Help, called today for interview Thursday.

[IdontknowwhyIcare]

Ok I was called today by a local senior school (ds attends year 11) to attend an interview to be one of two school receptionists, on Thursday. I applied by email 26th Feb and heard nothing till today so had almost forgotten about it.

They are interviewing 5 people and the Interview times offered to me are 20 mins apart! Not much chance for them to ask questions IMHO. So what are they likely to ask me? Any ideas? All my past jobs have been because of someone I knew. Please help, thanks.

Hi Idontknow
I googled for you and came up with this:
uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100627043019AAcVKBI
It looks pretty good.
I have no direct experience, but I would say for a school receptionist they would want someone who can stay calm, that is able to cope with difficult people eg angry parents, who can remain assertive without getting upset. If you have done that in real life, tell them! Also I'd expect you need to be able to cope with busy times and quiet times.
HTH - Good luck!

Thanks sticky, I just went into a can't think moment (that doesn't bode well does it). And of course why didn't I google? Doh! Normally I'm a real promoter of google is your friend to answer anything.

will you have any dealings with the children too? if so it will be various scenarios - what would you do if a child came in in tears/broke glasses/been sick/said mummy was drunk etc. etc.
confidentiality andgood phone manner examples.

Good points didididi. I should ponder suitable responses, gulp as to what they might be. I can do calm and confidential and normally my friends would ask me what to do so I think I might be ok with that.

Start with the job description or job advert (if there was one) and go through it line by line trying to come up with examples from your previous jobs or real life where you can demonstrate those qualities they are looking for.

Be friendly and smile - your first impression will count, after all you are going to be people's first impression of the school on the phone or in person,. so you need to show that you are wonderful and approachable. Show that you can deal with people in a panic/angry etc. You'd need to be an efficient message taker to I'd imagine.

Any chance you have first aid/fire marshall experience? You could always throw that in if you have it, as schools will always need that, and I imagine it is one more responsibility that a teacher would rather not have.

Good luck.