Dealing with post-interview nerves?
July 20, 2018 11:16 AM Subscribe
I've been working with a staffing agency which is trying to fill a position with a large tech company. They reached out to me based on my LinkedIn profile. I just had an interview with the "client," yesterday and was left feeling nervous and a bit anxious. How do I deal and what can I expect going forward?
I'd previously had a "screening," interview with the staffing agency, which was honestly a bit weird for me, as they didn't seem to know much about my field, and might almost have been checking my answers off on a list. I was told to expect the client interview yesterday, which got started late, due to video chat-related difficulties beyond my control. I felt like I was rushed and didn't give my best performance, even if the questions were vaguely similar to the initial "screening," I had a few days earlier.
I was told at the end of the interview that there was nothing more I could offer at the moment, and that they would be in touch with the staffing agency if they needed any kind of follow-up.
I haven't worked with staffing agencies before, or had formal interviews, things have always been freelance or at best obtained via slightly more relaxed networking. How do y'all deal with a case of nerves like this? Should I just wait a week or so in case I hear back from the agency in question? If I don't, can I presume they're no longer interested in me?
I'd previously had a "screening," interview with the staffing agency, which was honestly a bit weird for me, as they didn't seem to know much about my field, and might almost have been checking my answers off on a list. I was told to expect the client interview yesterday, which got started late, due to video chat-related difficulties beyond my control. I felt like I was rushed and didn't give my best performance, even if the questions were vaguely similar to the initial "screening," I had a few days earlier.
I was told at the end of the interview that there was nothing more I could offer at the moment, and that they would be in touch with the staffing agency if they needed any kind of follow-up.
I haven't worked with staffing agencies before, or had formal interviews, things have always been freelance or at best obtained via slightly more relaxed networking. How do y'all deal with a case of nerves like this? Should I just wait a week or so in case I hear back from the agency in question? If I don't, can I presume they're no longer interested in me?
as they didn't seem to know much about my field, and might almost have been checking my answers off on a list.
Standard. They may have been working a checklist I suppose, but at the end of the day they aren't in your field and are basically checking to see if you're human and can talk about yourself and field without screaming or crying or going numb.
I felt like I was rushed and didn't give my best performance
They did the rushing, they aren't much concerned about the effects of that, unless they are, in which case it's probably a nightmare place to work.
Keep sending out resumes, doing phone screens, and basically not putting all of your eggs in this basket. Send them an email on Tuesday if you don't hear by then.
posted by rhizome at 12:25 PM on July 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
Standard. They may have been working a checklist I suppose, but at the end of the day they aren't in your field and are basically checking to see if you're human and can talk about yourself and field without screaming or crying or going numb.
I felt like I was rushed and didn't give my best performance
They did the rushing, they aren't much concerned about the effects of that, unless they are, in which case it's probably a nightmare place to work.
Keep sending out resumes, doing phone screens, and basically not putting all of your eggs in this basket. Send them an email on Tuesday if you don't hear by then.
posted by rhizome at 12:25 PM on July 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
Nerves are normal and so is the anxiousness to know what they thought of you, but it's out of your control, so don't sweat it. I would follow up after a week or two if you don't hear anything, but I would keep looking elsewhere and focus on looking ahead. Assume, for now, that you didn't get it and keep looking, but make sure you do follow up and do whatever you can to stay in contention.
I only went through a staffing agency once and I thought it was very strange - they didn't seem to be in a position to even know if I was a good candidate because they weren't experts in the field. I also didn't like that I couldn't speak directly to the people who worked the company and asked some questions that were important to me about the workplace culture - they wanted to string me along but I didn't know whether I was wasting my time or not. I actually dropped out when I found something else more appealing. The whole setup of staffing agencies seems to make it feel extra awkward, so I think it's normal you feel a little anxious about the experience.
posted by AppleTurnover at 2:01 PM on July 20, 2018
I only went through a staffing agency once and I thought it was very strange - they didn't seem to be in a position to even know if I was a good candidate because they weren't experts in the field. I also didn't like that I couldn't speak directly to the people who worked the company and asked some questions that were important to me about the workplace culture - they wanted to string me along but I didn't know whether I was wasting my time or not. I actually dropped out when I found something else more appealing. The whole setup of staffing agencies seems to make it feel extra awkward, so I think it's normal you feel a little anxious about the experience.
posted by AppleTurnover at 2:01 PM on July 20, 2018
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But dealing with nerves from waiting for an unspecified period of time, my mantra is "I can't lose something I didn't have." Post-interview uncertainties suck, but after the usual follow-up "thanks for the opportunity to interview, here's a reminder of why I'm a great future colleague" email, I remind myself that nothing is certain until you get an offer, so until then, it's not real. It can be hard if the job lines up with your skills and you feel like you interviewed well, but there are so many reasons someone else got picked for the position, so trying to figure out what you could have done better, or trying to read anything said in or after the interview can be madness.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:00 PM on July 20, 2018 [3 favorites]