Interview Tips

savagesam117

savagesam117

savagesam117

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Hello all,

I've got an interview at Boeing for an Apprenticeship as a Simulator Technician on Thursday.

In the email this is the basic outline of the interview.
"Competency-based interview where a series of structured questions will be asked. You will be expected to provide relevant situation-specific answers that involve a description of the situation, how you managed the situation as well as describing the end result. Please use the attached documents to aid you in preparation for this. You will have a 30-45 minute competency interview followed by a 30 minute practical exercise."

I've never really had a formal interview before, the only two jobs i've had at Halfords and Evans Cycles, the interviews were not very formal at all and just consisted of asking questions like "Can you build a bike?" "Can you repair a bike?" stuff like that.

Being a young one (Only 19) I don't have much interview experience, both jobs I've applied for i have got luckily. But this seems like a totally different ball game. A few people i've spoken to, one being a college teacher who's ex RAF and all that sort of stuff said it will be one of the hardest interview's i will ever do. To be honest I am ******** myself.

Is there anything you would recommend to do or not to do?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)
 
Don't panic.

Research the company and role.

Don't panic.

You are either competent enough to satisfy the interview, or you aren't.

Don't panic :)
 
savagesam117 said:
said it will be one of the hardest interview's i will ever do. To be honest I am ******** myself.
Click to expand...
Why will it be the hardest ever interview? I seriously cannot see an interview for an apprenticeship being that difficult.. compared to say an interview for a £150k PA job.

Stop bricking it and relax. If you go in like a bumbling mess... first impressions and all that.

Is there anything you would recommend to do or not to do?
Click to expand...
Don't:
Wink at the sexy female interviewer
Bite your nails or play with your hair/boobs/willy
Say "I don't know" (ask to come back to the question whilst you think about it)
Ask silly questions when you get a chance to ask some.

Do's:
Research, research, research.


Fully star out swear words.
 
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You gotta roll with it
You gotta take your time
You gotta say what you say
Don't let anybody get in your way
'Cause it's all too much for me to take
 
My way of dealing with interviews is pretty simple, there is the obvious stuff like reading up on the company for the usual "What do you know about blah blah limited"...

These are normal people you are being interviewed by, probably putting on an act for the interview process to look more important than they actually are and may even be just as nervous as you.

Go in, be yourself, don't be rattled by any questions, say you don't know if you are asked a question you don't know the answer to and don't be afraid to say you are not interested in the position if you feel its not right.
 
Prepare a few answers before you go in. Competency based interviews are used to identify your strengths, weaknesses and experiences in the following areas - these are the main ones:

Teamwork
Responsibility
Communication skills
Managing relationships
Decision making
Leadership
Problem solving
Organisation
Goal orientation
Change management

You should use the STAR technique in order to answer the questions. You can use work based or even non-work based examples.

There is more information available here: http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/star-technique-competency-based-interview

When I prepared for a competency based interview, the four categories I chose were not used, but by preparing you are able to identify what elements/details you should cover in a response.

BB x
 
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Thanks guys, I've been reading through the stuff they've sent me and told me to read through. There's so much of it!

I just hope i get it, i should be alright, just wanted to get some tips :P

I'll have a look into your link BrightonBelle.
 
TommyV said:
Don't swear at anyone on your commute to the interview location.
Click to expand...

Saw that, was funny as hell xD

To OP:

Research the company; 60% of the time they ask you questions about their company every time to see that you do research (and know about their company). I also had to research the Eurofighter Typhoon for mine and spent a good number of days in all, probably about 4-5 days spent researching the company and the jet.

They'll know you'll be bricking it, it's the same as a driving test - they do give you benefit of the doubt, to some degree, for that.

DON'T
Let your eyes wander when you are talking to them. Same said for when they are talking to you.

Speak too fast; or try not to at least.

DO
Prepare a few questions for them; they will like that, depending on the questions (I've been told to ask a pretty negative one before by someone and I really feel it did me no good so never asked it again - the next interview I had, preparing my own questions, I got the apprenticeship myself [not your one, to clarify]). Take a notepad & pen too <--- make sure the pen works! Write the questions in the book but don't expose the page until they ask you if you have any questions, then jot their answers, take your time doing so.

Take your time when answering any of their questions.

Presumably they've told you to wear formal clothes - I'd advise wearing a full suit (trousers, shoes, shirt, tie, jacket) - don't take your jacket off unless they either say "feel free to make yourself comfortable" or something along those lines, or if you generally get too hot. (The first point being because some people genuinely pick at that... sad I know, but that's life).

Thank them for their time at the end.


Get a good night sleep before too! :) Best of luck bud, let us know how you feel it goes! :D
^ I felt mine went awesome compared to the previous ones I'd gone for and oddly enough I actually got the one I felt good in!
 
DR_Pingu said:
Saw that, was funny as hell xD

To OP:

Research the company; 60% of the time they ask you questions about their company every time to see that you do research (and know about their company). I also had to research the Eurofighter Typhoon for mine and spent a good number of days in all, probably about 4-5 days spent researching the company and the jet.

They'll know you'll be bricking it, it's the same as a driving test - they do give you benefit of the doubt, to some degree, for that.

DON'T
Let your eyes wander when you are talking to them. Same said for when they are talking to you.

Speak too fast; or try not to at least.

DO
Prepare a few questions for them; they will like that, depending on the questions (I've been told to ask a pretty negative one before by someone and I really feel it did me no good so never asked it again - the next interview I had, preparing my own questions, I got the apprenticeship myself [not your one, to clarify]). Take a notepad & pen too <--- make sure the pen works! Write the questions in the book but don't expose the page until they ask you if you have any questions, then jot their answers, take your time doing so.

Take your time when answering any of their questions.

Presumably they've told you to wear formal clothes - I'd advise wearing a full suit (trousers, shoes, shirt, tie, jacket) - don't take your jacket off unless they either say "feel free to make yourself comfortable" or something along those lines, or if you generally get too hot. (The first point being because some people genuinely pick at that... sad I know, but that's life).

Thank them for their time at the end.


Get a good night sleep before too! :) Best of luck bud, let us know how you feel it goes! :D
^ I felt mine went awesome compared to the previous ones I'd gone for and oddly enough I actually got the one I felt good in!
Click to expand...

Yeah formal, so i've got my suit out sent it to the dry cleaners, oh.. and it still fits, don't get to wear a suit often :(

I was meant to be working late the night before but i've told work no, i want an early night.

I'm naturally quite a confident person but this, I don't feel it at all. I will do, i do feel quite positive but it's just because of the size of the company and the amount of other people that I've assumed that have applied.
 
savagesam117 said:
Thanks guys, I've been reading through the stuff they've sent me and told me to read through. There's so much of it!

I just hope i get it, i should be alright, just wanted to get some tips :P

I'll have a look into your link BrightonBelle.
Click to expand...

As BrightonBelle says Google competency questions and prepare answers/examples. Make sure you know you strengths and weaknesses, and don't fall into the common trap of making your strengths too generic (provide good, specific examples) and make sure your weaknesses are actual weaknesses (but not horrendous ones) and show you've made an effort to mitigate them.

Definitely research the company, what they do, their history etc. If they ask you to tell them about their company you'll have plenty to say and gives a good first impression (you've done your reserch and seem keen).

One other opening question I've been asked many times is "Tell us about yourself" which is basically what have you achieved and why do like this role, so prepare an answer that is semi specific to the job.
 
savagesam117 said:
Yeah formal, so i've got my suit out sent it to the dry cleaners, oh.. and it still fits, don't get to wear a suit often :(

I was meant to be working late the night before but i've told work no, i want an early night.

I'm naturally quite a confident person but this, I don't feel it at all. I will do, i do feel quite positive but it's just because of the size of the company and the amount of other people that I've assumed that have applied.
Click to expand...

The nerves are natural pal, it's a sign that you actually WANT it :) again, revert to 'driving test nerves'.

I'm guessing your work have been ok with you doing that too? Good on them too if so.

I didn't feel too confident once I'd got the first letters through explaining what would happen. Once I'd done all my research though, it really showed that it paid off as they said they'd heard enough about the Typhoon from me, also stating it's just to show 'we' actually do research so it wasn't a rude stopping and I know I hadn't blabbed on and on... But yeah, I walked out of there feeling pretty awesome I won't lie.

Sorry for a bit of information overload, just... the way I am. I elaborate easily xD

"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail."

- Ed Miliband
(joke)
 
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