Interview today after long time out of work - help!

[AboutThyme]

Haven't had a out-of-home job for some time and have an interview today for a job I really want. It's nothing grand, just a PA at a surveyors office but the job sounds interesting, the hours are perfect and I really want it!

Am shockingly nervous about the interview and been scouring internet for tips on technique, wondered if anyone has any good advice/tips. Must be honest, the questions I absolutely dread in interviews are what are your strengths/weaknesses and tell us about yourself. For some reason I fuck those questions up.

With weaknesses I usually say I don't like conflict or confrontation but have been on a course to deal with this and now find it easier/know how to better resolve situations.

Strengths: organised, work well under pressure, good at prioritising.

My top tip is smile! Not like a loon obviously!

Also if the interviewer is talking about themselves, just listen. They like that ime.

Good luck!

Great tip for the weaknesses, thank you!

Good luck, tell us how it goes.

On the far-fetched chance you don't get it (I bet you will!), I am thinking to start a job-seeker's support thread on here soon, any takers?

"Tell me about yourself" is a question that I think interviewers often as to get you relax. I'd suggest preparing what are going to say - doesn't have to be very long, then you won't feel so stressed about it.

In terms of weaknesses, it's always good to judge from the interview a quality that the interviewer has or is likely to value. For a PA job you might say that you tend to be too perfectionist - but you are aware of this so make sure it never affects your ability to meet deadlines.

I got the job! No, tell me about yourself question but a strengths/weaknesses question for which I used the great suggestions by redskyatnight and turkeydino. Interview was at four and I was called 20 minutes ago and offered the job, rock on!

Wooooohoooooo! Well done! Good luck in your new job (not that you need it!)