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Original poster

shock horror i have an interview!..please post your most challenging questions a sahm could meet..i need to swot up..NOW!!

25 replies

AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 17:31

am very excited and tad nervy

have a few days to prepare and would be so grateful for your input...
worked freelance before so this would probably be my first interview since er ages '89

what will they ask? what would YOU ask???

help kindly ladies help...

OP posts:
MissisBoot · 05/12/2008 17:34

Congratulations! What's it for?

purpleduck · 05/12/2008 17:39

I just had an Interview, and I had lots of questions that were..."tell me about a situation where you had to deal with an unprofessional co-worker/ etc..."

That sort of thing.

Whats it for?

Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 17:40

arggh not those type of questions! lol

what i used to do (book publishers) so have experience, way more than they ask for! etc but am just 4 years out of date and never thought i'd go back, never kept up

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grumpalina · 05/12/2008 17:59

Is it a competancy based interview and if so have you got a list of the competancies they expect???

purpleduck · 05/12/2008 18:11

At my Interview, I went through a buch of stuff I had done, and I was SOO happy I did - just to re-familiarise myself with things I had done and situations I had been in....

Was very glad I did

(I got the job BTW)

Heifer · 05/12/2008 18:15

I was asked questions about how I had kept up with training in the last few years etc

I hadn't done any prof training at all. but did say that I had volunterred for roles in RL that enabled me to use my computer skills and organisational skills etc.

I was also asked re experience being way above that needed for the job if I wouldn't rather be doing what I did before at the same level. and rather than just saying well no-one has offered me a job at the same level! I just said along the lines that this job fits my current criteria (need to take and pick up DD from school) and yes in the long term I would like to get back to the same level but for now I have different propriorities.

Good luck by the way

Heifer · 05/12/2008 18:16

I re-read all my PDRS before hand and just as well I did as tbh I had forgotton so much of the stuff I actually did and situations I had been in.

NotSoRampantRabbit · 05/12/2008 18:19

I always like to ask people what their priorities will be for the first month in post.

Sorts out those who are realistic and can set targets etc.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 05/12/2008 18:21

I have asked in recent interviews:

  • what do you do well
  • what dont you do well
  • what has been your greatest achievement in the last six months / year
  • can you explain a difficult situation you were in (work or not work), what steps you took and how you overcame the issue
  • why do you want this job
  • why did you choose this career path.

If you are unfortunate enough to be interviewed by two people, make eye contact with both.

If you get given a test, have a go even if the questions make no sense, much better to attempt and get slightly wrong that do nothing.

(having done what seems like 20 interviews last month!!)

purpleduck · 05/12/2008 18:30

Gosh Rampant

What if someone just says "I would like to spend the first month settling in and learning as much as I can about the job/company etc"

Would that be bad?

Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 18:40

crikey am getting really scared now!

trying to think of positive coherent answers to your questions Elf..

am just frightened i sound out of date..

i mean, a difficult situation with bunch of pre-schoolers is gonna sound a world away to high flying go getting in their 20's editorial manager ( i mean i wouldn't have related to that sort of thing then either..)

purple duck I think i would say something similar to you, trying to be realistic..i wouldnt go in guns blazing to change what i did not know but to establish good working relationships with colleagues and little by little find my feet...

oh eck, cat ate my homework

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Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 18:43

heifer, i meant to ask what's is a PDRS??..

i think your answer sounds good, and very true it does suit my situation today to take lower support role and leave office on time

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Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 18:47

grumpalina, what on earth is that?

it would be for a job i have many years experience of, albeit new company.. i am sure i can do it but of course things move on and change

have 3 days to fill myself in on what's happened behind the scenes for the last 4 years

what the feck have i done??

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Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 18:48

oh purpleduck congratulations! hope things are going well with it!!

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ElfOnTheTopShelf · 05/12/2008 18:49

key words you can use "fast learner" "energetic" "like a challenge" "determined"

if it makes you fell better, I can tell you about how my interview went for my current job, if you can do better than that, you're in!

Katisha · 05/12/2008 18:50

Have they sent you a list of competencies/requirements for person in post? If so go through each one and have an illustration of how you have done that/can do it.

daftpunk · 05/12/2008 18:54

find out as much as you can about the company..they might ask you something like this;

so auraofdora; what can you do to make our company even more successful?

know your stuff!

Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 18:56

spill, elf, spill
yes, determined I like it

katisha, i havent anything like that..just couple of lines job description..
i know you need to be creative, organised, on the ball, think on feet, have negotiation skills etc..its my inside knowledge of the industry that has gone, am afraid am gonna look like last years turnip next to some bright young spark..

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Heifer · 05/12/2008 18:59

PDRS - Personal Developement Reviews.

We had so many reorgs in my last company that I basically had to reapply for my own job at least 3 times, so had answered quite a lot of tricky questions with examples.

In fact, I was very impressed with my own comments and that of my line managers etc, I would have given myself the job! It boasted my confidence..

Do you have any old stuff to read?

Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 19:01

oh daftpunk..what do you say to that? this is why i was freelance before smuch easier..
i dont interview well, tis a fact

would be tempted to say that my very Aura would enhance their everyday life...

thing is, the company is one of the very few --book- publishers left that i admire and i probably get all gushy

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ElfOnTheTopShelf · 05/12/2008 19:07

The company I was working at was closing so I signed up at an agency, and they got me an interview for the following day.
I went along, was met at reception, escorted through a maze of pathways and corridors where the man had to swipe his security pass to get through.
Sat in interview with this guy and somebody from HR.
Was asked various questions and I felt totally unprepared, had not been given any of the job spec from the agency and felt totally at a limb.
I kept having to say "erm..."
They asked me I were interested in studying AAT, and I had to confess I didn't know what that was.
I apologied for knowing nothing, and thought in my head that if I knew how to get out of the building I'd have got up and left. But I had to suffer.
Was asked "what kind of relationship do you want from your manager" and I burst out laughing. Hysterically. I found it really funny and had to stifle the giggles for the rest of the interview.
I got the job. I'm still there five years down the line, in fact I got promoted

Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 19:07

heifer no, was freelance no one cared no holidays, pension, sick pay or review

a definate down side of being approached through recommendations for work is that i have literally no interview or job review experience..

i need to go through my work experience and think of some examples of my creativity, lateral thinking, problem solving, organising skills,working well with problem colleagues? do you think? is this what you mean?

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Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 19:11

lol elf
was it a personality test? did you ever ask them?

i had an interview years and years ago that droned on for 2 & 1/2 hours! in the end, i kept saying i refer you to my earlier answer, i think we have already covered this point earlier til my throat literally dried up..
(didnt get the job, was relieved really)!

OP posts:
ElfOnTheTopShelf · 05/12/2008 19:34

I did ask about why the hell they had hired me, apparently I managed to pull the interview back after that question!

Original poster
AuraofDora · 05/12/2008 20:46

i often think they are testing you in odd ways your foibles to unfold elf...
good for you, what a comeback..

i have worked with some terrible bullies and lazy asses, usually staff too! pinching the ideas and credit when you are not around and no, i haven't handled it well, didnt care as long as job was done..as a freelancer its not really your place to handle it, you are the hired help and often made to feel sub-human in office terms
and
trouble is, small industry, everyone knows each other...likely they would know to whom i refer and are cocktail buddies
arggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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