Advice needed for job interview please 🙏

[Baktoworkigo]

Hi all,

I have been out of work and a SAHM for 10 years…..so I’m massively rusty.
My youngest has just started school so it’s time to go back to work. Before the summer holidays I applied to a job working as a School Business Assistant in a secondary school, I hadn’t heard anything, so didn’t think much of it. Anyway lo and behold this morning, they have invited me to an interview next week. I’m in a bit of shock really as I didn’t expect to be asked, due to being out of work for so long. Previous to being a mum, I worked in offices doing admin, but never a school. It says the interview will involve a tour of the school, an intray exercise and then a formal interview. Has anyone any idea of what I should expect. What the task may be, what questions I may be asked, I need to start swotting up now if I even stand the remotest of chances. Thank you so much in advance for any advice.

An in-tray exercise will normally be a timed written assessment where you’re presented with several issues and you need to put them in order of priority and briefly explain why you’ve done so.

Good luck!

I cant be much help on the specifics of these tasks, but I would start with the job description focusing on key roles/competencies. Research the school and any public available data/information so you can speak to these points at interview.

I prepare people for interview, happy to help you if you want to PM me - it’s a hobby of mine!

As it’s a school you might expect a safeguarding question. Eg what should you do if you suspect a child is being ill treated or a child confides in you? The answer generally being you do not promise confidentiality to the child as you will need to inform others who can help them and you will then inform / report to the school’s designated safe guarding officer.

YouTube has lots of good guides to interview techniques and sample questions - something like this might be helpful: Wishing you luck 😀

Thanks all I had the interview! It went well I thought, the exercise wasn’t too bad although I didn’t manage to fully finish one last bit, and the interview went as well as I could expect. Unfortunately some of the other ladies I chatted to whilst we were waiting are so so much more experienced than I am, so I’m 99% sure one of them will get it instead…..but I’m over my very first interview for many many years, so I’m proud of myself for that in the first place, as I was a bag of nerves last night. Thanks so much for all the advice. Safeguarding did come up and I aced that question.

Awesome update, love how upbeat you are. Fingers crossed you'll hear back soon re outcome 🤞🏼

I’ve surprised myself by having the courage to actually go if I’m honest! They said they’ll call us either way by the end of the day

Fantastic - sounds like a great experience. Thanks for the update - and fingers crossed for you

Thank you! I was unsuccessful booo! But never mind, I expected it.

I'm sorry..... but don't let this deter you, keep applying, you'll land something soon.

Good luck x