I have an Interview tomorrow afternoon and I havent had one for about 7 years so I am a bit rusty .
I hate them too and always forget what I had planned to say - you know what I mean - when you get outside afterwards and think
"Sugar!! Why didnt I mention this and mention that!" :rolleyes:
Anyone have any typical interview questions that I can mull over ???
Or even any good replies ??

Anyone wanna do the Interview for me ;)

Hi Lel,

Jot down some questions you want to ask. I interview people and I am always happy that someone has taken the time to jot somethings they want to ask down. Take a breathe and stay at ease.

Karen

I too interview people, I am impressed when they have taken the trouble to find out a bit about the company (have they a website you can look at tonight).  When they ask if there is anything you want to ask, I do like them to come up with at least one question.....but avoid how long are the holidays and what is the sick pay entitlement, yes, I have been asked this. :rolleyes: If they are selling a product, show an interest in it.

You may also be asked what do you consider your strengths and weaknesses.  Try and look the interviewer in the eyes and if offered a handshake, keep it firm.

Good Luck, let us know how you get on.

Sandra

Who do you consider to be your mentor?
Name 3 weaknesses
Name 3 strengths
What 3 things would you change about yourself
Name a mistake you have made and how you rectified it
Tell me a joke (killer question - only the most evil people use this)
Where do you see yourself in 5 years (classic)
What would you have changed about your last manager

Do they help...or not? :D :D

Hmmmmm
The rest I can probably waffle on but <<<a mistake I rectified>>> ???? How do I answer this constructively ????
Lel

Easy - you tell them a mistake, and then how you found out you had made it, and rectified it in a positive way...ie "I'm usually a very good problem solver, and methodical in my thought processes, so I identified the error straight away and took actions rectify the situation"

Hi Lel,
Just before I went for an interview for my current job, a friend gave me a suggestion for a killer question to ask when the dreaded 'have you got any questions?' came up. Now be brave...
And ask the interviewer what THEY like most about their job/ the company.
When I asked this, my present boss was a bit taken aback, but said what a brilliant question it was, and proceeded to tell me!
He even mentioned afterwards- when I had got the job- that he was very impressed with my interest in HIM, and the company, rather than just getting a job. I seriously think it helped me get the job, as I know it was a close decision between me and another candidate.

Anyway, good luck, firm handshake, don't fidget, eye contact, and RELAX!!
Will have fingers crossed for you tomorrow!

Liz x

Hi lel,I interview as well and we always look for the buzzwords-teamwork,communication,training or coaching,development,and i agree with last poster always ask what the interviewer enjoys in their role within the company that really opens up the conversation,if you don't understand a question ask them to repeat it or re-phrase it,don't clam up or waffle rubbish just because you don't understand their terminology,best of luck,sandra.

One I often use is

'How would you current work collegues describe you in and out of the workplace?

Another one is

'So are you planning to have anymore children ?'

Yes this was once asked by a chap that was interviewing me

Lucy

I was being interviewed for an important position and the guy said,so do you have kids or plan too and I sweetly replied you do understand that under new discrimination laws you aren't allowed to ask me that,I got the job!!!!!

The only trouble is though with that is the possibility of being difficult when you do have to have timke of with children etc ! It would have rung alarm bells with me personally ! :)

Lucy

I thought they were allowed to ask as long as they asked the men too?! :D

The best thing to do is ask

'Why ?'

Let them put their foot it in even more :)

If they ask that question then the employers leave themselves wide open to discrimination cases as someone being vexatious can pursue this as the reason why thy werent successful.
Lel

If you don't intend to have any more children and want the job  - it is a good idea in your CV to state that your family is complete and you have no intentions of having more :)

Daisy

....and then go get pregnant 3 months into it :D

oooh,  Chloe you have such a wicked sense of humour LOL. My cheeks ache from smilling

:D

My point, seriously, was that some employers just won't give jobs to some women in case they do just that. It would be difficult for any applicant to prove that that was why they didn't get the job (unless the interviewer specifically asked them ). So to ensure that they get the best chance of getting the job (if they don't intend to have more babies :D ) is to spell it out - the employer can't ask :)

Of course people do lie :) One woman I know told the employer that her family was complete - what she didn't tell him was that she was just about to leave her husband and live with another man who didn't have any children, so there was a good chance that she might start another family :(

Daisy

Oh no you should never do that and don't state on your CV that you have children. it bears no relation what so ever that you have children or not to be able to get a job ! :)

I have never put on my CV that I have children :)

They would probably guess though by the puke marks on my shoulders ! :D

Or the chocolate finger marks around your skirt hem :D :D

Any decent employer will understand that a woman can juggle both work and children .
Although against the law -if you do get a chauvinist who persists in asking you this question then surely you wouldnt want to work for someone like him anyway.
(I say "him" but there are women just the same  :rolleyes: )

Anyway just to update you - interview wasnt too bad at all and there was a short role play session afterwards . Think it went ok .Just have to wait and see now !!

In my experience - SOME women can juggle both work and children - there are always occasions when the children are sick etc and mum has to take time off work, usually unplanned. If it is minimal, most employers don't mind - but some women take time off regularly every few weeks - I have seen this happen many times. Don't get me wrong - I am not standing up for chauvinist employers, but it is in their interests to employ the best staff and some women (and men - for other reasons) just aren't the best.

Daisy

Surely any DECENT firm will have family friendly policies in place for cases such as these ?
I know there are poeple who abuse the system but if you cant juggle then I fail to see why you are putting yourself on the market anyway.

It's not really a question of decent firms. The larger the organisation, the easier it is to cover for people who are off sick or on holiday. If you think that the average employee gets 4 weeks holiday a year plus 8 days public holiday, plus sick days off a year. That could come to a total of nearly 8 weeks a year which means that the average person is absent for almost 1 in 6 working days a year. Depending on the type of work that you do - for instance somebody on a production line - an employer has to employ 1 extra person for every 6 people, just to cover for them when they are not there. If a woman takes maternity leave in a small company, the company has to find someone to cover a temporary period. This usually means using an agency - which is more expensive than a normal employee. The temp has to be trained etc. Maternity pay has to be paid as well.

Sorry to ramble on - I agree that employers should try to be flexible, but it works both ways - they are not charities and employees should expect to do the work that they are paid for.

Unfortunately, as in all thing, it the people that persistently abuse the system that make life tough for the conscientious workers. Some people just don't even think (or care) about whether they can juggle work/home life :(

Good luck for the result of your interview - let's hope they see you as one of life's jugglers :D

Daisy

Thanks Daisy
I have worked full time since my eldest son was 12 months old and for those 15 years I am proud to say that I have never found juggling a problem - although I am lucky to have good friends and family around me :)

Unfortunately I have never had family near and have not wanted to rely on friends, so only used to work during school hours when the children were small. Luckily the work that I do, I have always been able to find firms that are happy just to pay me by the hour, so that if I take time off I don't get paid (although sometimes, I can make it up later).

Let us know how you get on :)

Daisy

Well Daisy, I'm sure any employer would wish for an employee as conscientious as you, its refreshing to see someone looking at it from both angles, all too often employers are vilified for their 'lack' of flexibility.  As you say it often depends on the size of the firm, one really bad employee could result in some small firms suffering losses, I tend to agree with a previous poster who said something along the lines that a person really shouldn't put themselves on the market if they aren't 'employable'.

How did the interview go? Have they given you any decision regarding the job yet?

I was just thinking the same & sending "good vibes"!!!

Margot

Hi Lel, how'd you do?