Same job interview.

[2pinkginsplease]

My supervisor and I are both going for the same job in education Early years. How do I sell myself better than they do. They have more work experience in this field however I'm newly qualified but have more life experience.

Help.

Read the job description thoroughly and come up with an example for literally every single thing on the list.

I know someone who had worked as a teacher and head of department for years. When she went for a job in the office she didn’t get it because she didn’t specify that she could do photocopying 😂

it’s ridiculous how they score your answers for these things so just make sure they can’t trip you up on anything and hope your supervisor doesn’t. Good luck!

@TheShoeLady thank you so much for your advice, I was planning to look at legislation and guidance and link it to examples of practice but the job description linking sounds great.

do you think it’s ok to go in with notes? , last interview was during covid and it was on zoom so had my notes with my but hidden.

No you shouldn’t take notes into an interview. I’ve conducted loads of interviews and don’t expect to see people looking at notes.

Oh I disagree, I like to see notes, it shows people have prepared rather than winging it!

I like notes too - shows people have done some background leg work, and are keen not to fluff it up!

We always allow notes in interviews we do. Don’t see why not, you’re not going to score points for not having notes. Some people have asked for a few seconds to find the right page they have their notes on and that’s absolutely fine with me, I tell them to take their time

give over - really? it shows that they've prepared and are organised! you're penalising people for that?

Also I've conducted 'loads' of interviews and I love it when people bring notes. I don't want to see people underprepared.

Don't think about selling your self better than another person, think about showing your employer's the best of your potential.
You need to think about what you can bring, not what another person can't.

I took notes into my last interview for a managerial position and got offered the job at end of interview.

I did ask if it was ok and if they allowed me to have my notes out and could I also take notes of their responses to questions I asked and they said gosh you are prepared, yes that's fine.
An interview is a 2 way street and any decent interviewer would look favourably on someone who was prepared and wanted to make a good impression by giving clear answers, even using notes.

I also had my notes with me at my last interview. The pre-interview brief actually encouraged it. I tend to only do bullet points anyway, more to jog my memory when I’m frazzled. I got the job.
I agree with what one of pp said: don’t focus on outdoing the other candidate. Focus on showing and selling your best self to the interviewer. Also, familiarise yourself with the job description really well and make sure that what you say in the “tell me about yourself/why you applied for the job” part is really strongly linked to the job description.

Thank you all so much, great food for thought and you are right I need to focus on me and what I can do and why they should employ me.

I’ve printed off the role profile for the job to familiarise myself with it and will make bullet points as notes linking it to my practice.