Interview tomorrow
Discussion
Having worked at Costco for a year, I can no longer take it. Yes it's okay but I don't feel challenged anymore. I just feel like a Donkey walking around the aisles. It wont get me anywhere in regards to my personal business ideas either as the hours worked and money earnt are off-key. I will also be able to run it as a 9-5 job may give me more time to myself. So earlier this week, I applied for another job. And I luckily have received the opportunity to prove myself in an interview.
This job is more to really push myself and get back into my field. As some of you know (from previous threads) I have been out of IT for little while due to personal issues. So I haven't had a proper interview for two years.
The role is to be in a team of 5 IT support technicians backing up 3rd party engineers on alarm installations. I seem to have the correct skills they are looking for but am worried about two things.
1. My job history. It has been quite an unfortunate one. Not that that is a bad thing. I've learnt a lot from the many jobs I've had. However, none have been permanent. They were either short temp role jobs (temp/contracts) or I was made redundant after a little while of being at the post. So I have this issue of maybe being seen as a Grasshopper.
2. Having not been in an interview for a while, I think I may lose my cool and end up blabbing. Not any normal blabbing. Major talk-out-of-your-arse blabbing.Stuff that you look back at once out of the interview and think 'What. The. f
k? Did I seriously say that?'
So PH. please help me. I have done some reading on the company but need a little guidance. If it helps make me look better, apparently there were approximately 300 applicants. I am one of 2 being interviewed.
This job is more to really push myself and get back into my field. As some of you know (from previous threads) I have been out of IT for little while due to personal issues. So I haven't had a proper interview for two years.
The role is to be in a team of 5 IT support technicians backing up 3rd party engineers on alarm installations. I seem to have the correct skills they are looking for but am worried about two things.
1. My job history. It has been quite an unfortunate one. Not that that is a bad thing. I've learnt a lot from the many jobs I've had. However, none have been permanent. They were either short temp role jobs (temp/contracts) or I was made redundant after a little while of being at the post. So I have this issue of maybe being seen as a Grasshopper.
2. Having not been in an interview for a while, I think I may lose my cool and end up blabbing. Not any normal blabbing. Major talk-out-of-your-arse blabbing.Stuff that you look back at once out of the interview and think 'What. The. f
k? Did I seriously say that?'So PH. please help me. I have done some reading on the company but need a little guidance. If it helps make me look better, apparently there were approximately 300 applicants. I am one of 2 being interviewed.
Whatever you do, do not start to blab.
Apart from that, if you are qualified to do the job, just be honest.
Lots of people try too hard to impress and end up inventing stuff. This is very easy to spot and will mean that they don't really believe anything that you say(OK a bit stong, but you know what I mean).
If they have only chosen 2 people, then you are already in with a good chance.
Try to be relaxed and truthful. If you are feeling nervous, then just ask yourself what the worst outcome is. You still have a job, and there will be more opportunities in the future.
Don
--
Apart from that, if you are qualified to do the job, just be honest.
Lots of people try too hard to impress and end up inventing stuff. This is very easy to spot and will mean that they don't really believe anything that you say(OK a bit stong, but you know what I mean).
If they have only chosen 2 people, then you are already in with a good chance.
Try to be relaxed and truthful. If you are feeling nervous, then just ask yourself what the worst outcome is. You still have a job, and there will be more opportunities in the future.
Don
--
Yeah, relax as much as you can. I always feel I do much better at interviews when I'm not tense.
Just remember the interviewers are human too, but don't be too familiar with them. (Unless you know them and can get away with it. I had one last night where I knew all the people there from different places and it was like a reunion more than an interview!!)
What I usually do under normal conditions is jot down and take with you a list of experiences and achievements directly related to the job itself including inter personal/leadership stuff and have it to hand along with a copy of your own CV for referrence. It's too easy to panic and temporarily forget what you've done and/or put on your CV. I've done it a couple of times and looked like a fool even though my CV is absolutely truthful.
Just remember the interviewers are human too, but don't be too familiar with them. (Unless you know them and can get away with it. I had one last night where I knew all the people there from different places and it was like a reunion more than an interview!!)
What I usually do under normal conditions is jot down and take with you a list of experiences and achievements directly related to the job itself including inter personal/leadership stuff and have it to hand along with a copy of your own CV for referrence. It's too easy to panic and temporarily forget what you've done and/or put on your CV. I've done it a couple of times and looked like a fool even though my CV is absolutely truthful.
TotalControl said:
Well, I've now got a second interview at this same place on Wednesday, but this time I have a feeling it will be with the MD as well as my potential team leader. What can I expect from the MD then?
Nothing technical.He's seeing if your face fits, and whether you know how to behave.
Soovy said:
TotalControl said:
Well, I've now got a second interview at this same place on Wednesday, but this time I have a feeling it will be with the MD as well as my potential team leader. What can I expect from the MD then?
Nothing technical.He's seeing if your face fits, and whether you know how to behave.
I've had an MD ask me technical questions in the past (e.g. differences between versions of Java and licencing differences between RedHat and Centos Linuxes). He had a few favourites that I'm fairly certain he really wouldn't have been able to answer as far as I was able to work out. They were quite open ended and I suspect more about whether you could explain technical concepts at his level and generally hold up one side of a conversation.
But yes, it's more than likely just a meeting to check the face fits and as you've survived the first round it's likely to just be a rubber stamp affair. Good luck.
But yes, it's more than likely just a meeting to check the face fits and as you've survived the first round it's likely to just be a rubber stamp affair. Good luck.
I would expect him to ask a few technical questions just to double check that you're technically suitable for the role.
I'd also be anticipating questions about your motivations for applying for this position, what you can bring to the company and the classic where do you see yourself in X number of years.
The MD shouldn't be too bothered about your technical fit (that's down for the line managers to check) but will be looking for the commercial fit.
Good luck!
Simon
I'd also be anticipating questions about your motivations for applying for this position, what you can bring to the company and the classic where do you see yourself in X number of years.
The MD shouldn't be too bothered about your technical fit (that's down for the line managers to check) but will be looking for the commercial fit.
Good luck!
Simon
When we recruit the department manager will do the first interview and will assess their ability to do the job, I'll second interview and will just be interested in whether I think they will fit in. So it is more of a chat than a formal interview. I'm unlikely to ask techie questions to test their knowledge but I might have a techie conversation to assess their attitudes. So talking about Windows and Macs, iPhones and Android, Linux and so on. No rights and wrongs just trying to assess how interested they are in the tech, how widely they think.
Thank you for the input there chaps. Well, the line manager didn't really ask me any technical questions in the first interview, as all she wanted to know was whether or not I had done anything like this role before. She also said the environment was very 'laid back' and anything we pursue outside of work is entirely up to us, including own businesses, which I found interesting for her to mention.
If the MD isn't there then it'll most likely just be part 2 of the first interview. If he is there, then a face to face chat shouldn't be much of a problem. I actually plan on staying there for a while if offered the position.
If the MD isn't there then it'll most likely just be part 2 of the first interview. If he is there, then a face to face chat shouldn't be much of a problem. I actually plan on staying there for a while if offered the position.
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