Job interviews

[Benno]

I've finally got an interview lined up with a good company this coming Thursday.

I'm told I'm good at coming across as friendly and confident in interviews, but my technique still sucks. I'm terrible at extrapolating skills I learnt from things I did - I tend to just state what I did, and to me the skills inherent in the activity/accomplishment are self evident and speak for themselves. So I don't really know what I should say, or how I should say it.

For example, the UOTC. Obviously that involves leadership, time management and discipline. What the hell else can I say? Apparently this isn't enough because I keep getting awkward silences.

Also, I'm never sure if I should mention the army reserves in job interviews, since it may scare an employer into thinking I'm going to be away all the time messing around playing soldiers. However, this interview is for a company that organises defence conferences and stuff, so I'm not sure what to think.

Any general advice/tips for job interviews would be very welcome
____________________
I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[metalangel]

I found the key is to control the urge to babble that comes with nervousness. And don't fidget.
____________________
Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[Benno]

[fatpies]

S.T.A.R

When asked a question you explain in this order:

Situation

Task

Action

Result

The thing is there is no such thing as a perfect interview technique similar to a perfect CV as different people will look for different things. Some hate STAR some do it informally. Some like small talk and stories. Some like it to get straight to the point.

For instance Oldham College I felt it went well, but they didn't like my face, even though I checked all the boxes and on feedback they said I was ranked 3rd.

But Manchester College, the technique ticked only some boxes.

While a private company I work for it was a lot less formal and a lot more chatty they wanted to hear about my stories and teaching anecdotes.

While others have been they look your CV up and down, look at you, hand you some lesson materials and make you do a 1 hour lesson and observe you.
____________________
"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"

[waffles]

Do some background research into the company yourself. Go to their website and have a read up on things like mission statements or whatever they have these days, not just what they make/sell/do. Think up some questions to ask your interviewer (not pay or holiday though, way too presumptuous). If you arm yourself before you go you may feel more confident.

Get a list of standard interview questions from the internet and write down some answers, get someone you know and trust to help you expand your answers on paper.
____________________
Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Lord Percy]

Possibly going totally against the grain here but my opinion of 'interview technique' is that you absolutely should not have any technique and should not prepare at all, at least not in terms of trying to second guess what they might ask you.

This may be the thing that relegates me to shelf-stacking for the rest of my life, but I absolutely could not take seriously any kind of interview where they ask me any of that scripted 'tell me about XYZ..' shite, unless it was a genuine question that they clearly asked with several ounces of sincerity.

I agree that it's good to do background research, but the whole thing about preparing for 'the questions they may ask'... that's a thing I'll never do. I'd rather admit defeat and have no answer than come out with a memorised script of stuff that I wouldn't naturally say in real everyday conversation.

[Benno]

[drbaig]

I suppose you are a recent graduate. Expect them to ask generic questions and expect extraordinary answers (yes, I ran for the paralympics and won the gold medal whilst the police were chasing me for looting the bank where I had three accomplices which I had to manage).

I have rejected from quite a lot of opportunities by now and I have not had any constructive feedback.

Granted I royally fucked the first two interviews I gave, and thought to myself who the fuck answer questions like that.

Just do your best, if they like you they'll hire you. If they don't, there are millions of stupid excuses they give. My favourite ones are "you are overqualified" and secondly "you don't have enough experience outside university"

I don't let it get to me anymore. So just relax, do your research and give it your best. That is all you can do. If unsuccessful, try again.
____________________
yzf 600r

[Robby]

Stick to STAR as Fatpies said. Some like it, some hate it, but it's a good framework to make sure you answer the question fully. Have a think about generic questions and work out and write down some answers to them, so you have those ready.

Stick to examples of things you did, not things you would have done. If you don't have an example that fits exactly what they want, give something close. Subsequent questions should fill in the gaps.

For example, Benno, give me an example of running an awareness campaign for a product or service.

I don't have an example that fits that, but I can fit most of it by giving my example of teaching a small company owned by a friend of the family about LibreOffice, saving them money on MS licencing and getting around the training barrier of older staff not understanding how to use MS Office 2010.

Nice one, welcome aboard.

Far better than waffling on about how you might run an awareness campaign.

Also, be vaguely honest, particularly about the end result of things. Usually at least one question in the interview will be about something you have failed at, why you failed, what you could have done differently. Get in a example of something that failed and what you have learned from it and this should head them off. Not a massive failure either - something where you were set an ambitious (impossible) target, and missed it by a narrow margin.

[anthony_r6]

It's worth thinking up these answers before hand. They want to know when you solved a problem, they want to know when went the extra mile. These kinda things are the ones you can think up your response for in advance.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Benno]

Just shat a brick, the interview is tomorrow. And the only job description I can find for the role is for the same role in their Berlin office - and it's written in German
____________________
I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[Frog]

[totalllama82]

Remember, an interview is as much about you assessing if the job is for you as it is for them getting the right person.

I Take an A4 notepad or book with a few pieces of work (i.e. documentation/diagrams) of things I've worked on. It can be a handy prop. It also shows you've put some thought and prep into the meeting in addition to showing your quality of work at the current employer.

Treat it as going to meet a couple of people you don't know for a chat. All you're doing is having a talk about your experiences and past. There's no real need to be nervous.

I changed my way of thinking on interviews and actually enjoy them now. It's interesting to see the different techniques they use to vet you.

One last thing, make sure your CV doesn't have any bullshit in it AND you know exactly what's written there (it can be handy to have a copy in the aforementioned notepad). If you get caught out on your CV you'll struggle to bring them back round.
____________________
Gone: Haotian HT125-8 / Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat / Kawasaki ZX9R C2
Current: Kawasaki ZZR 1400 A7F

[Tungtvann]

WOT APPENED?

[metalangel]

[Clanger]

[MinhDinh]

Practice verbally. It almost becomes memory but you then get to talk in a natural magnet than unscripted.

I had 3 interviews last year. One I was just on time but they said come 15 mins early. Couldn't get parking (bike Bay) then got lost when they told me to walk 100 metres to where the interview would take place. (didn't tell me) interview was Ok but I ended up being very late.

No job.

Second I revised so much. Wrote everything down. The panel ended up asking only 5 quetions. They looked fierce and I was nervous. I learned that I should just be natural and not try to be a boffin. I felt so bad after that.

Third one I had to do excel, English and a maths test. I felt I did okay.

The 2 nights before I kept googling what I may be asked, and practiced. Verbally over and over. Got someone to ask me 20 questions that I wrote down too. Felt confident.

When the interview cane, I shook everyone's hand. I smiled throughout the interview and made jokes.

I talked as much as possible that was relevant. Seeing 3 people smile and write loads made me happy. They made me relax and I explained everything I have done that would help me with my new role etc...

I asked about training they offered and how the company encourages progression.

I asked them why they like working here and what are the benefits they see over other places.

Remember is a two way thing. Will they suit you and vice versa. Got the job. Remember personality matters, they want to see if you are the type of guy they want to work with as well as are you not retarded in your answers.
____________________
Hit the G spot.

[Benno]

[bikertomm]

I've had 3 interviews over the past 2 weeks, got all 3 jobs

What sort of thing is it?

I find having something in front of me really helps, like a portfolio of work or even just a notepad.

I researched each company alot and made notes on a pad.

I had written about 3 A4 pages of things to say that I just kept reading to myself before hand, this helped me loads!

Just be yourself, smile and ride it out. All I can say is fail to prepare and prepare to fail

Good luck
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Northern Monkey]

[Benno]

They never got back to me

Dammit I want to move out of here already and find my own cosy little studio flat with no psycho aunt invading my room at 4am
____________________
I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[P.addy]

[Benno]

[Sload]

Unlucky fella, just keep looking and applying as chances are you didn't do anything wrong, just someone did it better.

Anecdotal, my interview for the job I am presently in consisted of a barrage of psychometric tests followed up by a technical interview with practical, then followed up by a behavioural interview. I had been warned of it all so put the prep in and sailed the interviews. I found personally you should talk professionally but on the level with the interviewer, don't babble but be friendly, sell yourself but don't be egotistical, show confidence but not overconfidence. And dont undersell yourself too, you could give examples of errors you made in the past if requested but show how you learned from them and potentially improved or benefited the prior employer etc.

Unfortunately a lot of it will come down to how you and the interviewer get on as some people just wont gel.
____________________
Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Ste]

What are your strengths?

I'm an optimist and a positive thinker.

Can you give me an example?

Yes, when do I start?



What would you say was your greatest weakness?

Honesty.

I don't think honesty is a weakness.

I don't give a fuck what you think.