Job Interview

Aid4nTheNoob said:
Also, humour them a little bit. Once, my Dad was in an interview, he told me they asked him what his weaknesses were, he replied with 'Mars bars'. I think he got the job, however I'm not too sure.
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That's fairly terrible advice! :p
If they inject humour then you can go with it but you aren't chatting up a girl here.

Loads of questions online so look for ones related to what you will be doing and tailor your answers. If it's customer facing then try and highlight your people and problem resolution skills-or at least have an answer to a 'give an example of how you dealt with a difficult situation in past'.
If they ask 'describe yourself' again tailor it to highlight what makes you suitable for the job and be able to back it up. Also if you submitted a CV be sure you can back up everything in it as a lot of questions could be based on what you put in there.

On a more basic level. Ask for water if it's not offered, it will be, and if you need to wear a suit, probably not needed, then take off the jacket or you will likely end up pumping sweat and feeling uncomfortable and making the people interviewing you uncomfortable.

Good luck with it.
 
flibbage0 said:
After all that job searching I've finally got the opportunity for a job interview.

It's at an electronics store and it is next week.

I don't really know what to expect especially being my first job interview but I really hope I get this job.

Has anyone got any tips?
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Just listen to this 100 times and repeat to yourself "im the best around" its about PMA dude!

 
Right thanks for the tips, I think I need to calm down a bit, I tend to worry too much and end up like a sweaty bugger at times :o

I asked them about dress code and they said suit and tie.

I've looked on the Internet for interviews with this specific store and some get the job then and there.
 
Dress smart.
Eye contact.
Firm handshake.
Smile!
Speak clearly.



I don't like preparing full answers to typical questions in advance as I can't repeat them convincingly. But you should be atleast planning an outline for typical questions.
When answering questions. Don't be blunt, but being succinct is fine.

When asked a question, try and give a bit of back story before relating whatever experience you have before summing it up with why it makes you awesome.
 
Judgeneo said:
When asked a question, try and give a bit of back story before relating whatever experience you have before summing it up with why it makes you awesome.
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Indeed, most employers seem to call this the STAR strategy for answering questions.

Situation or Task: what needed to be done, or what were you 'in'
Action(s): what did you do
Result: how did things go down in the end?

Working this kind of structure into your answers takes a bit of getting used to but I find it helps me focus on giving them a decent answer and hits all the right pointers.
 
What annoys me is the generic questions you get thrown at you like

"when did you work well in a team".

Unless you do sports or similar it's a ridiculous question.. i just blagged those questions...
 
With all this talk of firm handshakes, I can see this ending one way..

 
Joshct said:
What annoys me is the generic questions you get thrown at you like

"when did you work well in a team".

Unless you do sports or similar it's a ridiculous question.. i just blagged those questions...
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I've got a five page Word document with pre-fab answers to all those pesky competency-based questions. Make something up in advance if you've got no decent examples, or better yet relate it very vaguely to a situation and embellish the extent to which you achieved what you claimed to. I didn't do this for my current job, they were all honest. But if you've got nothing, then what's the choice? No job offer.

Half of the challenge of an interview like that is proving that you can be bothered to prepare. It's very unlikely in most cases that they will check specifics that you claim to have achieved.
 
Right, so I had my job interview.

Did all the textbook stuff, be positive, smile, firm handshake and etc.

Will find out next week.

Thanks for all the advice :)
 
What kind of questions were asked? I have an interview on Thursday I am thinking of preparing for a competency based interview even though the do not reply email confirmation doesnt say what type of interview it will be.
 
flibbage0 said:
After all that job searching I've finally got the opportunity for a job interview.

It's at an electronics store and it is next week.

I don't really know what to expect especially being my first job interview but I really hope I get this job.

Has anyone got any tips?
Click to expand...

Good Luck dude and do your best and don't come across as something your not
 
For any more that come to this thread looking for advice, something i've always found useful is to take a copy of my CV with me and other documents which can show the quality of your work such as a dissertation or drawing work/CAD work.

OP, hope you get the job!
 
Posty said:
What kind of questions were asked? I have an interview on Thursday I am thinking of preparing for a competency based interview even though the do not reply email confirmation doesnt say what type of interview it will be.
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A time when you had to deal with challenging people
A time where you surpassed people's expectations
 
physichull said:
Firm handshake. Its the failing of MANY people, not just in interviews, but whenever I meet a new client and I get the limp handshake from them, its just disappointing.
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Complete and utter nonsense invented by some deluded marketing agencies, shake hands normally.
 
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