I just came back from a group interview I had this evening. It made me think back about the times where I attended mass interviews.

The truth is, I never once succeeded through group interviews.

Why?

Because I'm Plain Jane, fearing that I don't stand out.

In a group of 10 people, I definitely wouldn't be the super gorgeous looking person, neither would I be the person who speaks as if he/she is giving a motivational speech. I don't have anything about me that screams, ' Hey it's me! Its Victoria! '. People wouldn't remember anything about me when I walk out of the interview room.  I can't give someone something to remember me for because I'm your average girl next door. Right now, Im still struggling to leave someone with an impression of me within that few minutes of interview. The only choice I'm left with is to be different. Different meaning I have to be quirky, I have to be daring and think out of the box. I have to try harder than everyone else, or else I will just fall flat.

Fearing that I can't impress you with my speech.

It's very difficult for someone who cannot express herself through words properly to do an interview and make them want to hire me. I stutter way too much because I'm very nervous, I will never ever make eye contact with anybody and look for empty spaces between people when I talk. I just couldn't handle the pressure that all eyes were on me when I speak, especially in a group interview where there are other people fighting to get the same job you are applying for as well. I don't know if it's just me who has this problem with group interviews, because I know I have been struggling so hard all my life to find a way to stand out. However, that's why I turn to blogging. It's only when I have this space that I can carefully think out my train of thought and write them down, It's only when I'm myself and alone that I'm able to really say what I have in my mind rather than blood rushing to my brain trying to think of ways to impress others and what to say.

The competition.

In an interview room with 20 other girls, even though it's just an interview, you would feel like it's a competition though it isn't. The company hiring another girl doesn't lessen your chance of getting in because they judge you individually how you perform during the interview. However, you will feel like that's the case because everyone is aiming for the same thing and it makes you feel inferior because you will feel that everyone in the room is better than you though you barely even know them. We're humans, we are made to feel like anything that has us aiming for the same thing like a competition. I always felt like giving up and not even trying in a group interview because I feel like there isn't a need to try because I know I won't get in anyway. But of course I definitely gave my best shot but I will always feel like whatever answers I had given is not better than the other people in the room.

If I would ever have a company, I would want the interview to be a one to one basis, because then would have more time with that one person to get to know about how he or she is like, more than what it's just the surface of it.

Because only people who are more outgoing ones are the one who would be able to make a good impression.

But that's just the surface of it. I would want to know how he or she is like as a person, the traits one possesses such as hardworking, trustworthy or even punctuality isn't something you can tell from a group interview with 3 questions. I don't see the point of being approachable and lively as the basis of whether I want to hire somebody, because what is beyond the positive and friendly vibe is more important to determine if you are a worthy employee of a certain company. I don't want to make them feel like they have to not only impress me, but impress everyone else in the room as well so that they can give the most honest answer as it's just one on one. Maybe then, I would be able to find someone who is shy yet can be as outgoing as those people once the person is familiar with the workplace and workmates who would do a great job too. However, it's group interviews are inevitable, especially with the increasing number of people wanting the same jobs. More popular part time jobs are flooded with so many applications and I guess they don't really have the time to do one on one and pick the best out of the rest through first impression.

Moral of the story?

Knowing how to make a lasting impression on your employer is important.

Be it a one to one interview and especially a group interview. Nobody is going to remember you because you don't give them something to remember you for. I know it's a struggle to let alone impress your employers if you are a plain jane like me, but know that everyone is different in their own ways and we just have to find it and embrace them. For me, I know that I'm a quite daring person if I want something badly, to the lengths that I would do ridiculous things just to make you remember me. I just came back from an interview this evening and I kind of tried it. I don't know the outcome of it yet but if I succeed, it just means that I finally found something that would make me stand out within a crowd of people. I will update this space again tomorrow and if I got through the interview. But that's my thoughts for now. What do you think about group interviews? Do you face the same fears as I do? Do comment and let me know because I'm really interested to hear and know that someone out there feels the same way as me. Till then!

edited: 7feb 8:45AM

I GOT IN! Sorry for the late update because I've totally forgotten about this post. More details will be up on my next post!