Interview Advice: pooping myself

quigleyjames50 · 18 Jan 2014 at 15:58

Okay, so I have an interview on Tuesday for a local Architecture firm and I'm crapping myself.

This is the first professional interview I've had since Uni, as I walked back into a previous practice when I left, and I'm very nervous about having my body of work judged and scrutinized right in front of me.

I'm having to whack together a Portfolio as I haven't got one currently and was completely unprepared for the interview. (I recently returned from 15 months backpacking and have only got the interview as the chap who runs the local bike shop hooked it up for me).

Anybody here an experienced interviewer/interviewee who can shed some light onto how best to prepare?

Mucho thanks.

quigleyjames50 · 18 Jan 2014 at 16:08

Good call on holding the poop.

I will research the company but as there was no job advertisement it's hard to tell what my place will be in the company. My friend just happened to mention that I was looking for work and they know my previous employer and so were keen to meet me, which I'm taking as a good sign as they are potentially creating a position for me.

My previous employer is notorious around here for overworking and underpaying his staff so they are assuming if I can work for him then I can work for them, haha.

quigleyjames50 · 18 Jan 2014 at 18:15

I'm Part 1 at the minute but to be honest don't see myself doing Part 2 any time soon. I didn't really get on with the University environment (may have just been the Uni I chose) and have learnt a lot more working in a real world environment than I did in my 3 years at uni. I found the course to be very creatively driven and to some extent I find that more a natural ability rather than something you can learn.

Being a small Island (Isle of Wight) I have some knowledge of the company and have even worked with one or two of the current employees. My main concern is I tend to get flustered in interview situations and start rushing my answers, I'll just have to remember to take a breath and be clear and concise with my answers.

quigleyjames50 · 18 Jan 2014 at 21:33

Ok so I've decided to man the fudge up. At the end of the day they've approached me and if I don't get the job then I wont be in any worse a position than I am now.

My only real concern is that I don't have much in the way of a portfolio. My Uni work isn't great (though not terrible either) and I don't have any photographs of finished projects as I was always too busy for site visits once the job was completed. I am trying to contact old clients and arrange something but with the interview being Tuesday I'm short on time.

I may try and reschedule the interview for later in the week to give me enough time to compile and present my work (they did state I should call to rearrange if Tuesday wasn't convenient) or would that be a big no no impression wise?