials even if u might not need them.

2 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by victorD3: 10:50am On Oct 05, 2014
If you want to see a good and burning confidence during interviews then get a job first. If you have a reliable job to fall back to you will be super confident during interviews.

I was ask by an interview panel in internationsl coy based in Lagos.

Panel:where are you from ?
Me: I'm a nigerian

Panel: what state are you from?
Me: for personal reasons let's stop at my country since that alone qualifies me for the position as advertised (procurement and logistic lead, south west)

Penel: This time the procurement manager - It is important you tell us so we can continue the interview. Then the supply chain coordinator jumped in and ask if I have any particular reasons I'm not mentioning my state.
Me: I believe this is an international firm and asking where am from which should stop at me being a Nigerian which qualifies me for the job.

Panel : Please look at the category of people in this panel and don't waste my time ( all managers and top officers including Nigerians and foreigners)
Me : I took days off from me work which I enjoy so much and flew down to Lagos so I wouldn't say I'm wasting time, even jolome (the HR secretary) knoews how difficult it was for me to accept a working day for my interview.

Panel: I British man amongst them picked up my CV and said " oh! Strathclyde University now I see where that's its coming from". One of the panelist angrily said that I should leave the British mentality and face what's done in Nigeria.And if you have a job as you said why not stay in your office and do your work?
Me : At this point I was puting all my credentials together inside my file in preparation to leave . I told the man that I have been to an interview that all the interviewers left the coy within 5 weeks of my working there because life is dynamic and nobody hires who is static. We spent over 50 minutes arguing this but the smart guys where actually learning and finding it interesting while the Tribalists (not mentioning the tribe) amongst them wanted me to mention my state so I will maybe be marked down because they have a particular tribe they wanted at heart.

Panel: Time is up for our break and we will continue in 15 minutes:
Me : Thank you for listening I will be heading to my hotel to get myself ready for my travel tomorrow .

Panel: No its important we finish with you because you have gone through all our 3 staging of recruitment and all these you paid your way to Lagos
Me: well I'm not sure this one will favor me

Panel: They insisted
Me: Sorry Sir this day have made me appreciate my current job me because nobody has ever bothered to know where am from for 3yrs of working there, but over here which I percieved would have been a wonderful place to share my vast experiences and know how I was been asked where am from at the door step. Perhaps next will be is I support APC or not. I left Lagos the next day

2 Months later

Me : I'm in Ghana for a training my department organised for there senior engineers. Life looking wonderful in a 4 star hotel chating on fb after the second day training. Received an email because they have been trying mg number with no success .

Letter: That the penel has realized that they werent professional towards me and that they are considering me for the position of a procurement/ logistic assistant.This position was without interview and more or less that was my appointment letter.
Me: well this position came with a salary of over 380k with so much other benefits and I was earning 210k then in my current organisation. Well I turned down the job because there was bad blood already and I would be working under the same guys that treated me so unfairly . well my special adviser( my late mother) told me to shun them and move on which I'm happy I did. Now I have worked myself to a comfortable position in the same organisation that I have time to do all my personal projects and travel anywhere I want without someone threatening me.


Please there is no time to read all me sentences do pardon my typo

31 Likes 7 Shares

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Habidab: 10:50am On Oct 05, 2014
KillerBeauty:


Thumbs up to my project supervisor for helping me curb my use of the word 'yea' or 'ya' when talking to her. But since I finished sch 2yrs back I found out that av started using those words again. Am trying very hard to stop it 4 good.

As 4 job interview my advice try as much as possible to organise ur thoughts in ur head well. Think about likely questions and the best way to answer them. I remember attending an interview and I was asked the question 'tell me abt urself?' I wasn't prepared for it and I was jst blabbing. Also I was asked what do u hate? And all I did was to stare at d man like mumu.
we need to develop our confidence first before any interview,maybe tgats stage fright
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by orgasticdance: 10:54am On Oct 05, 2014
KillerBeauty:


Thumbs up to my project supervisor for helping me curb my use of the word 'yea' or 'ya' when talking to her. But since I finished sch 2yrs back I found out that av started using those words again. Am trying very hard to stop it 4 good.

As 4 job interview my advice try as much as possible to organise ur thoughts in ur head well. Think about likely questions and the best way to answer them. I remember attending an interview and I was asked the question 'tell me abt urself?' I wasn't prepared for it and I was jst blabbing. Also I was asked what do u hate? And all I did was to stare at d man like mumu.
I totally concur. A good way to have an organized mind/thought process is to keep a diary/ daily journal in which you enter your activities for the day. I used to be a nervous wreck fresh out of school, but after I started diarizing i could handle an hour long gruelling interview because of the effortless ease with which i could recall my previous work history. Diarize over a long period of time and you'll go in very confidently to any interview. Helps in other life contexts too. Oh, it also helps to be relaxed and enjoy some good old banter with your fellow interviewees or the receptionist.

2 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by jahbiz: 11:00am On Oct 05, 2014
Tundeajani:
some times it is not about your at look but what you have got in you.rember my first interview which i wore an oversized shirt and yaradua shoe to..when the interviewers saw me their eyes were like iru eeyan woh tun leleyi..by the time i handle them with my oratorical verbosity and intellectual content..kia loju won yi pada ti wo n rerin simi ti won tun patewo..
In summary develop yourself and eved if you wear agbada go bill gate company..by the time he hear you speak he get no option than to give you the job:.learn also to have a good fashion sense like me now..baba ti upgrade...in yq's voice i sing bata ti mowo na tear rubber.:...
Em laughing from mile 2 to mile 12. U must b a very bad Yoruba guy!!!

3 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by amosade30(m): 11:00am On Oct 05, 2014
I'm an aspiring corper,to serve in PH....I wish to write some engineering companies in PH for internship during my service next year(even if its without pay but to get experience and practical skills)...pls anyone knows what n what I cn include in the application letter and what should be d content of my CV? Thanks (amosade30@gmail.com)
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Hidentity(m): 11:01am On Oct 05, 2014
I will advise that people get sensitive during interviews and think outside the box. I recently went for an interview where this happened;

Interviewer: Where are you from?

Me: I am from ... (a small town in Africa)

Interviewer: Can you just mention one or two great men that came from the same place just like you?

Me: Yes, I can.

Interviewer: Go ahead, mention just two

Me: (I then mentioned MY NAME first and then that of a Supreme Court Justice). The surprise the audacity of mentioning my name gave them was apparent in their facial expressions.

MY POINT: Interviewers want to know how much value you attach to yourself and how sensitive you are, do not go acting like you are worthless or insignificant. You come first!

17 Likes 1 Share

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by osile2012: 11:04am On Oct 05, 2014
IdeeEsperanza:
I've not been to an interview before. However, all the jobs I've done so far, whenever it reaches my turn to be interviewed, they're usually either too tired or they'll just not interview me but will eventually employ me.
Na cleaner job that works like that.

1 Like

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Tundeajani(m): 11:05am On Oct 05, 2014
jahbiz:
Em laughing from mile 2 to mile 12. U must b a very bad Yoruba guy!!!
na so abi ki lati fe shaye yii sii afi ka so oyinbo ka tun fi tiwantiwa mix here...omo iya it makes the control of language sweeter just licke licking agbalumo to ti pon ko jaa be..
Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by whitemosquito(f): 11:05am On Oct 05, 2014
victorD3:
If you want to see a good and burning confidence during interviews then get a job first. If you have a reliable job to fall back to you will be super confident during interviews.

I was ask by an interview panel in internationsl coy based in Lagos.

Panel:where are you from ?
Me: I'm a nigerian

Panel: what state are you from?
Me: for personal reasons let's stop at my country since that alone qualifies me for the position as advertised (procurement and logistic lead, south west)

Penel: This time the procurement manager - It is important you tell us so we can continue the interview. Then the supply chain coordinator jumped in and ask if I have any particular reasons I'm not mentioning my state.
Me: I believe this is an international firm and asking where am from which should stop at me being a Nigerian which qualifies me for the job.

Panel : Please look at the category of people in this panel and don't waste my time ( all managers and top officers including Nigerians and foreigners)
Me : I took days off from me work which I enjoy so much and flew down to Lagos so I wouldn't say I'm wasting time, even jolome (the HR secretary) knoews how difficult it was for me to accept a working day for my interview.

Panel: I British man amongst them picked up my CV and said " oh! Strathclyde University now I see where that's its coming from". One of the panelist angrily said that I should leave the British mentality and face what's done in Nigeria.And if you have a job as you said why not stay in your office and do your work?
Me : At this point I was puting all my credentials together inside my file in preparation to leave . I told the man that I have been to an interview that all the interviewers left the coy within 5 weeks of my working there because life is dynamic and nobody hires who is static. We spent over 50 minutes arguing this but the smart guys where actually learning and finding it interesting while the Tribalists (not mentioning the tribe) amongst them wanted me to mention my state so I will maybe be marked down because they have a particular tribe they wanted at heart.

Panel: Time is up for our break and we will continue in 15 minutes:
Me : Thank you for listening I will be heading to my hotel to get myself ready for my travel tomorrow .

Panel: No its important we finish with you because you have gone through all our 3 staging of recruitment and all these you paid your way to Lagos
Me: well I'm not sure this one will favor me

Panel: They insisted
Me: Sorry Sir this day have made me appreciate my current job me because nobody has ever bothered to know where am from for 3yrs of working there, but over here which I percieved would have been a wonderful place to share my vast experiences and know how I was been asked where am from at the door step. Perhaps next will be is I support APC or not. I left Lagos the next day

2 Months later

Me : I'm in Ghana for a training my department organised for there senior engineers. Life looking wonderful in a 4 star hotel chating on fb after the second day training. Received an email because they have been trying mg number with no success .

Letter: That the penel has realized that they werent professional towards me and that they are considering me for the position of a procurement/ logistic assistant.This position was without interview and more or less that was my appointment letter.
Me: well this position came with a salary of over 380k with so much other benefits and I was earning 210k then in my current organisation. Well I turned down the job because there was bad blood already and I would be working under the same guys that treated me so unfairly . well my special adviser( my late mother) told me to shun them and move on which I'm happy I did. Now I have worked myself to a comfortable position in the same organisation that I have time to do all my personal projects and travel anywhere I want without someone threatening me.


Please there is no time to read all me sentences do pardon my typo
My kind of guy..
*Claps admiringly*
.. I once went for an interview where I was asked why I was 'half caste', why my father's surname was compound and why the surname infact. I've even been asked why my brother's unmarried! Interviewer's use their position to ask a lot of stoopid and unnecessary questions. It's the typical Nigerian power-drunk mentality.

3 Likes

Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by Otuabaroku: 11:10am On Oct 05, 2014
My interview mistake happened during my first interview after graduation with Bloomberg. Having passed the telephone interview and the interview with the two junior developers, I would be working with in the same team. I was asked to wait for the team lead to interview me and I should help myself with food, coffee, tea and sweets.

I kept it simple by taking water while waiting for the team lead. 10 mins later, the team lead came. Exchanged pleasantry and led me to interview room.

The interview went thus:
Interviewer( team lead): How do you think you have performed so far?
Me: I think I have performed well.
Interviewer: Good.
Interviewer: Given a stream of an unordered data. How would you store them and retrieve them programmatically?
Me: Pause for a while. Then answered: I would firstly sort the data and store them in a memory. This would make it faster to retrieve than when the data are not sorted.
Interviewer: Given that the data is double array, how would you sort them?
Me : I would use double for loop to iterate and compare them in each iteration.
Interviewer: Though your solution will work but is not the best solution. That assuming that there is memory limitation. That the hint is the size of the memory is 8 bit. And by the way what does it mean that the size of the memory is 8 bits?
Me: ( In my mind, I was like I a bloody Electrical and Electronic Engineering graduate). I replied 256.
Interviewer: Good. That should serve as hint to get a better solution.
While I was battling and cracking my brain to get a solution.
Interviewer: In your cv you stated you want to be a distinguished software architect. What are the roles of software architect?
Me: The roles include translating customer requirements to design implementation. And getting the developers to implement the design. (Here I made mistake I said control instead lead developers to implement the design). And making sure that the final project is delivered to the customer successfully.

I later got the solution he was looking for. In this case using Hashmap data structure.
There were other questions and answers. But another mistake I made was I was not writing answers to programming questions on the paper given to me. As I could see a disappointment on his face when he collected and saw it was almost empty ( I was solving them off hand).

The interview started 9.30am and finished 5.30pm.

At the end he told me that I will hear from them. I knew I have blown it because if it was successful, he would have asked me to wait for Hr interview which was to sell the company to me and discuss salary.

The next day, I received a rejection email. I wrote to the hr to please give me feedback on my interview. She later called me. She said the junior developers and team lead were impressed with my technical skills. However, instead of me to focus on the job I applied for. I was telling the team lead how I would be controlling the developers.

I told her, that I was misunderstood. That I said when I would have worked for 5 yrs. That I would have got to the position to lead a team to successful project delivery.

She said okay,that she would explain to him and get back to me.

For reason I understand when phone rang the next day,on the second ring when I was going to pick it up. The phone switched off ( my phonewas having issues then). I guessed she was the one that called because the number was unknown. After that, I didn't hear from them again.

I learnt my lessons and moved on. It pained me then that I was so close. It equally made me believe that I can get job in Uk( despite the difficulty of getting employer that is willing to sponsor you as international ).

After a long search and interviews my dreams came through.

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Re: Mistakes Dat I've Made In Job Interviews That You Should Avoid At All Costs by osasbliss: 11:17am On Oct 05, 2014
Mine was dat i was chewing gum. lolzzzzzzzzz

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