Interview advice

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The Cowboy said:
You had a 'personal matter' to attend to.

Years ago, this girl came in with an amazing dress on, our tactless manager goes over and says 'what time is your interview?' and winks, girl replies 'I'm going to the opera after work, thank you'. Should've seen the look on the manager's face.
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haha that wouldn't work for me. I don't exactly dress 'smart' as such so it would be a massive give away, especially first thing in the morning.

I used to dress smart like, but got fed up of wearing ties when i didn't need to. Just jumper, shirt trousers and shoes. Hoody on another day with shirt. Hence the big give away haha
 

Ashtonian said:
Had interview.

I'm probably not going to get it. Think a few of the questions i wasn't prepared for and lack of department knowledge was telling there. also not a lot of leadership type questions i didn't think, which is kinda what i had prepared for!

Frustrating but there you go. Not to big myself up too much but its another interview where i couldn't tell them how brilliant i am, and i think the process being so simplified was geared up for someone from within to get the job instead.

Just hope i get shortlisted for the next one, at least i can get feedback from this and fingers crossed have a second crack at it.
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Ash, if they have someone else in mind than there is only so much you can do. They key is then to be noticed and panelled!
If I can help let me know.
 
A broader question to those on GOT who have been on the other side of the desk, as the interviewer:

How much observation before the interview really goes on, and how much does it matter?

I had an assessment day many years ago, and the group (about 15 of us) were put in a room before the interviews began, and we must have been there for at least 20 mins before the first person was called. We had a proper good laugh, and at the end of the day, me, another lad and a girl made the shortlist. No coincidence that we were the loudest, chattiest bunch in the room, and the quiet ones were sent in their way.

Found out the other day that my firm also employ a similar policy, they leave all candidates in reception and get the receptionist to watch them and make notes.
 

The Cowboy said:
How much observation before the interview really goes on, and how much does it matter?
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We don't really observe anything prior to the interview, it sounds like that assessment day was one of those "outside-the-box" interview techniques you get from time to time. Though one thing I utterly despise is people who are on their smartphones when I walk in and, worse, leave the effing thing on the table.
 
I've got an interview next week, my first in about 8 years. Apparently, it is a competency based interview, a new one on me..."please provide an example from your career when there was conflict within your team and show how you overcame it to achieve the objectives you wanted" type stuff. With my current employer, as my job is at risk of redundancy, but there some new posts up for grabs in a new structure.
 
ToffeeDoug said:
Apparently, it is a competency based interview, a new one on me..."please provide an example from your career when there was conflict within your team and show how you overcame it to achieve the objectives you wanted" type stuff.
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Yeah, competency based questions are all the rage now, I'll cut and paste the advice I gave to Ash there.
  • Think of all the things people traditionally put in their personal attributes section of a CV. Self-starter, great interpersonal skills, great technical skills, problem solver, pro-active etc.
  • Now for each one of those attributes, think of 2 times in a previous job you demonstrated that ability. For example for great interpersonal skills, describe a time when you managed to resolve a conflict or went above and beyond for a colleague and client in a way that you were praised for
They also might, like they did with Ash, pose a hypothetical scenario and ask how you might solve it. Obviously, you won't know the intimate details of their processes, but they are looking to see your thought process and how you break down problems.
 
Prevenger17 said:
Yeah, competency based questions are all the rage now, I'll cut and paste the advice I gave to Ash there.
  • Think of all the things people traditionally put in their personal attributes section of a CV. Self-starter, great interpersonal skills, great technical skills, problem solver, pro-active etc.
  • Now for each one of those attributes, think of 2 times in a previous job you demonstrated that ability. For example for great interpersonal skills, describe a time when you managed to resolve a conflict or went above and beyond for a colleague and client in a way that you were praised for
They also might, like they did with Ash, pose a hypothetical scenario and ask how you might solve it. Obviously, you won't know the intimate details of their processes, but they are looking to see your thought process and how you break down problems.
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Thanks for that, appreciated.

It's a strange situation, a panel of people you know well and have worked with. The whole 'at risk' consultation period is of course very formal, rigid, prescribed as it should be but can't help thinking they know already whether they want me or not in their brave new world, based on what I have and have not done down the years, and the interview is something they must do in order to tick the appropriate box on the form.
 

The Cowboy said:
A broader question to those on GOT who have been on the other side of the desk, as the interviewer:

How much observation before the interview really goes on, and how much does it matter?

I had an assessment day many years ago, and the group (about 15 of us) were put in a room before the interviews began, and we must have been there for at least 20 mins before the first person was called. We had a proper good laugh, and at the end of the day, me, another lad and a girl made the shortlist. No coincidence that we were the loudest, chattiest bunch in the room, and the quiet ones were sent in their way.

Found out the other day that my firm also employ a similar policy, they leave all candidates in reception and get the receptionist to watch them and make notes.
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I have to interview people a lot and while I don't do the pre-interview observations, I can promise you that body language and overall demeanour is crucial. I need to know if this person is legit or are they fibbing. Every mannerism is important to me to suss out what I'm actually working with. Sure I can call it wrong but calling a character in a few minutes of machine gun questions isn't easy!

Anyway, one piece of advice I will give to a job interviewee. When it comes to the 'anything you would like to ask us' part, ask what they can do for you. Ask about career progression and ongoing development. Let them know that you are buying into what they are offering.
 
The Cowboy said:
A broader question to those on GOT who have been on the other side of the desk, as the interviewer:

How much observation before the interview really goes on, and how much does it matter?

I had an assessment day many years ago, and the group (about 15 of us) were put in a room before the interviews began, and we must have been there for at least 20 mins before the first person was called. We had a proper good laugh, and at the end of the day, me, another lad and a girl made the shortlist. No coincidence that we were the loudest, chattiest bunch in the room, and the quiet ones were sent in their way.

Found out the other day that my firm also employ a similar policy, they leave all candidates in reception and get the receptionist to watch them and make notes.
Click to expand...
That's odd.

How you behave during an assessment day is obviously taken into consideration but more from a 'is this person a good fit for the workplace culture' etc.

Having the receptionist spy on you taking notes is a new one on me though.
 
Boss_Blue said:
That's odd.

How you behave during an assessment day is obviously taken into consideration but more from a 'is this person a good fit for the workplace culture' etc.

Having the receptionist spy on you taking notes is a new one on me though.
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'Weird fella in the corner sniggering at some sort of message board on his phone'

you're hired.
 
I interview a lot, and you're looking for confidence and the ability to talk about what you know. Simple really.
 
Weirdest interview today.

It was for an In-house IP job (i'm a supervisor for a patent dept). The interviewers had no idea what they are talking about, asking me questions about how things work. They thought I was a patent attorney and kept asking me about thing I am not qualified at all to do. They kept going back to it thinking I could do it.

Then they asked if I can represent them in court for infringements lol. So odd.

I'm slightly worried that I'm going to get offered a job I can no way do as they really didn't get it and seemed to really like me.
 

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