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Original poster

To be impressed with this at a job interview

34 replies

Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:40

I had some job interviews last week and I'm pretty sure I have made the right choice. One candidate answered the questions the best and showed in their answers the most competency.

There was a young lady who arrived for her interview and seemed very positive but she stumbled on th first question. It was a very like warm answer. She apologised and said 'I'm very sorry. I have gone blank. Would it be okay to come back to that questions at the end as I can do better than that'. We said of course.

The last few questions she did alright. Seemed nervous but she held her own and seemed calm.

At the end we said you asked to do the first question again and she said yes if that's okay.

So she added some more points to the first question and said 'at least I've added a few more points to that question now'.

I'm not saying it was thebest interview ever. But I felt it showed courage and confidence as well as a desire to get things right.

She's got under my skin a bit to be honest.
We don't do second interviews and we also don't offer trial periods. We only employ permanent staff or temporary to cover sickness or temporary leave.

I'm not sure it's something I could hire someone over but I found it impressive.

Would you have found this impressive?

Or am I being too empathetic?

Just to say I'm not basing any hiring decision on the answers today. Just generally interested really. I don't know if I'm being a bit silly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:40

*luke warm

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 04/03/2017 23:42

Did she convince you she could do the job?

AgathaMystery · 04/03/2017 23:45

It's hard nowadays with points based interviews. I still get a gut feeling about candidates. Sometimes I am wrong but I think that showed tenacity and some guts.

NapQueen · 04/03/2017 23:45

How were the rest of her answers and when she answered the first question again was she able to give a good answer?

Did any of the candidates have any questions for you?

viques · 04/03/2017 23:46

Young lady? Don 't you mean a young woman?

Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:47

Is there anything wrong with saying young lady? I always say that. Maybe I'm just posh! 😂

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Fourbyfour · 04/03/2017 23:48

Sounds like she acknowledged her nerves and handled them very well. It's impressive asking to be asked the question again at the end when she had time to think, she easily could have left it at sorry she didn't know the answer.

Its whether you want to give her a try and an opportunity, or go with someone guaranteed to deliver.

Personally, if you can take the risk, I'd be tempted to say give her a chance.

Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:49

Her answers were decent. Not bad but didn't blow me away. She did seem to have good knowledge though and I felt it was a lack of knowledge on how to perform at interview rather than any actual lack of technical knowledge.

The questions she asked showed a genuine interest in the company and that she'd done some research.

I'm not going to be able to give her the job. But will keep her in mind for future opportunities.

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milkysmum · 04/03/2017 23:51

I think it's great that you are giving her the credit you are and at the same time would have presumed it pretty standard that if you get a mental block on a question you ask if you can come back to it later?

Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:52

I've never had a candidate ask to come back to a question they haven't answered well.

Not once.

I don't think it's a common practice. It should be but people either can't be bothered or don't have the confidence/don't want to make an idiot of themselves a second time.

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Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:53

Well I'd not seen it until this woman did it.

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justilou · 04/03/2017 23:54

I think you know you're going to click with her. Do itz

Iambubbles86 · 04/03/2017 23:54

She was the one who was kind to someone who got upset in reception right? I really liked that and I think if this is the 2nd thread UV started where you've mentioned her then she is under your skin and you won't be able to stop thinking about it if you dont hire her.

justilou · 04/03/2017 23:54

Itz??? I am not twelve!
"Do it!!!"

Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:55

ismbubbles

This is my first thread about this. You may have seen something similar though.

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JustHereForThePooStories · 04/03/2017 23:55

I interview a lot of people (as part of a 3 or 4 person panel for competency interviews) and it's a fairly common occurrence. I wouldn't think more highly of someone for it. Nor would I penalise then.

LoupGarou · 04/03/2017 23:56

Yes I would be very impressed, it shows she didn't going to bull shit her way through when she's unsure but take her time and isn't afraid to draw attention to weak points and ask to remedy them. It shows self possession under pressure, which IMHO is a very important skill.

Provided she has the skills/technical knowledge to do the job it would make me want to hire her as attitude counts for so much in new a staff.

Original poster
Evalineaa · 04/03/2017 23:57

Ah I see.
I'd not had anyone ask to go back to a question they didn't know the answer to.

I think if they asked it in an unenthusiastic manner I might not have been bothered, but I liked her enthusiasm and it felt like she was putting up a fight for the job.

I should probably stop being in interview panels. It has my conscience in pieces! 😂

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Iambubbles86 · 04/03/2017 23:59

Evaline- sorry I swear I read something this week where a young woman stumbled on the first question then came back to it at the end and it still wasn't as detailed as they would like but they were impressed that she attempted it, and everyone else on that thread said give her a go (also she had comforted a fellow upset candidate in reception). I'm gonna see if I can find and link so you can see the answers......

LoupGarou · 05/03/2017 00:00

it's a fairly common occurrence. I'm not in the UK but I sit in on a lot of interviews and I've only ever once had someone say something like that. We hired him (going out on a limb a bit to do so) and he is an absolute gem.

BlueDaBaDee · 05/03/2017 00:00

I'm sure the interviewee wrote a post about this in the past week or so ShockShock

Iambubbles86 · 05/03/2017 00:05

Ooh blue maybe its that I'm thinking of.

tootiredtothink · 05/03/2017 00:05

Have to admit I've heard this stor a few weeks/months back on mn so much more common than it seems.

Sadly I'm useless at searches

PixiePlunge · 05/03/2017 00:07

Post like these always make me Hmm

It's not up to a public vote whether you should hire someone ffs. If you're incapable of doing the job you're in and making these decisions then you need a reality check.

Original poster
Evalineaa · 05/03/2017 00:08

I'd be interested to know how common this is. Asking to redo the questions you feel you didn't answer well.

I should have asked that question instead!

Just for my own research and knowledge really.

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