First interview in a long time, tips needed please

[Eddas]

Following my earlier threads I now have an interview to prepare for. this is my first interview in a long long time (14 years) and I have gone through threads on here and found a few tips and questions I maybe asked but I need all the help I can get, so can anyone give me any interview advice, what to do and what not to do!

Also, I have a few things I need to clarify, one is that the job starts in 5 weeks but my notice period with my eomployer is longer, when if at all should I bring that up? I went for a pre-application visit and asked about the hours (ad said 30/week) and the lady said it would be 8.30-3.30ish, if i was sucessful I would prefer to have a shorter break and do 8.30-3, is this worht mentioning at interview? I don't want to come across as a PITA and i'd really LOVE the job but also don't want to not mention things they would prefer to know.

You don't have to go in with a list of demands - how you phrase the questions will work in your favour.

Rather than saying "I want to work 830-3pm with a half hour break"

Ask "Is the hour lunch period flexible? Could I work until 3pm and take a half hour lunch instead?"

Re your notice period, do you have any holidays left that you could use to lessen the notice? When they ask if you have any questions this is the perfect opportunity to explain the notice situation. They may ask you earlier on - just be honest, if you try and hide anything that will undoubtedly work against you.

Good luck!

Thank you, yes much better way to put things. Re the notice period, I would think if it wasn't our busiest time of year my notice could be 4 weeks but Jan is the busiest month so they may not be take shorter notice than I am required to give. I would think they would reduced it to 6 or 8 weeks but am pretty much certain I wouldn't be able to leave before mid-Jan. I don't have any holiday to use.

1. It is sensible to have a rough idea of how to answer the following (but not learned by heart):

Why this job?
What makes a good team player, and tell us about when you have been one?
Your strengths?
Your weaknesses?
Tell us about something that has gone badly wrong at work, what you did and what you have learned from it?

1. Have a question prepared that sounds like you are actually interested in the job (e.g. is it possible to be involved in project Y? I was really attracted to Z in the job description, what does it currently involve?) before launching into terms and conditions questions.

1. Could you ask about working 8 til 3 rather than asking for shorter hours immediately?

joanofarchitrave, thanks, points 1 and 2 will be practiced but not learned off by heart, just a rough idea of what i'll say thank you. point 3, the reason 8.30-3 is due to childcare so would be preferable, but I don't want to put them off with demanding different hours. I got the impression she would be flexible. When I asked she said I envisage it 8.30-3.30 (6 working hours and breaks) I will need to consider carefully how to bring this up, I don't want it jeopardising my chances but would be ideal 8.30-3 childcare wise, I wouldn't mention that though. Although it is a job in a school and she would know why as she knows from my application form that I have dc at a very local school (mentioned being on the PTA, didn't directly mention dc).

Firstly, congrats on getting an interview
Without seeing advert / knowing what the job is: look at the "essential" and "desirable" attributes (team player, customer focused, analytical etc).. Then read you cv, note which meets which attribute and then come up with another example for each (or a couple the cover several attributes)
Examples should be: set scene (briefly), YOUR part in it and the outcome.
Remember to use "I" and not "we".

Good luck

Best of luck -and remember you got the interview because they think you can do the job

Practice possible questions with someone - general ones like tell me about your self, and why do you want to leave your current role and why you want this job are all worth practicing
and it may not apply to you but practice coming across as enthuastic and pleasent to be around - when I get nervous I get

re hours personally I would wait until you are offfered the job unless its a deal breaker

Notice period - not a great deal you can do about that - most employers will wait for the right person -and would appricate loyalty etc - just if asked about it you would negociate the shortest period possibly - I wouldn't bring it up if they don't

thank you for the congratulations, I wasn't feeling too pleased yesterday but I am today. No mean feat to get an interview so am now very pleased with myself

I have the letter offering an interview and it gives me a bit more background in what they will ask so I need to do my research and get a bit of practise. My lovely sister has offered to give me a phone interview so will take her up on the offer. She isn't in recruitment or anything but has been for plenty of interviews and was a project manager so knows what they will be asking.

I am getting my head into positive mode and focus on doing my best to get the job.

The letter states that there will be a formal interview (with 3 people) , a financial exercise, tour of the place and refreshments!! It says it will take no more than 2.5hours

I am good to go for the financial exercise, if I can't do whatever it is I don't really deserve the job!! so I just need to prepare for 3 people and me in an interview

When is it? Sounds good & possibly in my area of expertise (I'm an accountant in the public sector). Are there any key areas they were asking for on the advert? Really look at that. I rewrote my DHs CV and geared it specifically for a job, focusing on the attributes... He got an interview but then he got a pay rise at work which took him over the max the other was offering so declined..

Keep us informed, we are all routing for you

thank mummynic I need to reprint the job spec etc because I binned it after a few days as I assumed I hadn't got an interview!

I'm off out for the day but will be back to it tomorrow, can't wait to get swatting

bump for my swatting day anymore tips gratefully received

thank coconutty, this is a finance job in a school. I'm using my contacts in RL for advice too. Part of what they mention in the letter is they will ask me about safeguarding and welfare so I have asked the manager of the pre-school I work for (I have 2 jobs!) to point me to where I can read about this, which she has kindly done so I have some reading to do on that.

I know they'll be the head, Govenor and someone from the local authority there but it should be fine

Good luck Eddas!

Skills, knowledge and experience (matching the job) are 3 things they will want to hear about, usually in the first question. It might be phrased in so many ways like,

tell us about yourself
why have you applied for this role
what attracted you to this role
what SKE do you have that qualify you for this role
why should we employ you
and so on.... One thing a friend advised which I'll pass on, is to use that section to give them info about you that would not fit in elsewhere in the interview, eg that you live locally.

I'd advise you to reread the job description and person spec as others have advised, making sure you can demonstrate the competencies required during the interview. Elsewhere on this forum, there have been explanations of the CAR/STAR technique for giving good answers, search them & read up if you need to. It might be a good idea to be aware of equality and diversity, particularly if the school is a large one, catering to a range of people. If need be, Eddas, take in a bottle of water so that you can take a sip if you need to buy time to ask a question. Ask for a cup if needed, you won't look funny if you do so.

If a question is a 2 or 3-in-one, either take BRIEF notes of it, or let them know you'll answer part one, and then ask for the next part to be repeated.

You said elsewhere that the process was for 2.5 hours, so is there a test, and do you know what to expect from it?

thanks barkis, yes it has a finance exercise. someone on another thread said when she (could be a he?!) had an interview for the same role she had to do a costing exercise. I can't really practise that and I should be able to do it anyway, so not too worried about the finance stuff they throw at me. It's more the other bits.

I have looked up STAR, thank you for that, I have saved the thread and will look at it once dc in bed as they are not really helpful

Water is a good idea, will put a bottle in my bag.

School isn't a large one, 240 children. I live under a mile from the school so pretty much know the area, I hope! I think they get a good mix of children.

I'm getting more and more nervous!!

You are very welcome, Eddas :) What other bits worry you? If I can help, I'd be glad to.

www.skills4schools.org.uk/page.asp?id=343
www.lgcareers.com/careers-az/finance-officer/
may be useful

you're very kind thank you. I've just re-read the job description and am more calm now. Without meaning to sound cocky I do tick every box apart from the specifics of being in a school environment so I'm not sure I need to be worrying as much as I am. But I haven't been to an interview like this ever. The only thing vaguely similar was an interview for Safeway which had a test then interview but i'm pretty sure this one won't be so easy!! There is going to be stronger competition i'm sure!

I think a main area of concern is to work out at least one, if not more, question(s) at the end at the 'do you have any questions' stage. DH offered 'have you got any reservations about me' as his one. This would give me an opportunity to answer them?

Also, back to my op, but the start date says 1st Jan. However, I'm not sure how much notice my employer will ask for. I need to check my contract but i'm fairly sure it's more. If it is should I mention it? Should I take it with me to show them or will I look daft!?

I have just checked my contract and the termination period stated is

'by not less than one week's notice for each year of continuous employment'

so, my boss doesn't have to let me go after 4 weeks. I suspect he may accept less but Jan is our busiest month so he may refuse to let me go before 31st Jan.

Any advice?

advice on whether I should bring this up at interview, rather than anything else as it won't be an issue if I don't get the job!!

You don't always have to have a question, but I understand that you want to appear proactive. A modification of your DH's question might be advisable, because I am not sure that a public-sector panel would answer that question straightforwardly (all the equalities stuff that gets drummed into them during interview training!). You might ask if there is any information you've given them that needs further clarifying, or if the test comes first, you might refer to something of interest there. Another enquiry could be to find out if they might provide feedback about your interview - I know that a candidate asked for this even after getting the job. It is never a bad idea to ask about training opportunities, too.

No, you don't need to take your contract with you, and if you are asked how soon you could start, just respond that you would need to get back to them on that. FWIW, if the job needs a CRB check (which can take up to 8 weeks, the successful candidate might not start till Feb, possibly, even if they are available for 1st Jan.

feedback is a good idea.

I won't take the contract but will say I will need to get back to them, or no doubt knowing me i'll just tell them officially I should give 11 weeks but am hopeful my boss will let me give less! He has already spoken to me re notice and I think if weren't Jan he would accept 4 weeks, but would want 8, maybe we could compromise on 6

With the CRB, I have one already, would they need to do a new one?

Thanks for your help, i'll be back with more i'm sure before questions Tuesday

CRB: Depends on their systems, I have known ppl to start work without one done by the employing org as the candidate has one already. A risk assessment is usually completed in that case, with the new hire commencing work while waiting on the outcome of a fresh CRB. Some places may not recheck your CRB if it is

Ok I will keep the notice under wraps, that makes sense, don't wanna put them off!!

I don't have outstanding leave (maybe a few hours). I use a lot of leave in the first part of the year due to school holidays.

My CRB was done a few years ago so looks like they may need it updated.

I knew i'd have more specific questions, so, for strengths and weaknesses is it ok to identify a part of the job that is a weakness (in the desirable not must have section) and say how i'd change that? and strengths, is it ok to be quite general? eg, lots of experience in accounts/admin/speaking to a range of people (all things on job spec) or should I be more specific? Obviously I wouldn't put things quite like that, but as a general example.

You could, especially if the weakness is a lack of learning/training but not ability. For my sense of balance, I'd go general on both, or specific on both, but the choice is yours. Also think about ethical/moral conflict/whistleblowing type situations and how you might deal with those.

Will you come back and let us know how it goes? I'd love you to!