Help Regarding Interview.

[Pulse]

On Thursday I've got an interview for a position within another company doing a similar job to what I do and I've been asked to do a presentation, and at first I was absolutely bricking it, but now I've received the brief, I just want to confirm what it is I have to do?

What they've given me is a page long scenario and asked me to do:

• 5 minute Shift brief
• 10 minute presentation to explain the reasons for presenting the content of the shift brief and the manner it was delivered
• 5 minute Q & A

So the last point is obvious, but for the first point are they just asking me to basically re-write the scenario from my point of view highlighting the key facts?
And the 2nd point I'm not sure what it is that they're asking for, are they asking me to explain why I've used the information I have to highlight key points? Or are they asking me to explain what has happened in the scenario and how I would go about solving the problem they have tasked me with?

 

[Greebo]

Not sure without see tyhe scenario but I am assuming the "shift brief" is what you would tell the workforce at the start of the shift from the scenario they have given you.

The presentation then is your explination as to why you told the shift what you did and the manner your delivered it to them?

Hope that helps?

 

[Defy Belief]

What job do you do/is it for might help.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

What job do you do/is it for might help.

Indeed. It's very hard to give you hilarious but useless useful advice if we don't know what you do or what the role is.

 

[Pulse]

Thanks Greebo, maybe I've misunderstood it completely. It's for a Warehouse Team Manager position.

Quick brief:

Team has recently moved onto evening shifts rather than mornings and it has affected peoples home lives finishing so late, so they've been performing better than before to get home early as they still get a full shifts pay. They've over performed targets set for the KPI's.

A series of computer errors have meant the warehouse as a whole is behind and I've been given adequate notice to tell my team they have to work a 6th day (Is in their T&C's with reasonable notice and is not optional unless exceptional circumstance.)

 

[d_brennen]

If in doubt, whip it out. Nothing says alpha male like dangly bits on display

 

[Greebo]

Thanks Greebo, maybe I've misunderstood it completely. It's for a Warehouse Team Manager position.

Quick brief:

Ah then I was right I think by my first post. The first 5 minutes is what you woudl tell the shift staff and how you would tell them (toolbox talk, presentation in the meeting room, individually etc) and then the next section is explaining why you did it that way and why you told them what you did.

In the scenario they have given you, obviously telling staff they have to work a 6th day when they have been smashing KPIs is the difficult bit and what they want to see from you in interview as to how you would handle it.

 

[Pulse]

Now you put it like that, I get it. Considering the situation and if my staff are on I'm on and we all work the same shift, I'd think that I would need to talk to them as a group to save me repeating it time and time again and it's not something I would do in a noisy environment, so maybe just a quick meeting in the training room should suffice? I mean it doesn't have to be an extremely formal presentation surely? It's not the same as an appraisal per say.

 

[Basher]

Now you put it like that, I get it. Considering the situation and if my staff are on I'm on and we all work the same shift, I'd think that I would need to talk to them as a group to save me repeating it time and time again and it's not something I would do in a noisy environment, so maybe just a quick meeting in the training room should suffice? I mean it doesn't have to be an extremely formal presentation surely? It's not the same as an appraisal per say.

Indeed.

It seems to be asking you more around how you'd handle the above scenario's, though.

 

[Pulse]

I know I need to say a lot more than that I was just justifying how I would do it as it asks for the explanation of the manner of how it was delivered.

 

[Greebo]

Agree with Basher, talking to them as a group is best but they are more interested in what you would say to them rather than how I would guess.

I was suggesting you did a presentation to the shift staff! I was just giving examples of different ways you might present it to them so you got the idea

 

[Greebo]

Tricky one to deal with. For example do you come clean and **** off the company with their computer errors? Might not go down to well being critical.

So you need to figure a way of explaining why your shift has to work an extra day without ****ging off the other part of the company.

Quite a good interview question really to see if you are up to the job. Better than "what animal would you be and why"

 

[Pulse]

Ok just to make it completely clear, because I don't want to muck this up. Am I explaining it how I would do it, or what I would say...

E.g.

I'd invite the staff into the training room for a quick meeting, sit them down, thank them for their hard work over the last couple of weeks and explain the situation we're in.

Or, do it as if I was speaking directly to those staff.

Good afternoon guys, I'd like to have a quick word with everyone in the training room, if we could rally round and grab everyone and meet me there. (Once in there) Hello guys, just wanted a quick word... I know we've been performing brilliantly..... etc etc.

 

[Pug]

imo you need to explain where and how you would undertake the brief (e.g. group, in training room) as an introduction (few seconds.

Then you actually need to give that briefing to the room, as a role-play as if it was affecting them.
Finally you need to give a 10-min presentation the justification and thought processes behind why you said to them what you said.

 

[Greebo]

I know I need to say a lot more than that I was just justifying how I would do it as it asks for the explanation of the manner of how it was delivered.

Yeah that seems fine to me for how you told them. That was the easy bit though Now you need to work on what you told them and why....

 

[Greebo]

Pug is bang on IMO. Give the shift brief to the interviewers like you would to the actuall shift people themselves. Then the 2nd bit is your reasons behind it

 

[GTO656]

I wish you all the best for the interview on Thursday and try hold your nerves and take deep breaths before. I also have mine later this afternoon which im just focusing on what else that needs polishing and help from the more experienced guys on here too

 

[Greebo]

Another tip is to practice and practice again your presentation prior to the interview so you come across well. Perhaps do it to your gf or friends?

Also time it. You don't want to be short and equally you don't want to take half an hour. Both come across poor and shows you can't handle a task given to you.

 

[Pug]

Couldn't agree more with Greebo, meeting the time expectations is important. When my tram present, or i am interviewing, nothing frustrates me more than someone who goes on and on, and on.

Practising out loud is invaluable also, and i would heartily recommend running through it in front of someone or just to an empty room, you'd be amazed what your tongue trips over that your brain didn't

Expect someone on the interview panel to role-play a disagreement/protestation for you to overcome too.

When giving the brief, don't say anything you can't justify with evidence/examples in the 2nd bit, and try to be firm, yet inspiring when giving the briefing.

 

[Greebo]

Pug is spot on. Do it out loud to an empty room or better still other people. He is right that what seems fine before you read it out can slip you up. I always do this with all my presentations in work.