Quote:
Originally Posted by DerekNewland  ...However, I am very nervous about this interview. The main reasons are that I'm relatively young, I do not have a college degree, nor do I have any certifications. I do have experience, however. And I feel pretty confident about the work I do. |
Derek,
In 2000 I interviewed for a testing position at "the world's largest software company". I was so nervous about it that I did not eat or sleep normally for more than a week prior. I literally trembled when I thought about the interview. Like you, I was without a degree and certifications at the time. However, I had a good track record and excellent references from within the organization.
I felt like I wasn't good enough to be at that company and my lack of a degree and certs felt like huge liabilities. In order to get the job (which I did), I shifted my focus away from my perceived weaknesses to my assets. I prepared as well as I could for the interview, as others have suggested you do too. The more I prepared, the stronger my confidence and enthusiasm grew. I chose to stop thinking about what I lacked. Heck, Bill Gates himself never completed his BA, so clearly having one is not the sole determinant or predictor of success. With that in mind, I went into those meetings and showed those people:
- how much I wanted the position
- how willing I was to learn whatever I needed to know
- what kind of communicator and problem solver I was
- that I'm someone who is pleasant to be around.
Remember to have some interesting and relevant questions if you are given an opportunity to ask them. Truly, good talent who fits with a company's culture can be hard to find. So, just as they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them.
Lastly, go into the interview with the goal of learning something (about yourself, human nature, job interviews in general, the industry, etc). Yes, you have your reasons for wanting this particular job. However, life is about more than the job you have. It's about learning and evolving as a spiritual being through your human experience. Things always work out in the end even if we don't know how. Therefore, trust yourself and be optimistic that you'll be fine no matter the outcome of this particular interview. Stay present, pay attention, be yourself and enjoy the experience.
Best wishes!
Char