Cannot interview for a long period of time

[cy19861126]

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Okay, I dunno if I am the only one that is feeling like this, but whenever I interview at any school, I tend to have a tendency to get very tired and dizzy after like say 10~15 min of interview. After that, either I start speaking nonsense, or just answer a question in just a few words.

A typical interview is about 30-45 min, and I am very worried about my condition now. I think I know the reason now - I have never been in a conversation so serious like this. I had a job, went to school, discuss whatever is being discuss during class, but never an interview like this. Thus, although I have been practicing so hard at home, I cannot get through this barrier. How can I fix this problem? My other interview is in two weeks. Should I now practice for more than 45 min now at home? That is what I'm planning to do

PS: English is not my first language, so that may be some other reason

 

[LabbyRatty]

It's hard to stay focused during those things. My only suggestions would be to do some mock interviews at a local college, if available. The speech class I took was quite helpful because we often did impromptu speeches where our teacher would as us random things and we would have to give coherent answers. This may be part of several classes in the public speaking department. Or just have your friends "grill" you for 30 minutes. Visit the interview feedback database here on SDN and practice questions, even those listed for schools to which you didn't apply. Each interview gets easier and easier. Good luck!

 

[confettiflyer]

Do you have ADD or something?

If you can't focus on a conversation for 10-15 minutes, you have some serious problems that need to be worked on that probably won't be solved in 2 weeks. You might want to talk to a psychiatrist or something.

 

[cy19861126]

Do you have ADD or something?

If you can't focus on a conversation for 10-15 minutes, you have some serious problems that need to be worked on that probably won't be solved in 2 weeks. You might want to talk to a psychiatrist or something.

It's not that I can't go on a conversation for 10-15 min. It's just that I cannot stay interviewing for 10-15 min. Maybe I have ADD, who knows. How can I find out that I have ADD?

 

[MsLovely]

...

 

[confettiflyer]

It's not that I can't go on a conversation for 10-15 min. It's just that I cannot stay interviewing for 10-15 min. Maybe I have ADD, who knows. How can I find out that I have ADD?

Maybe you've just had a boring interview. I've always seen my interviews as conversations. It wasn't a straight Q&A to me, it was....ask me a question, I'll answer...and the back and forth continued. The interview is not a cognitive test, it's a test of your social skill and ability to communicate.

I think you just might need some confidence...I went into my interviews thinking I was the absolute shit.

 

[kismet]

I would suggest practicing somewhere OTHER than home. Home is comfortable. Interviews are not. You need to simulate that stress to learn how to deal with it. Check with your school, they might offer interview sessions, or clubs on campus; pre-pharmacy, health science, even pre-med, pre-dent clubs might have mock interviews or do little seminars on it.

Also talk to a counselor on campus. Maybe you just get freaked out by interviews, maybe it's something else, but they can help you learn how to manage your anxiety.

 

[Knickerbocker]

Just say no to drugs...

I swear, if I need to reapply next year, I'm going to get a prescription for Paxil.

 

[UES Girl]

I swear, if I need to reapply next year, I'm going to get a prescription for Paxil.

We should open a re-applcation thread for those of us who already know each other. I am going to be applying all over the country, possbly to the same schools you will. Let's cross our fingers though that you get in this year.

 

[cy19861126]

Maybe you've just had a boring interview. I've always seen my interviews as conversations. It wasn't a straight Q&A to me, it was....ask me a question, I'll answer...and the back and forth continued. The interview is not a cognitive test, it's a test of your social skill and ability to communicate.

I think you just might need some confidence...I went into my interviews thinking I was the absolute shit.

How long is each of your response? For me, it was 2-3 min, and then they would go on and ask another question

I was thinking about keeping my response short, and thus and interviewer would ask me more follow-up questions. As a result, the interview will be more interactive and won't be as stressful and boring, and therefore I will be able to stay more focused. Would this work. I am planning to give out like a 3 sentence answer for each question.

 

[confettiflyer]

How long is each of your response? For me, it was 2-3 min, and then they would go on and ask another question

I was thinking about keeping my response short, and thus and interviewer would ask me more follow-up questions. As a result, the interview will be more interactive and won't be as stressful and boring, and therefore I will be able to stay more focused. Would this work. I am planning to give out like a 3 sentence answer for each question.

Bad bad bad bad bad idea to limit your responses ahead of time or come in with a general plan on how to answer your questions.

I did not prepare for my interview whatsoever except reading up on what current pharmacists are thinking about the future of the field.

If an answer to the interviewers question requires 4 minutes for you to answer it properly, so be it. If you can do it in one word, so be it. Remember, this is a conversation to show off your ability to communicate, not necessarily a window to view your thoughts and ideas about pharmacy, or how well you can fill 2 minutes of silence with words.

 

[Sparda29]

I have a similar problem, I'm not the type of person that keep a conversation going. That's why I could never date a girl that is shy, would never be able to talk about anything. I've been known to take a 15 page brilliant masterpiece of a paper, and turn it into a 90 second speech.