job interviews

JRB Hope you read this. body language, open and confident.

ps. I rang my mum (only because she had recently been for an interview herself) and the only advice she could give me was "make sure your wearing clean pants" please be a touch more constructive thanks

Dont be too matey, but be pleasant... be confident but not cocky, and if you are asked a question that you are not too sure of, admit it - dont bluff your way thru, you'll look like a pillock... remember that people who conduct interviews dont like doing it either, and you'll be ok. Dont wear white socks.

Are white socks okay with a white suit?

No :-)

Says she, who's still wearing flowers in her hair...

oh ok. lol thanks. nearly made a big booboo there.

and if you have to fill your email address in on any forms, lie and say you dont have one yet. furry pumpkin.

;-) i`ve already had the should I, shouldn't I conversation with myself but thanks anyway

What's wrong with putting an email address on a form? Sounds safer than putting your home address and phone number.

click on jayarebees email address justyn.

For what it's worth, here are some random pieces of advice based on my experience from both sides of the job interview desk... if you are nervous about saying the right thing in the right way, practise dummy interviews, get someone to ask you a few questions and tape the result... if you prefer to do this on your own, write some typical job interview questions on several small pieces of paper and then pick them out of a hat one by one, speaking your answers into a tape recorder (or video recorder) as you go...don't stop and start, but do it continuously as you would have to in a real interview, then play it back and see what you did well and where you went wrong.... remember there are usually three main questions the interviewer wants answered: 1) can the person do this job, do they have the right qualifications and experience? 2) are they a safe pair of hands or will I be putting the company/department/my reputation at risk by employing them? 3) do I like them personally, will I get on with them, are they pleasant to be with?... you need to be able to show the interviewer you satisfy all three of the above requirements...so work out your strongest points in relation to those three questions and try to weave them seamlessly into your answers... take a long hard look at your skills, qualifications, experience and personality traits and be sure you know exactly what they are...there is nothing worse than coming out of an interview and suddenly realising that you failed to mention a highly relevant piece of information... don't forget all the stuff you've done outside of work...it may be relevant to the job you are applying for (eg voluntary work, sports, hobbies, unusual holidays, family responsibilities...) remember when selling yourself it is much better to give specific examples of what you have achieved, rather than just to announce in general that you are wonderful...this is a bit like the "show don't tell" advice in creative writing... remember it's not good enough to simply say "I have strong organisational skills" you need to back the statement up with specific examples of things you have done that demonstrate that quality...for every claim you wish to make about your capabilities be sure you have specific examples to back it up... look for examples in your life of how you have grown and developed personally and professionally, and try to get that across in the interview...also try to show how you are continuing to develop...most employers prefer someone who is still looking to improve rather than someone who has peaked and is set in their ways... it's not a bad idea to admit to some minor failings or mistakes in the past (to prove you are human) but be sure to point out how you have learned from those mistakes and moved on to better things...however, do not go to the other extreme and start putting yourself down all the time...aim to end each answer on an upbeat note... also bear in mind that painting a picture of yourself as being perfect in every way can make you sound unreal, possibly dishonest and also a bit intimidating...so try to present a balanced picture of yourself with lots of plusses and just the occasional minus... have ready a well balanced answer to that stock question "what's your greatest weakness?"... at the risk of stating the obvious, listen very closely to each question and be absolutely sure you understand what is being asked...if in any doubt ask the interviewer to clarify the question... another obvious piece of advice is - do your research on your prospective employer and try to understand (in general terms) their business and the issues they might face...then you might have a better understanding of what they are looking for from you...these days with the internet there's no excuse for not doing this... during the interview try to weave into your answers (seamlessly) some of the information you have uncovered from your research to show you have taken the trouble to find out about them...and are taking a genuine interest in their business... do not be intimidated by silences...it is a well known interviewers' trick - at some point in the interview - to pause and say nothing...so the poor candidate feels obliged to carry on speaking...often blurting out something that was better left unsaid...if the interviewer tries this trick wait patiently and silently, and simply ask them after a few seconds if there is anything else they would like to know about whatever it was you had just been discussing...ie put the pressure back on them... remember every part of the interview is an opportunity to make a positive impression...that includes the walk/informal chat from reception to the interview room, the bit at the end when they tell you the interview is over but keep you chatting for a few more minutes and also the walk back to reception...I know of cases where promising candidates have blown it in that final minute when they let their guard down... and finally...some qualities you need to convey about yourself during the interview: honesty enthusiasm (don’t go over the top) willingness to be flexible signs of personal and professional development a sense of humour genuine interest in the company or organisation you want to join... hope there's something for you in that lot... good luck....

After all that I don't think I want the job anymore. :-)

Shame mississippi, I think you'd make a model employee... one other important thing jayarebee... never, never, never slag off your current or previous boss or company...no matter how awful they are you must resist this, because it will only reflect negatively on you... the interviewer only has your side of events to go on and they will be wondering if perhaps you are the sort of person who doesn't get on with people, perhaps a bit of a whinger... this is the one part of the interview where you would be well advised to lie (or at least spin) if you have had bad experiences...no matter how awful your former employers are... your gripes about them will not come across well in an interview...

Goat is RIGHT on. I've done plenty of these, on both sides of the table, and even if when you're worried about being smarmy, it's the best way to go.

thanks GBJ, I`ll certainly try and take most of that onboard, have to travel to london on thursday for my next one so I`ll make sure I get some practice in before then. oh and if that was just random pieces of information, I would love to see what you would have said if you had thought about it. ;-) thanks again

Back in 1973 I was living in Perth, Western Australia. I'd gone out there over a woman, but that's another story. After a while just dossing I realised I'd better find a job and scanned the 'Western Australian' job pages. It was that year that Kentucky Fried Chicken decided to start trading in Oz and they were opening up in Perth. The ad read, 'Opportunity to join the fastest growing company in instant food. Manager wanted, must be ambitious, intelligent and self-motivated....blah blah blah...'. Ignoring the 'intelligent' requirement I phoned for an appointment. The guy who conducted the interview was a Texan, complete with the bloody hat and chomping a ceegar. He had one of those little pyramid signs on his desk announcing he was 'Hank Rogers - CEO'. He had an interviewing technique I had never come across before. 'Well George, how d'ya feel about chickens?' 'Oh, I can take 'em or leave 'em, don't care too much for the wings though' Hank smiled and looked down at the piece of paper on his desk. 'Would you sooner have a chicken or a cow?' 'To tell the truth I never tried to pluck a cow or milk a chicken so I guess it depends what I have in mind.' Hank chuckled. 'Hey, I like you George, you're a funny sucker.' 'OK, let me tell ya a bit about the job. The hours are long, I mean LONG, if I had to work that many hours in a week my wife would walk out. You married George?' 'I see. In a way, yes' 'And the work is goddamn hard, too hard for a man like me. How you feel about hard work George?' 'I've done some, I can handle it if I have to.' 'OK, well the pay is crap, I wouldn't work for pay that low.' 'How low?' Aw shucks, I don't like to talk money with a guy I just met. The opportunity in Australia for employees in this company are astronomical, you could go all the way to the top. (chuckles) Well all the way to just under me!' 'Mmmmm' 'Let's get back to the chickens George, could you kill ya own chicken if you had to?' 'You use live chickens and the staff have to kill them?' 'Hell no, I was just curious as to whether you had some kinda sympathy with the dumb birds. So you got the picture? The hours are long, the work is hard, the pay is bad, in fact I think you'd have to be nuts to want this job. What d'ya think?' 'Well Hank, if the job is as bad as you say I guess you're right. Let's just forget I ever applied shall we?' I rose to my feet and headed for the door. Hank's ceegar had fallen from his mouth and he was really upset. 'But George, you're just the kinda guy this company needs.' 'Maybe Hank, but this is just the kind of company I DON'T need, take care.' (Hank phoned me twice over the next week asking me to reconsider. I assumed he'd either had no other applicants or needed to restore his belief in his interview technique.)

that is so brilliant....

great story mississippi not quite sure if I want my interview to be quite like that one.

The job's still open if yah want it George.Can't hold it forever tho.

LMAO ;-)

Hey Flashy, Sadbelle was just saying (on the nasty thread) that you wouldn't be out to play today on account of an undesirable result in a foobawl match.

Flash, I wondered where you were. Have you decided whether you want to take the job. Just stand on the touchlines and them come on to score, a great tactical move, I think. The only problem is I won't see any of your goals.

hey flash with your weird food combo`s, i don't think you should be offering anyone a job in the food industry.

I wouldn't take the Arsenal job Flash, they make more mess in the changing room than the chimps at London Zoo do.

flash. are you posting to yourself? how bizzare.

SSSSSSh!! It's a bizzare place in my mind

its ok as a leeds fan, I have bizzare places in my mind too.

A Leeds fan. Don't think I've ever met one of those before. Well Flashy, how does it feel to be beaten by a team of monkeys. What does that make you lot?

jayarbee, my advice is dont mention the warm kidneys and the radiators; try to pass yourself off as someone who went to the comp

When he asks if you'd be willing to learn and sing the company song at morning meetings, acquiesce enthusiastically. Then request that he sing it for you immediately to facilitate the learning process.

i never touched those kidneys just telling the story honest