need some interview tips....

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

I've been set a pre-interview task - they want me to turn up and talk for 5 mins on how I would do x. The problem is that I wouldn't (do x, that is). I think it is quite fundamentally problematic and I have good reasons to back this up - but I can't say this can I? Or can I? It seems very negative - it would be rejecting their very idea. (and there's history here - I come from a sister organisation and we quite often reject their ideas) I guess I have to come with ways of doing x but point out potential pitfalls?

Can you get creative and do
problem
root cause
solution a
solution b
recommendation (i.e. your solution)?

hmm, that gives me something to think about actually. I'd already been thinking about starting off with the reasons for doing x - which they don;t make at all clear. There are a number of reasons and depending on which one you'd adjust how you did it. Problem is they ask some quite specific stuff along the way - which is an opportunity to show off a bit of knowledge - aside from answering how you'd do x, iyswim - so I do think I've got to engage in it at the substantive level, as well as at the more strategic level.

if it was lif and death and you HAD to do x - the tell them what you would do. I would also then try and give the other side of the coin by syaing something like (and its difficult not knowing what x is) - "however, I feel that I could not do x as ....(explain negative points and why you think that would occur) and that I would do y instead because...(explain pros of the other idea).

Hope that makes sense.
The thing to remember in interviews is always to give questions where possible a beginning, middle and end.

So...what you did, why/jow you did it, what the outcome was, what you would do different if you had to do it again and why.

Also some very basic advice but smile when you go into the room, friendliness goes a long way.

Ok sorry I thought this was the other intervie thread I emant to post on before but it wasn't my advice isn't very rellevant here.

There is just a small chance that they want someone to say that x is the wrong solution (but is so, they are being underhand in the interview process). If they genuinely believe in x, but you say it is wrong and explain why, there are two ways it could go. If they have an open mind, then all is well. If not, would you want to work there anyway? So, you have nothing to lose by saying what you think.