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Original poster

Some help for DH and his job interview

25 replies

schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:19

DH has a job interview at a very prestigous and well known golf club tomorrow. It would be a dream move for his career. Does anyone have any advice/tips on interview technique which I could pass on to him? Also he has to give a 5-10 min presentation on his opinion of the agronomical condition of the course and what he would do to it if he got the job. He is confident in the subject area but not used to public speaking so any advice appreciated.

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:30

please?

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WideWebWitch · 31/05/2007 13:31

He must know his cv very well and be able to explain any gaps
he should think about what skills he has compared to the job description
He should think of examples of his experience that matches the job description
He should make sure his pres covers what he can do for them
He should make sure he knows his presentaton well today and is able to answer any question on it. If there are figures in it he must be able to back them up for example

Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:31

thank you very much www

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WideWebWitch · 31/05/2007 13:31

Also he should research them, look at their site, reviews, anything he can find on them so he can answer the 'what do you know about us?' question if there is one.

JoolsToo · 31/05/2007 13:32

Get some friends round and get him to do a trial run, it can be nerve wracking even in front of friends!

I wish him luck

WideWebWitch · 31/05/2007 13:32

And he should prepare for the WORST question he thinks he could be asked, i.e. his weak areas. then if that doesn't come up it;s fine but it's also fine if it does come up.

WideWebWitch · 31/05/2007 13:33

And remember what they really want to know is 'what can this candidate do for us and can he doe the job we want done?'

Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:34

thank you he has this one tommorow and a different one next week but this one would be best and still in Scotland so not so far from family and friends.

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KezzaG · 31/05/2007 13:35

good advice from www. really agree on the examples one, nothing worse than a candidate who is all talk but cannot give specific examples.

Mine would be have an answer ready about why he is leaving current job/looking to move if that is what he is doing. Obviously I dont know the circumstasnces but keep it positive about previous employee.

Can he have any visuals for the presentation? It might help illustrate his points and give him something to focus on if he has not presented before. Is he allowed access today so he knows the condition of the course so he can comment on it with authority?

good luck Mr Schneebly.

Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:36

I worry about people's first impression of him too - he is 6ft 3" and built like the proverbial with a shaven head due to baldness. I think he looks great but worry that he may look intimidating to others!

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:38

he is to get access in the morning and the interview is in the afternoon so not much time to prepare and they ahve stated that visuals are not neccesary but the presentation has to remain under 10 minutes.

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FioFio · 31/05/2007 13:38

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:38

thanks not only for the tips but also the wishes of good luck!

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KezzaG · 31/05/2007 13:38

Lots of eye contact and smiles then, nice suit and a good informal chatty presentation and they will forget he is a Grant Mitchell looky likey

Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:40

lol @ grant mitchel lookeylikey - people used to call him and his brother the mitchell brothers!

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KezzaG · 31/05/2007 13:41

LOL, as long as he doesnt say the green will be "sorted" when he finishes with it in a mockney accent!

FioFio · 31/05/2007 13:41

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:43

lol kezza! He is quite smiley and open so he should be okay. He was in woolies last year and there was a wee old woman trying to reach something so he asked if he could help her. As he was walking away she said to her friend "you wouldn't have expected that from the look of him!"

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:43

fio

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 13:51

I am ready to bombard/test him when he comes home from work! He will be sent to bed early too beacuse he has to leave at a stupid time in the morning!

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Itsthawooluff · 31/05/2007 13:59

My presentation tips

  1. I tend to gabble when nervous, so remember to breathe deeply as you are going along, and try not to let your voice get too squeaky. May not be a problem if you are 6ft+ and a chap .

  2. Know what you are going to say and how long it will take you to say it. Practice it and time it.

  3. Try and make eye contact with all the people in the room - not in stalker looking for victim stare mode, but genial, "you do all agree with me, don't you" type mode.

  4. The easy stuff - clean shoes, spotless clothes, no overpowering aftershave. Nice handshake, but no handwiping afterwards, even if interviewers' hands are wringing wet.

  5. Thank people for their attention at the end of the presentation in non creepy way. "Thank you for listening. Do you have any questions?"

Good luck

Blackduck · 31/05/2007 14:18

Re presentation - the old one of :
Intro: Tell them what you are going to tell them
Main section: Tell them it
Conclusion: Tell them what you have told them.
Take a deep breath before you start and concentrate on speaking slowly (most of us have a tendancy to gabble.....).

lilolilmanchester · 31/05/2007 14:52

Interview:
Why do you want the job?
Can you explain your reasons?
Why do you think you can do the job?
What evidence can you provide to back that up?
Why should they give you the job?
How are your skills/experience/personal qualities relevant to this role?
Why are you applying to that organisation?
What makes the organisation attractive to you?
What questions will you ask them (making sure they don't show lack of preparation)
What questions might they ask you?
How would you answer them?

Presentation: Echo the "tell them what you're going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you've already told them" advice already given, plus eye contact.
Think about your audience - who are they? What do they want/need to know? That will help get level of info right. What are you trying to achieve? What are your main messages? Structure the detail to back these up. Practise out loud. Going over it in your head is very useful to make sure you know your material and how you will link from one slide to the next, but sometimes you think you know what you would say in your head but turning those thoughts into articulate sentences can be a different matter!! He'll probably be very nervous if not used to speaking in public. Remind him to speak more slowly than usual, take deep breaths, smile and be enthusiastic. Practising as often as he can to be totally familiar with his material will help.

suggst you ask him if there's anything that's worrying him in particular, I'm sure there'll be plenty of MN experts to help with more focused advice.

Wish him well and let us know how it goes.

Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 15:30

thank you very much everyone.

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Original poster
schneebly · 31/05/2007 23:25

oh no poor DH has the squits! He has taken immodium! He found out tonight that 2 [eople 'in the business' have put in a good word for his so he is even more nervous now that he thinks he stands a chance!

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