Interview tomorrow - help!

[hesbeeneatingapotato]

Posted on here before about my likely redundancy next year. Since then, I've managed to get two interviews lined up, one tomorrow and one on Thursday

However, both are totally unrelated to anything I've ever done. One is for a senior financial administrator, the other is a finance and technical admin role. The job specifications have aspects of roles I've done in the past, but I don't have direct experience as such.

I'm not sure I'm on the right track with things they'll be asking I've only ever worked in aviation, and all my interviews have been heavily based on industry knowledge.

Aside from the usual 'why do you want to work here' and ' do you have any holiday booked' is there anything I should be expected to be asked? Sorry to sound so utterly clueless!

We'll done on landing interviews (aviation pun intended)!

I'd go through the job description and person spec and list the examples you can give of skills/knowledge that is transferrable to the role.

Make them into bullet points and practice them as answers to questions.

Interview technique is a lot about practice so get some in now.

Good luck OP!

Thank you and aviation puns are always appreciated!

I've had a good look at the job description, it isn't extensive. The list of qualities they're looking for seems to be longer. It specifies pro-active, can work independently, adhering to procedures, being a good communicator - which I think all seems quite straight forward? I've prepared examples, explained what I have done, what was achieved, etc. So hopefully that'll tick some boxes.

I think I may be working myself into a state over nothing the HR lady I spoke to said it would be quite informal, that they're looking more for personality and drive, but that's even worse somehow! I can't prepare my personality! She said she's looking for 'sparkle'!

Make sure you know about the company. It’s easy in aviation to know what’s going on and shoot the breeze, but if this is unrelated to aviation then know about the company! Definitely.

My top tip for interviews being at both sides of the panel would be to relate things back to experience in 90% of your answers.
So if they ask "what qualities do you bring to a team" don't just list positive attributes, be specific and give an example in your previous experience! When people just list things, and your the 14th person to do that that day, interviewers tune out. Even in hypothetical questions, I tend to relate them back to actual experiences I've had. E.g. "What would you do if you felt a colleague wasn't pulling their weight in the team?"
"There was an example of this when I worked at x, and in that instance I did x y z. That worked well, and we came to a positive solution/I learned that y actually didn't need to be done so if I encountered this again I would do a b c"
Prepare questions to ask them too! Don't be shy. I like to ask whether I'm replacing someone (if so why they left) or whether it's a new role (if it is what has changed in the company so the new role is required).
Good luck!!

Thank you all feeling a lot better about this now! I've just had a call asking if I could move my interview up an hour, as now they only have two candidates for the two vacancies. So hopefully pretty good odds!

Completely unrelated to aviation, so I've done heaps of research about the company. Got a few questions prepared, have a fairly good reasoning as to why I'm looking to leave my current role, lots of examples so hopefully I'll do alright. This is the first 'proper' interview I've had in about ... six years or so I think. All my previous contract work was very much recommendation, and having worked for companies before.

As long as I don't fall asleep! DS was up all night howling picked last night of all nights for both of his bottom teeth to break through.

Think it went well should find out on Wednesday!

Thank you all for your help.

Well done!

Thank you 3luckystars

I've got myself in a bit of a state about achieving SC clearance if I get the job they have to carry out a credit check, and thanks to three house moves in two years, and DH forgetting to put his money in the joint account I've got around 10k with of (manageable) debt and missed a couple of payments for bills in my name. Hopefully that won't count against me!

Got a call at 5:49 - which I missed because DS decided that was the ideal time to learn to crawl at full speed.

So I have to give the HR lady in ring in the morning. Feel physically sick I'm sure it's a thanks but no thanks.

Why would they be ringing you though? I hope it’s good news!

Crossing fingers for you.

Thank you both! I hope so too.

Really hope it's good news, my other interview that was supposed to be today has been totally screwed up. No one confirmed a time and location till this morning (totally different to when and where I arranged DS to be in a crèche) so they've made it impossible for me to make it

I'm just having a coffee then I'm going to put on my big girl pants and call them back!

So.

They think I am overqualified. Too enthusiastic. Too bubbly. And they think I'd be bored.

But there's another role she wants me to interview for instead.

I appreciate the honesty, but I want to cry.

But that's good surely?
They see your potential. You're interviewing for something more interesting. It probably pays more. THEY ASKED YOU TO COME BACK FOR SOMETHING BETTER

That is great news. Fingers crossed for your next one .

Thank you feeling a lot better about it this morning! I think all I could see yesterday was the rejection. After a good nights sleep, it all looks heaps better.

I should be getting the job spec for the other role today or Monday. But I've verbally agreed to another interview. The HR lady has already had a chat about me with the hiring manager - so she seems to be fighting my corner!

Not much of an update - though I have just realised it's only been two working days goes to show how impatient I am.

It's okay to email her and remind her I'm still interested if I haven't heard anything by Thursday, right?

Or am I going to come across as desperate and insane?

Hope you all don't mind another update!

Interview is scheduled for next week. So I'm working really hard on that. It will however, assuming I'm lucky enough to get the job, mean I'll probably be in my current role till the end of October.

I mentioned the interview to my line manager, wanting to be honest about my situation. I've had an email today asking to meet as they have a 'proposal' that may benefit both of us work wise, so I'll pop along one day this week and see what that's about.

Fingers crossed for an offer for early redundancy to be honest

Good luck with the interview. Hope the meeting at work is successful too.

That all sounds great! The end of October isn't very far away at all. Plus, it looks like you might be getting some recognition from your current employer! Even if you don't want to stay, it means that when you go to the next interview, you will have a little more confidence that your skills are valuable and you don't have to change jobs... keep us updated please!