to ask if this is common in interviews - help please!!

[ToomuchtimeonNetflix]

I have been shortlisted for an interview next week and have been asked to take along an object or picture so I can describe myself to the panel.

Has anyone else experienced this? I really want to run for the hills and not attend and I would too if I didn't need the job.

Does anyone have any ideas what they would bring to start me thinking?

Drinkingallthewine Lord yes re: wooden spoon, I happened to have an Irish mammy who wielded one, so should know better!

OK op, how about a small plate belonging to favourite late aunt's/granny (whom you miss greatly of course) whose door was always open? Or her teapot or china tea cup/caddy/tea cosy? To represent, warmth, a listening ear, comforting presence etc etc?

@trappedsincesundaymorn wow that sounds amazing! I've had the jack Daniels sponge type cake but oh my.

I once had to 'explain' insurance to a group of people who lived on a desert island, didn't speak English & had never seen anyone outside their tribe in their lives.
We were left to prepare with a bunch of crafting stuff.
It was an internal interview.
I didn't get the job & they never used that method again.

I'd do a shit in a carrier bag. I mean - really. This used to be a country of scholarship, ffs.

I was once i terviewed for a job where the orgabisation had had to stomach a Snr Civil Service manager being foisted onto them 'on secondment'. He'd been there 6 months and they couldn't wait until they could send himback, but had just heard he'd be with them or another6...

Heput himself in charge of the interview lrocess and his bright idea was amateur theatrics. With ALL iterviewees together. We were trooped into a room altogether, told to pretend we were all old friends who knew each other really well, gievn some sort ofscenario, and to go ahead.....

The person they offered the job to turned it down 😄

Its a stupid question, but at least they gave you warning rather than springing 'tell us about yourself' in the interview.

All they want to know is that you're not a weirdo and you can talk sensibly about a topic.

Be a tree - shows steadiness, strength, growth and it gives life and a home to dependent organisms. Alternatively, tell them that they’re a joke and if you don’t need the job, swerve it. Good luck either way (wanders off to be a shrub as that’s about my limit at the moment).

@trappedsincesundaymorn - would you mind posting your recipe please? 🙂

I’ve had this for a teaching interview. I think it’s just a prompt to give you something to talk about. I just took a picture of a holiday and spoke about it

Haven't RTFT so apologies if already suggested but I would take a teabag.

That leads you into a conversation about having a chat over a cup of tea/breaking down cultural barriers

Good luck OP

Bring an iron and tell them it represents you as you are excellent at smoothing out the wrinkles in people's lives.

I think that's quite nice actually. Much less awful than the interviews I've been to - being given data to analyse that you didn't collect or really even understand and having to prepare a 20-30 minute presentation on your analysis of it and the findings. I could talk for quite a while about a random object actually.

And so, the cycle begins anew...when I graduated (early 1990s) it was very common in interviews to give you something like a paperclip, or a brick, or a single match, and ask you to come up with 20 ways of using it. Then it progressed to "Who would you throw out of the balloon/how would you keep this sinking balloon/ship afloat". Then there was the 'good cop/bad cop' method of interviewing and/or the intimidating panel of 4+ (much beloved of academic environments, that one - they rotated the questions and one just didn't talk at all). Then it turned into competency based interviewing (the theory being that you'd always behave in the same way, whatever the circumstances). Now it's all about how you fit with the organisation's values (which are always variations on a theme involving teamwork and communication, in my line of work/sector). I've not yet been asked to be a green or red triangle though. (That really had me chuckling.)

You can probably tell HR has not been my favourite department throughout my working life...given that it's a role helping support those who've been bereaved, a picture of your pet, or of a favourite place, might be a good choice. Or the "how many ways can you use a paperclip approach" to show your versatility. Or something. They probably are under the illusion this is a good icebreaker, and it does sound a bit like the "tell me about yourself" question that a lot of interviewers start with, instead of saying what they actually mean which is, "Why do you want this job and what (life) experience do you have that will help you fit in"... They probably are looking to use it to give you a chance to show your ability to communicate as well.

If you decide the job is right for you, and you want it, best of luck in the interview.

I had an interview with three other interviewees where we had to solve a problem together, one candidate literally did not stop talking.
Same interview, we got a shed load of data that we had to analyse and write a presentation for. In 20 minutes. It was like being on the bloody Apprentice!

I was first knocked out and was delighted to leave !It was an admin roll in a school just above minimum wage.

The first person offered the job refused it, so did the second!

Take something in and be preapred to show it. However - before showing ask them why they are asking/using that method.

@trappedsincesundaymorn

I had an interview not long ago. One of the questions was..." what would you say you have learnt about yourself during lock down?" My answer? " Well I've learnt I can make a damn good Jack Daniels fruitcake and I promise to make some and bring it to the office if I get the job".

I start a week Monday .

LOVE THAT!!

Take a teapot. Calm and comforting?

I would take a piece of paper with some appropriate, professional interview questions.

I remember my interview at Asda years ago. It was an Asda Magic selection process where we had to jump through various hoops (not literally) before we could have an actual interview.

One of the activities was where they put us into small groups and we had to create and present an advert for a random product. Ours was a kettle descaler. There were a few other activities we had to do too.

I managed to get through the first few rounds but was knocked out before the actual interview stage.

No, the job wasn't sales based or anything, it was a very basic part time store assistant role.

Favourite book?

A rat skeleton and some toenail clippings (which you can say you took from a sleeping homeless person).

CuriousaboutSamphire, brilliant

What do you want a chance to tell them about you? What will be a good fit for them? What is authentically you. It's a gift, five minutes to talk about yourself and sell yourself.

@WorraLiberty

OMG why do they insist on doing this sort of thing? Honestly I feel for you!

I think I'd bring a pair of false eyeballs and roll them as far upwards as I could

Sorry, unhelpful I know Good luck with the interview

Your eyeballs comment made me laugh a lot more than it should @WorraLiberty

I wish you didn't need this job OP because they are already showing themselves to be those strange employers that do childish crap like this.

I have done this exercise. Deep sigh.

The theory underpinning it in the training above was Bourdieu's theory of habitus, and to display social and cultural capital.

I would take something personal and slightly sentimental. They want to know that you can be open and are comfortable with/ know yourself well enough that you can relate to others or be a little vulnerable. A photo is a nice idea or a piece of jewelry that belonged to a relative or something your kids made you if you have them... Something that shows love, compassion and perhaps (given the organisation) loss...