Interview prep help!

[ShonC]

Hi all!

I've got an interview for a promotion at work and I've literally been thinking about it since I found out.

For my prep I have

• Read the job spec inside out:
• Contacted the manager to find out more about the role as well as someone that does the role.
• Enrolled on e-learning to find out information about the policies and legislation.
• Recited the legislation in my head, to my partner and out loud.
• Thought of examples to use using the STAR approach and recited my answers.
• Researched the database they use though not a lot of information online.
• Thought of why I am the best person to do the job (as they like to ask this!)

Is there anything else I can do to ensure I'm in for a good chance of getting it? It's such a good role and I REALLLLLYYY want it! I'm a bit of horoscope addict 🤦🏻‍♀️ and it mentions getting a promotion at work this month 🙊

Any help would be amazing!

[Purplecatshopaholic]

Maybe don’t mention the horoscope addiction, lol. STAR approach prep is a good one (if the company uses that approach). Also think about examples of things that haven’t gone well and how you dealt with it, what you learned, etc. Good luck op - and let us know how it goes.

[ForensicFlossy]

Could you do some best practice research looking at how other companies in your industry work?

[ShonC]

@Purplecatshopaholic haha no I won't mention that 🤣🙊! Thank you will think of some examples! It's so hard to big yourself up! I will let you know how I get on it's 8th April x

[ShonC]

@ForensicFlossy it's working for the Police so I think it's standard across most forces but I've looked up the force values and mission which I'm going to mention x

[Mumof1andacat]

Learn a little of the history of the organisation and its future. The values of the organisation. What you can do for them that makes you different from the next person.

[Evasmissingletter]

Be really clear what your strengths and values are and talk about them openly in the interview and how these strengths can help you perform in your role. Talk about how your strengths positively impact your team and the task. Good luck

[Daydrambeliever]

Remember when answering questions about a team achievement to specifically highlight what your role was.

[tinselandlights]

Look at any trade press to see what is going on in the wider industry, how covid recover/brexit might affect the company.

My killer 'any questions?' Interview question is 'what would you be looking for in an excellent candidate during the first three months in the job?'

And hold your head high! Think about what you can bring, too! I also look on YouTube to see if I can find any videos that show the style of the people who will be interviewing me.

[ShonC]

Thank you so much for the responses! They are really useful and it's got my brain thinking more and outside of the box! Xx

[Pinkraven]

Remember when answering questions about a team achievement to specifically highlight what your role was. If being a team player is important - don't say you're a team player and then only talk about what you achieved without reference to the team - being a good team player is more than just having experience of working in a team. Think about how collaborating and working with other people in different teams/departments/companies led to a better result all round.

[youmakemydreamscometrue]

Is it a police officer role or a police staff role?
Star(e-evaluation) is the way to present your answers. Just keep reading everything over. They won't be trying to trip you up hopefully
Have a couple of additional answers to hand, not just the ones on your application form and also some where things could have/did go wrong and how you improvised/adapted/overcame the situation. Be clear on your involvement in tasks and how you dealt with situations.

I recorded myself reading over any bits that I thought would be key points and used to listen to it driving to work. I was offered my current post at interview so it seemed to work.

[ShonC]

@youmakemydreamscometrue it's a police staff role! That's amazing you were offered it in interview. Do you have a police staff role?

Thanks for your advice! The recording idea sounds good x

[youmakemydreamscometrue]

@ShonC I do. I'm a dispatcher now. Their interview process from my experience follows the application form quite closely and no real curve balls.
I had a second example for each category and was only asked for one ie "your application form mentions XYZ can you tell me of another example where you did ABC"

[ShonC]

@youmakemydreamscometrue I think dispatchers are amazing - fair play to you! I've had a couple interviews before but I've found that each interviewer is slightly different in what they ask so it's good to get a few different examples like you say! Will let you know how I get on x

[youmakemydreamscometrue]

@ShonC it's good you've been given plenty notice to do some research and prepare. Good luck for your interview

[yeOldeTrout]

Gosh, just realising that in my life I have never once 'gone for a promotion'. I am even more peculiar than I knew.

[MsMiaWallace]

@ShonC any updates? I'm in exact same boat as you but I'm with local government.
Interview is tomorrow.

[ShonC]

@MsMiaWallace I don't have my interview until 8th April, what times yours? Xx

[MsMiaWallace]

It's at 14:30 tomorrow!!

[ShonC]

@MsMiaWallace heya hun! How did it go? I didn't see you'd responded xx

[MsMiaWallace]

I got the job!
@ShonC you'll be fine as you've well prepared. My manager said I shone through. I really prepared like you.
They didn't need most of it but I'm guessing that's why I was more confident with my answers.
Good luck today!!

[ShonC]

@MsMiaWallace oh my gosh I am so pleased for you!!! I also got offered the job! Yay for us ❤️🙌🏼

[KatherineJaneway]

Well done both 👏

[ScoldsBible]

Congratulations! Was just browsing on here as I need to get my arse in gear and get a job so happy for the pair of you. Where were these jobs advertised? Usual places or were you looking on their website?

[ShonC]

@KatherineJaneway thank you!

@ScoldsBible I looked on my police forces website. If you're looking for local government have a look on the civil service website and you can whittle it down by area, salary etc xx