Interview / Presentation Help.

[Indigo]

Have an interview for an internal vacancy on Thursday morning (Lab manager in an Opticians) and would like all the help I could get.

Presentation needs to consist of a 3 month business plan with objectives to include the following.

1. Improve Communication between retail and the lab.

2. Maintain the excellent product quality currently produced in the lab.

3. Manage costs and operations in order to help improve lens cost of sales.

4. Manage resources to ensure we meet the growing needs of the customer and the business.

5. Any other factors you feel currently represent a challenge in the lab.

Work on the retail side of the business myself at the moment but have worked as a technician in another store so I'll be talking about my links between the two. And already know a few factors upon where I can improve as well so that's point 5 covered well.

Would stating that changes shouldn't take 3 months be a positive or be looked down upon as going against what is asked for?

Thanks.

 

[LOMS]

Probably negatively unless you intend to say it'll take less than 3 months.

These things are very formalised and dependant on uniform criteria for evaluating candidates so you're better off sticking to the book on this one. If you could confidently support the claim that such changes are unrealistic in a 3-month time frame you theoretically should be credited for it but the fear always is you're indirectly making somebody look stupid.

 

[Indigo]

Cheers, think I'll stick to the 3 month plan then and just pad it out as adjustments to changes and bring them in slowly rather than doing it all in one/two months.

 

[jpod]

Hmm....... how long you going to 'present' for? Is it with power point?

An intro slide

A summary slide
Perhaps you are going to stand out by exploring simple and novel approaches.....think a bit differently

Your going to try to collect ideas from the lab team and make some agreed changes, try them for a month and reassess and modify them.....

1. Improve Communication between retail and the lab.

Simple
Review the prescription sheets/paperwork - can any improvements be made - are they filled out properly

Unconventional
Introduce a monthly lunch and learn when the sales and lab folk meet up for a free buttie, drink and bag of crisps for a brief in-house presentation and a natter

2. Maintain the excellent product quality currently produced in the lab.

Simple
Each stage is initialled

Novel
Record instances when work is suboptimal and discuss them at the lunch and learn

3. Manage costs and operations in order to help improve lens cost of sales.

Simple
?

Novel
Have a post box for cost saving ideas, with a small financial reward for any employee suggestions that are implemented

4. Manage resources to ensure we meet the growing needs of the customer and the business.

Novel
Invite feedback from customers - use a form - what did we do well? What can we improve?

5. Any other factors you feel currently represent a challenge in the lab.

Simple
?

Novel
?

Would stating that changes shouldn't take 3 months be a positive or be looked down upon as going against what is asked for?


Summary slide
I would be very positive indeed, I guess they are not looking for a definitive plan but that you can think critically and manage a team. If you did a few of those ideas for 3 months it is highly likely to have a positive effect.

Hope that helps and best of luck