Interview questions help needed

[GlendaPickle]

Hello,

I think Mumsnet is a great reference point for loads of information.

In summary I am recently unemployed and I have been to a few interviews without success.

I always ask for feedback. I have a job with a local council next week and I on the jobs that I have been for I have been unsuccessful I have started to write the questions down.

The feedback I have been given so far is

1. Your talked about your family too much.
2. Keeping the answers relevant for the post you are applying for
3. Finished second just pipped by a better candidate.

The questions that keep coming up are

1. How do you deal with stress?
2. How do you work in a team?
3. How do you cope with criticism?
4. How do you work with somebody you don’t like.
5. How do you plan out your day?
6. Have you every reduced the quality of work to meet a deadline?
7. Examples you have used team work to solve an issue.
8. Any other questions

I bet loads of people of Mumsnet have interviewed I am need to crack answers 1-8 any advice in answering the question would be appreciated xx

Do you think it’s what you’re saying or how you’re saying it?

In an interview I wouldn’t mention my family or home life without being asked or it being directly relevant to the question.
I’d also go through the job spec and come up with an example of how I’d demonstrate all the skills required. Where possible I’d make it relevant to the department / area the job was for.
For the questions you’ve mentioned can you think of examples where you have done what they’ve asked eg cope with stress, worked with some you don’t like? Tell them about it, if it wasn’t a positive tell them what you’ve learnt and how you’ve incorporated it into your work life. As an interviewer I like that approach as it shows growth.
Don’t say I’ve never had to deal with stress at work or I get on with everyone - it’s not believable and doesn’t demonstrate anything about you.

Thanks for the advice so far. Appreciated.

No. 2. Working in a team brings challenges and opportunities. You have to listen to each other, take on board other peoples points of views, being adaptable is a particular strength of mine (even it it isn't) and thus us an important skill when it comes to team work.. Then give an example of a work related situation, how you listened to other people and found a way to work together.

No. 4. In any given workplace there will be 1 or 2 Bitches you hope will disappear people that you normally wouldn't meet outside of the workplace however, we are all adults and what us important is that we strive to be the best version of ourselves to get the work done and stay professional.
If there were serious issues that needed resolving I would speak to the person and if need be escalate the matter to my line manager so solutions can be put in place

Google end of interview questions and have 2 ready... Things like what keeps you working here.. What strengths do you see the successful candidate having.

Lie if you have to.. But big yourself up, tell them you solved the problem, you did this, the success is because of what input you had.

I guess it is what I am saying.

Think about what they are looking to find out about you when they ask the questions.

• when have you dealt with a situation relevant to each question. Quickly summarise the situation so they understand it (also demonstrating that you know how to keep the the point and make it quickly), explain how you made an impact, how you ensured the outcome needed, any stumbles and how you learnt from them and how you anticipate you would tackle something like this in the advertised role. If it’s a tricky question, repeat question back to give yourself time to think or even ask for a minute to think. If you rush to please and say first waffly thing that comes into your head because you are nervous then they will think you’ll handle the job that way.

Don’t take rejection personally - no one knows you from a CV and a hour’s conversation. Reflect after interviews what questions made you stumble and plan what you wished you’d said. I always find when I start looking for jobs that first interview is always so much worse than the next one I do. Interviewing is a skill like any other. Comes naturally to some and can be improved upon be everyone. In an ideal interview, the interviewer would be skilled enough to get the information they need out of you but the reality is the more you offer it up confidently and easily, the better impression you’ll make.

Also I’m sure I read somewhere that 90% of decision is made before you’ve sat down. So be charming the the reception staff if there are any. Have a few easy, non controversial and friendly comments you can make to have small talk on the way to the interview room if walked to interview room...even if it’s not the interviewer you walks you there. It will give a good impression if you build a wick easy rapport with whoever that person is. In your head, your interview should start the minute you leave home for it, & definitely before even walk into the building. You never know who’ll walk past and observe you!

Read and re-read person spec and job description. Be keen to know if it’s the right job for you too.

Good luck!

So for example, how do you handle stress?

Handling stress has be key in my role as xxxxx. An example would be when xxxxx happened. The problem was xxxx, it was stressful because xxxx. I handled my stress by xxxx, supported others’ stress by xxxx, helped ensure a successful outcome by xxxx (make this what you specifically contributed rather than saying what “we” as a team managed to contribute), any stumbles that needed self-reflection and what you would do differently, if anything, if presented with similar situation when working in their advertised role.
Keep it short & to the point... anything that merely expands the scenario but isn’t key To the narrative wastes their time. Eg mention exactly where it happened (eg in office, meeting room or corridor) only if that relevant to the situation.

I would recommend that you do lie. Big yourself up - sell yourself but don’t lie. If you don’t fit or have the right experience then you’ll not enjoy the job anyway. Don’t try and be “how they’re looking for” - show them how you do the job to the best of your ability.

If they ask a question you haven’t got direct relevant experience for, say that. “It’s not merging I have direct experience of, whoever, how I anticipate I would tackle it would be xxx, possible factors to consider would be xxxx, I would get the knowledge I needed to do it right from my manager and colleagues, other departments etc etc

Sorry a few typos...cooking dinner at the same time

Thanks keep the pearls of wisdom coming. Appreciate all of the replies so far.

Use STAR method. All employers pretty much use it now
State what the challenge/issue was
Task. What would need to be done to resolve issue
Action . What did YOU DO what actions did YOU TAKE to resolve this issue. how did you do it
Result. Did you make it better, how was it successful?
Keep answers totally on point short and relevant.

Thanks

How do you cope with criticism.

Most people sulk or get angry

Turn it into a positive

I’m happy for people to share issues they’ve found with my work. It means we can fix the problems and improve the result/outcome/ for our customers, or I can receive support or additional training -

Depends on the nature of work!

No 6 - you always strive to do the best you possibly can in completing a task, and don't wish to cut corners. However if time is running short, you would refer the matter to your line manager for confirmation about which aspects can be modified in order to meet the deadline.