Some Good News!!

[Gerald Wilgus]

I am not the one who is solely interested in academia and research ut I am more hands on with a science background. I typically like to fix things such as working on my car (I change my own oil and coolant) and I have worked in construction while in highschool for a cabinet company before decided I was going to college and get a bachelors and a masters in marine biology.
My point with that is an opportunity like the wastewater industry seems like an interdisciplinary field from having a biological background to mechanical work which I’ve done even as a grad student.

One thing I’m a little concern with is will having a masters make me over qualified for working in a wastewater industry? I know most people only have a highschool diploma or a bachelors degree. Yeah I have experience in biological sciences and environmental science on the field but I have no work experience working in a actual wastewater plant.
What would anyone here recommend just in general? Also did you happen to have a interview with them and what was it like?

Part of my career I liked for being hands on and utilizing my science skills was pharmaceutical manufacturing. I started out with radiopharmaceuticals and found that I had a facility in designing process systems (and have two patents). Then I got into Process Validation which is required by the FDA and where I got to use Statistical Design of Experiments and other Statistical Process Control techniques. My last project was to validate the sterilization process using an e-beam sterilizer.

 

[Dillon]

Well I had a virtual interview earlier today and I can say I completely blew it. I had a panel interview of 3 people with the city where the job was being a watershed analyst. The time duration was an hour and I was ready and was not nervous at all (took my anti-anxiety medication this morning anyway) but the minute I’m thrown a question my thought went out the window and I’m having trouble with finding the right words. It did help some that I drank some water in between and let me think on my thought processes but I was still having trouble with making the interview as smooth as possible that I was even stuttering some. My vocabulary felt limited and I felt I was repeating certain words to get a point across. I was in tears after closing my laptop and just shut down.

I could tell I more than likely didn’t get the position as one of the managers held his head down at times which I thought was really unprofessional. The panel was also 10 minutes late and I was just sitting there waiting for the interview to begin so I probably dodged a bullet but that’s not the point.

How does someone actually get better and great at interviews despite doing mock interviews with people or creating notes? I just fee i am just socially incapable at this point.

 

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

Well I had a virtual interview earlier today and I can say I completely blew it. I had a panel interview of 3 people with the city where the job was being a watershed analyst. The time duration was an hour and I was ready and was not nervous at all (took my anti-anxiety medication this morning anyway) but the minute I’m thrown a question my thought went out the window and I’m having trouble with finding the right words. It did help some that I drank some water in between and let me think on my thought processes but I was still having trouble with making the interview as smooth as possible that I was even stuttering some. My vocabulary felt limited and I felt I was repeating certain words to get a point across. I was in tears after closing my laptop and just shut down.

I could tell I more than likely didn’t get the position as one of the managers held his head down at times which I thought was really unprofessional. The panel was also 10 minutes late and I was just sitting there waiting for the interview to begin so I probably dodged a bullet but that’s not the point.

How does someone actually get better and great at interviews despite doing mock interviews with people or creating notes? I just fee i am just socially incapable at this point.

I don't know. Some of the questions at interviews can be confusing to know how to answer especially when you're already nervous.

 

[Dillon]

I don't know. Some of the questions at interviews can be confusing to know how to answer especially when you're already nervous.

It doesn’t help for me that interview questions are straight up scripted and interviewers are not treating it like an actual conversation especially with todays.
I’ve never requested accommodations for job interviews but maybe it’s time to actually do so.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

First off, Dillon, many jobs are advertised because it is required by law to advertise, when they already know who they are going to hire.

So while it didn’t go well for you, it could be even a sterling interview may have failed to land the job.

I put a rainbow on your post because you are already looking ahead about what to do next.

I don’t know much about accommodations for job interviews, but it is worth looking into.

You could try getting help from Vocational Rehabilitation, but that is really iffy. But occasionally a good staff person accidentally ends up working there.

You can also direct questions to the Disability Rights organization in your state. I guess I’m assuming you live in the US. Disregard if not.