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Let’s face it, job interviews have always been important and exciting for both a newly graduated young person at the beginning of their career path and a professional who wants to embark on a new adventure in the middle of their career. Both a white-collar worker who has had dozens of interviews in his life and a young graduate who will have this experience for the first time get excited when the real interview story is called. Then, he gets curious and wants to listen as soon as possible. Since you are reading this article right now, you will probably attend a job interview soon.
Then we must say that you need to learn to be patient already 🙂 Naturally, you will understand that one of the competencies that Human Resources experts measure during job interviews whether face-to-face, online or via Zoom, will be your level of patience. In line with that reading about other people’s experiences will prepare us for job interviews.
Reading Interview Story
In this context, perhaps a negativity, perhaps a fortunate action or word will contribute to this topic for us. Accordingly, we asked our editors and prepared our article about the real interview story for you. In this case, you will read from the perspective of a person who has been interviewed for a bank, what he experiences from the beginning to the end of the process. Maybe you will appreciate what he did or maybe you will criticize him and say that “if it were me, i would have acted differently.” Before we get into this real job interview story, we’d like to give you some advice about general job interview experiences.
It would not be realistic to read about a real event without having detailed knowledge about this subject. In this context, it should be noted that sometimes seeing the theory in practice without knowing it will not give the right results. First, we should know the theory, then focus and try to reflect it in practice in the best way possible.
Just a Sample!
Please do not forget that the job interview you will read is presented to you in order you to just have a sample idea. Due to fact that everyone’s education, self-improvement and perspective on life are different, their experiences are also unique and special. We must keep this point in mind while reading this real memoir. Remember, being original is important. From the example here, combine the aspects that you believe will contribute to yourself with your own unique interpretations and your own style. Now it’s time for you to read the real interview story. 😊
University is Ok, What Now?
It was about a year after I had graduated from university. After resting for a few months, I started looking for a job and was starting to get really bored. While I was muttering to myself, “I thought I would find a well-paying job in a few months after I finished school,” my phone rang. On the other end of the phone, my university classmate was excitedly telling me that a bank was opening an exam. When I didn’t feel even half of his excitement, He said, “I know you don’t want to be a banker, but try your luck.” He tried to convince me by saying: “If you are hired, if you don’t want it, you will leave the job afterwards.”
Even though I studied finance, I never thought of working in a bank. I always thought that I would join a corporate company related to finance or accounting.
After I hung up the phone and realized that I was bored looking for a job, I decided to take the exam. Then, I said to myself that if I were to take an exam, I should pass it. Afterwards, I started researching this exam on the internet. So, I needed to know who was doing this exam or whether similar ones have been done before. I took the exam with some preparation by reading the experiences of people who had taken this exam or similar ones before on social media. Since the subject of our article is more about the interview process and interview story I am skipping the written exam part, sorry 😊
Real Interview Questions
After the written exam, I received the interview invitation. I wasn’t surprised by this because bank exams were somewhat based on general ability and speed. From this perspective, I had solved a lot of similar questions before the exam and had gained speed with manual practice before the exam. So, it was not a surprise for me that I passed the exam.
At this point, I would like to give brief advice before taking the written bank exams;
- Definitely do some researches. Moreover, it will be very useful for you to read the comments of people who took similar exams on the internet and social media.
- Solve plenty of figure and intelligence questions, especially in the one-week period before the exam. Even solving puzzles from time to time will be useful.
- During the exam, you have to solve many questions in a limited time. So, when you notice the possible trap of long questions in the first questions, immediately skip them and look at the short and easy questions at the end. 😊
Interview Story in a Bank
It is necessary to go to bed early two days before the interview day. I couldn’t do it, you can do it 😊 Even though I didn’t want to be a bank employee, I was still going to have a job interview and that alone was enough reason for me to be excited. Remember, when a real job interview story comes up, there will definitely be excitement in it. 😊 My advice to you is to research and read the opinions and comments of those who have previously interviewed for that institution on the internet and social media. (Just like before the written exam)
Believe me, examining other people’s experiences and the questions they are asked will help you a lot. That’s what I did and believe me, it was almost as if I knew most of the questions asked by human resources experts during the job interview.
I recommend you to arrive 15-20 minutes before the meeting. For example, when I got there, there were still 25-30 minutes until my meeting. During this time, I felt accustomed to the environment, so I was quite relieved. Afterwards, they invited me in and told me what my rights and wages would be if I was hired. Afterwards, three HR experts sat across from me and asked me to introduce myself first. Since I had learned in advance through my research that the process would proceed like this, I did not deviate from the planning. I introduced myself by using the correct sentences that I had prepared in my mind beforehand.
Just Be Yourself
Afterwards, they asked questions similar to the research I had done, and I interpreted the answers I prepared according to the current situation. At this point, I believe that tone of voice, diction, eye contact and being friendly are important. I recommend you to take a look at the job interview tips and frequently asked questions articles. If you get different questions, just be yourself. In that situation, please talk about the person you are, not the person you want to be.
Please remember that the people you are talking to are experts on this subject. They know you’re excited and will do their best to help you relax. On the other hand, if they realize that you are lying or trying to pretend to be someone you are not during the job interview – and they will understand if you do – they will pressure you more.
Interview Story with Questions
I was lucky and did not encounter any unusual questions or situations. But as I said before, if I was faced with a question I did not expect, I would give the answer that best reflected me at that moment. Meanwhile, I drank the water they put on the table and continued to take a sip from time to time when my throat became dry. I don’t think there will be problem with this. 😊 Additionally, in my answers, I gave concrete examples from my college life or my life in our student house where we lived with my roommates. So, instead of saying that I am a solution-oriented person, it was very impressive to explain with examples how I found solutions to the problems I had with my roommates.
Now, while I am finalizing my interview story , I will give you some of the questions they asked during that job interview and the answers I gave, to create perspective in your mind. I wish you good luck too. By the way, I successfully passed the interview and worked in that institution for a while. Is my friend? Yes, he still continues at the same institution 😊
- Describe an achievement in your life that you are proud of: When I graduated from university, I received an outstanding honour award thanks to my graduation average. Accordingly, I talked in detail about the meaning and importance of this to me. It would also be impressive if you took part in a non-governmental organization during school and talked about it.
- Have you solved any problems at school or at home in the College? : to the question, I mentioned the solution I found to my roommates’ dishwashing problem. Here, talk about the problems you solved during your student years.
Career Plan is Crucial
- How did you plan your career? : I stated that I made short, medium and long term plans. It would be positive to divide the plans like this and show that you are thinking multi-dimensionally.
- What do you do in your spare time and to improve yourself? : I suggest you answer the question in a more interesting way, rather than a cliché one. So, instead of saying that you read books, it will be very effective if you talk a little about the hero or the content of the last book you read and tell about the aspects that influenced you. Also, for example, instead of saying “I am going to an English course“, you may say: “I want to visit London in the future and I want to use my foreign language there.”
