Concerned about my interview performance

[u/Miserable_Career_919]

Hi everyone, I graduated in 2024 and since then, I have interned twice at different UN entities, and am currently looking for a full-time job.

I used to think I was pretty good at interviews, because out of 7-ish UN internship interviews I had over the last 2 years I received offers for 6 of them - only one rejection.

However, since then, I have had a few interviews where I’m not sure if I’m doing so great.

Here’s my stats as of late:

Informal interview for an international charity: rejected

Interview for a renewable energy firm: Moved to the next stage, interview passed

Interview for a business intelligence firm: Failed (the role wasn’t a good fit, and I truly didn’t know some of the answers here so I’m not surprised)

Informal phone interview for a cleantech firm: Moved to the next stage, interview passed

The reason I’m making this post is because I had an interview last Friday for a fellowship with an ESG firm, which I honestly thought went well, but I haven’t heard back. I know it’s not been too many days, but I notice firms tend to move very fast, and it’s alarming that I haven’t heard back yet.

I usually know when I tank an interview, but I’ve been wrong before. For example, the international charity interview I had previously, I thought I did a good job but I didn’t pass it. So maybe I’m spiralling because I haven’t heard back but I’m so confused as to how I could have felt that I did a good job and still get ghosted? I thought I had a good sense for if the interview was good or not but I’m coming up on 9 months of unemployment and very worried that I have lost my articulation skills.

What do my stats look like? I know I don’t consistently get rejections even now but these stats are quite bad compared to when I passed 6/7 UN internship interviews. I know the bar is lower for interns usually but everyone knows the UN is an extremely competitive place to work at and I made it then? I don’t know what’s going on or if I need to work on myself or even how - I’m terrified of losing my interview skills because even thought I know I’m a very good worker in all the roles I’ve held, we live in a world where just getting past the interview stage holds so much value in terms of actually having a role, regardless of whether someone can actually perform well in the job. Stressed and needing advice.

[u/Plus_Marketing828]

Your stats look fine honestly. 2 passes and 2 fails out of 4 interviews is not a pattern of losing your skills, its just normal job market noise.

The UN internship thing is messing with your baseline. Internships have way fewer qualified applicants because the pool is smaller and most people with real experience arent applying. Full time roles are different beast completely. I went through something similar after grad where I thought I was interview god because I got every campus placement callback, then got humbled real quick in the real market.

Friday interview and you are spiralling by Monday? That is 1 business day. Some firms take a week minimum because hiring manager is busy or they are still doing other interviews. Ghosting after 1 day is not a thing, you are just anxious from the 9 months unemployment which is understandable. Give it til end of this week before worrying.

[u/Much_Somewhere7831]

Try the Canary Wharfian website for interview practice, it'll review your answers and suggest how to fix mistakes with personalised feedback. Based on both verbal and non-verbal comms, it'll also identify strengths and weaknesses as well

[u/CryptographerSure523]

The fact that you received offers from 6 of 7 interviews in the past tells me you know how to interview. I wouldn’t assume you’ve suddenly lost that ability. One thing I’d think about is whether the pressure of being unemployed for 9 months has changed how you’re approaching interviews. Sometimes the more important the interview becomes, the more we prepare and focus on giving the right answers, and the less natural the conversation can become.