Did I screw this up completely?

[QuinnTheEskimo]

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Okay, so I am replaying an interview moment in my head and I would like to get SDN's thoughts.

Interviewer had a very gregarious, fast-talking personality. He asked me a bunch of rapid-fire questions about where I applied, where I interviewed, where I was rejected, etc.

As he was asking the questions, I answered as well as I could, but I started clicking this f*cking pen that I was holding my hand.
Interviewer notices, and says: "Stop it! Put that down!" Sort of in the same tone I use with my dog, when he chews my shoes. Then he continued with his questions.

(WHY DID I DO THIS???)



Am I screwed? Am I going to be marked down for being a neurotic, fidgety disaster?

 

[Euxox]

No.... Relax. Do you honestly think that your interviewer is going to sit down to write up the report for his committee and say "Well, I would have given this guy a 10/10, but he kept clicking his **** pen. Reject!" You are fine.

But in the future, don't hold things in your hand when you interview because it is human nature to start twiddling with things when you are stressed.

 

[justAstudent]

You're probably over thinking it.

 

[Microglia]

Okay, so I am replaying an interview moment in my head and I would like to get SDN's thoughts.

Interviewer had a very gregarious, fast-talking personality. He asked me a bunch of rapid-fire questions about where I applied, where I interviewed, where I was rejected, etc.

As he was asking the questions, I answered as well as I could, but I started clicking this f*cking pen that I was holding my hand.
(WHY DID I DO THIS???)

The interviewer noticed and instructed me to put the pen down. Then he kept asking questions.

Am I screwed? Am I going to be marked down for being a neurotic, fidgety disaster?

Lol. Very doubtful. If an interviewer is going to write you off for clicking a pen, they were having a bad day and you didn't have a chance to begin with. 30% of interview results are the luck of the draw with interviewers. You will be fine. 🙂

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

No.... Relax. Do you honestly think your interviewer is going to sit down to write up his report for his committee and say "Well, I would have given this guy a 10/10, but he kept clicking his **** pen. Reject!" You are fine.

But in the future, don't hold things in your hand when you interview because it is human nature to start twiddling with things when you are stressed.

So in the next interview, I made SURE not to hold anything in my hand. I clasped my hands in front of me.

Interviewer says: "Don't clasp your hands so tightly!"

Damn, what do you people want me to do with my hands?!

 

[Pacna]

Your application:

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

click click

 

[Microglia]

So in the next interview, I made SURE not to hold anything in my hand. I clasped my hands in front of me.

Interviewer says: "Don't clasp your hands so tightly!"

Damn, what do you people want me to do with my hands?!

Hahahahaha oh man it is just not working out for you huh? 🙂 again, very doubtful it mattered.

Arms in lap, uncrossed, not clasped. Studies show crossed arms is interpreted as unfriendly at the least. You can even discretely sit on your hands if you have to and there's a desk between you.

 

[Euxox]

So in the next interview, I made SURE not to hold anything in my hand. I clasped my hands in front of me.

Interviewer says: "Don't clasp your hands so tightly!"

Damn, what do you people want me to do with my hands?!

Really? That's a bit odd, but I could see an interviewer noticing that if you look very stiff. Especially if you kept your hands completely still and didn't gesture at all.

The key is to look relaxed. (Easier said than done of course.) That means moving your hands around, but not too much. Smiling, but not too hard. Speaking clearly, but not loudly. It takes practice to get the right balance. Also sure that you have a good posture. Does your college have a mock interview service? It could be helpful for this kind of thing.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

Hahahahaha oh man it is just not working out for you huh? 🙂 again, very doubtful it mattered.

Arms in lap, uncrossed, not clasped. Studies show crossed arms is interpreted as unfriendly at the least. You can even discretely sit on your hands if you have to and there's a desk between you.

Thanks, I will try that at my next interview. In lap, uncrossed, not clasped.

One of my parents is not from this country, and I was always taught not to put my hands in my lap because if you're sitting at a table, people will think you're doing something...uncouth.

True story.

I keep replaying the interviewer's reprimand in my head: "Stop that! Put it down!"

😳😕

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

Really? That's a bit odd, but I could see an interviewer noticing that if you look very stiff. Especially if you kept your hands completely still and didn't gesture at all.

The key is to look relaxed. (Easier said than done of course.) That means moving your hands around, but not too much. Smiling, but not too hard. Speaking clearly, but not loudly. Also make sure your posture is good. It takes practice to get the right balance. Does your college have a mock interview service? It could be helpful for this kind of thing.

Yeah I had a mock interview and they said I did really well. I think the difference was that my mock interviewers clearly had positive feelings towards me. I guess it's easier to be relaxed there, because it's different from meeting someone who might be in a bad mood or who is TRYING to figure out why to reject you.

 

[TheShaker]

Clench your toes really hard when you feel the anxiety building up. It's cathartic and unnoticeable. Works for me.

 

[Cinabonchik]

Yeah I had a mock interview and they said I did really well. I think the difference was that my mock interviewers clearly had positive feelings towards me. I guess it's easier to be relaxed there, because it's different from meeting someone who might be in a bad mood or who is TRYING to figure out why to reject you.

Don't worry about to much...I think we all display some neurotic behavior during the interview, and they get it, they are humans too🙂
When I talk, I do a lot of hand gestures, and I try to control it but during one of my interviews I noticed that my interviewer was looking at my hands gestures so I put my hands down rapidly...I bet it looked very funny