Competing against superior candidates, please help.

ancapailldorcha

Hi guys,

I was wondering if someone could help me out here. Basically, I’m aiming to do a PhD at the moment. My area is Microbiology/Immunology. Anyway, a few months ago, a lecturer I’d interviewed for a Technician job back in 2010 contact me to say he’d have another technician role come up. It was advertised this week. Anyway, a contact in Liverpool has offered to help me with my application. He’s also said my chances are slim due to PhDs (and people with a lot of experience of working in academic labs) being likely to apply. He told me I have to sell myself well. I’d stopped applying for jobs until now but this is one I really want. I was wondering if anyone here might have any advice.

Much appreciated.

eskimocat

For what my two cents are worth.

1. They rang you.... that's got to be something!

2. Passion for the position may carry you further than the piece of paper, depends on what they are looking for. Just because others may already have the paper, doesn't mean you are immediately out of the running.

3. So what if there is a bit of competition.... that's all part of the interview process. There are going to be other candidates. But someone has to get the position, so why not you? ('headology' has a lot to do with doing a good interview, if you think other people might be more experienced than you, then you may come across as disinterested when in actual fact you would love the job)

4. do your research before the interview, think of the kind of questions they might ask and how you might answer them. Also think about what you are going to say if they ask something that you don't know. (how you cope in a stressful interview will give them an indicator of how you may manage on the job... so if you feel you can handle the job, then apply the same belief to the interview process. )

5. Selling yourself is about showing the interviewers what they are getting if they hire you... if you are passionate about the work, let them know it, if you are willing to learn, make sure you get this across, etc...

6. They have to find someone to fulfil the position they have, so make their job as easy as possible for them. (i.e don't make them pull answers from you, nor should they have to hope you'll take a breath so that get a word in edgewise.... you would be surprised how often people do these in interviews)

Anyway good luck with the interview! Keep believing

ancapailldorcha

Thanks, eskimocat!

I've an interview next week. I'll see how it goes.

arthurday2013

My thinking would be similar to that of the poster above.

I really wouldn't concern yourself with the other candidates - you can't control that - focus on what you have accomplished and achieved rather than what you have not, and try to sell that as best you can in the interview.

In my experience, interviewers look at the whole package, and occasionally pick the person who fits best with the requirements, even if they aren't the most qualified.

The other thing to say is that even if you don't get the job, you might get the next one that comes around because of the good impression you made

So in short, play to your strengths

ancapailldorcha

Thanks for the replies guys! I interviewed for the job last Thursday and they offered me the job less than an hour after the interview. I think they were expecting me to want time to think about it but I accepted it there and then.

eskimocat

Result! Congratulations