Tips for first job interview?
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm a final year student studying engineering. On Monday I have my first interview. I've never had an interview before (been in one long term part time job since 17) and this is an odd scenario - so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My interview has come about due to performing incredibly highly in a large piece of coursework for a vehicle dynamics and performance module.
My lecturer is an external lecturer, who runs a (small) race dynamics business (him and a graduate) which creates and utilises software to optimise racing car performance. He is aiming to re-program his software using another program. My coursework created a very primitive version of his software, within the software he is hoping to move his programs into, and impressed very much it seems.
When I received my feedback, he told me they were looking to employ someone, and had discussed me and one other (who I believe is staying with a company he works part-time with when he graduates a year after me). He asked me what my plans were next year, and what I expected to earn. He was very very keen on getting me to visit his premises, and gave me his phone number, asking me to call him to arrange. Only a couple of hours later I got an informal email asking if Monday would be a good day to visit - 'visit' has been used a lot.
I don't know the entirety of the job role, but I want to work there. I'm going to go over the basic vehicle dynamics I have been taught at uni, and my coursework, to ensure its all fresh in my head. I'm planning to dress smart casual, as that is how I will be most comfortable, and that is how they dress. I intend to be myself, and get across my hands-on mechanical experience, which my lecturer will not have gleaned from my coursework. Otherwise, I have no idea what to expect, or what will be asked. I'm not sure it's even an interview, as such!
Any general advice?
I want this job so badly. It's incredibly interesting work, close to home, seems it will pay a typical salary, and within a small business (like I have been since 17 where I am comfortable).
Matt
I'm a final year student studying engineering. On Monday I have my first interview. I've never had an interview before (been in one long term part time job since 17) and this is an odd scenario - so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My interview has come about due to performing incredibly highly in a large piece of coursework for a vehicle dynamics and performance module.
My lecturer is an external lecturer, who runs a (small) race dynamics business (him and a graduate) which creates and utilises software to optimise racing car performance. He is aiming to re-program his software using another program. My coursework created a very primitive version of his software, within the software he is hoping to move his programs into, and impressed very much it seems.
When I received my feedback, he told me they were looking to employ someone, and had discussed me and one other (who I believe is staying with a company he works part-time with when he graduates a year after me). He asked me what my plans were next year, and what I expected to earn. He was very very keen on getting me to visit his premises, and gave me his phone number, asking me to call him to arrange. Only a couple of hours later I got an informal email asking if Monday would be a good day to visit - 'visit' has been used a lot.
I don't know the entirety of the job role, but I want to work there. I'm going to go over the basic vehicle dynamics I have been taught at uni, and my coursework, to ensure its all fresh in my head. I'm planning to dress smart casual, as that is how I will be most comfortable, and that is how they dress. I intend to be myself, and get across my hands-on mechanical experience, which my lecturer will not have gleaned from my coursework. Otherwise, I have no idea what to expect, or what will be asked. I'm not sure it's even an interview, as such!
Any general advice?
I want this job so badly. It's incredibly interesting work, close to home, seems it will pay a typical salary, and within a small business (like I have been since 17 where I am comfortable).
Matt
Edited by 13aines on Wednesday 3rd February 11:36
Thanks for the advice, all very sound. It's worth noting again that it's a two/three man operation currently, so no line managers etc. I'll scope the address out online, but i'm expecting a small office, perhaps a unit where the cars are stored while optimised setups are assessed.
I will go on the smarter side. He sees me each week and i'm a jeans, trainers and T-shirt guy with a beard, so with a smart-casual shirt and facial fuzz removal it'll look like i've made a little effort, and i'll be comfortable (not naturally confident).
Interestingly I emailed him early into the semester and asked if there was any jobs going, and a preliminary interview was mentioned for sometime in January. Due to missing my email in the second week of January, this didn't happen.
Now my coursework has been assessed and i've impressed things have been much more focused on a 'visit' as opposed to an 'interview' (not said once in our conversations yesterday) and he seems very keen - this bodes well and is exciting.
Hopefully i've shown enough technical knowledge as is, and that I am a fast learner, and won't be grilled too hard, so if I can show i'm keen, hard working, have practical knowledge and experience too, will be a long-term proposition, and will fit in and be malleable, this will be enough.
I don't know what the role would be so I certainly have questions there. I'll plan some so it doesn't seem like i'm interrogating with question after question as they come to mind.
I will go on the smarter side. He sees me each week and i'm a jeans, trainers and T-shirt guy with a beard, so with a smart-casual shirt and facial fuzz removal it'll look like i've made a little effort, and i'll be comfortable (not naturally confident).
Interestingly I emailed him early into the semester and asked if there was any jobs going, and a preliminary interview was mentioned for sometime in January. Due to missing my email in the second week of January, this didn't happen.
Now my coursework has been assessed and i've impressed things have been much more focused on a 'visit' as opposed to an 'interview' (not said once in our conversations yesterday) and he seems very keen - this bodes well and is exciting.
Hopefully i've shown enough technical knowledge as is, and that I am a fast learner, and won't be grilled too hard, so if I can show i'm keen, hard working, have practical knowledge and experience too, will be a long-term proposition, and will fit in and be malleable, this will be enough.
I don't know what the role would be so I certainly have questions there. I'll plan some so it doesn't seem like i'm interrogating with question after question as they come to mind.
Again, thanks for all of the advice.
I have just received a job description, written yesterday. This helps, as I'm now even more sure I fit the bill well, and can explain why giving previous experiences etc. - things they don't know about me yet.
I've met the boss and his other member of staff already obviously and get along well with them, so I will just be myself (i'm naturally talkative so thats good so long as I don't over do it) and hopefully I will continue to get on with them well.
The description answers some of my questions, but also poses more, so I will prepare some.
I've been told whatever time suits me is fine, and that I am welcome to join them for lunch.
There is a lot of focus on performance pay over the basic which would get me slightly above what I expected to earn. This is good, so long as it's attainable. Performance targets are based on the company profit, and my performance. There is a lot of emphasis on growing the company. Mention of developing in order to lead a management position in the future.
Plenty of travel also
I have just received a job description, written yesterday. This helps, as I'm now even more sure I fit the bill well, and can explain why giving previous experiences etc. - things they don't know about me yet.
I've met the boss and his other member of staff already obviously and get along well with them, so I will just be myself (i'm naturally talkative so thats good so long as I don't over do it) and hopefully I will continue to get on with them well.
The description answers some of my questions, but also poses more, so I will prepare some.
I've been told whatever time suits me is fine, and that I am welcome to join them for lunch.
There is a lot of focus on performance pay over the basic which would get me slightly above what I expected to earn. This is good, so long as it's attainable. Performance targets are based on the company profit, and my performance. There is a lot of emphasis on growing the company. Mention of developing in order to lead a management position in the future.
Plenty of travel also
Thanks for all of the advice. Taken on board 
I hope it's a shoo-in - we'll see! Equally I could get grilled and falter on Monday but hopefully it's more of a case of seeing if I'll fit in.
Given I haven't even started looking for jobs yet this is great - if i'm offered a job I will gladly take it.
I hope it's a shoo-in - we'll see! Equally I could get grilled and falter on Monday but hopefully it's more of a case of seeing if I'll fit in.
Given I haven't even started looking for jobs yet this is great - if i'm offered a job I will gladly take it.
Thanks for the advice all. I went casual, going against the advice, and felt it suited the situation. Overall it went well, nothing bad.
All quite relaxed, and few questions, but one or two on a more personal/aspirations level that were hard to answer. I was there four hours chatting, and learning about the business.
Reassuring talk about part time work over the summer to see how we work together, and chat of pension schemes, organising a scheme to sort a decent car out, bonuses, and 'putting something together' mentioned at the end.
Today i've been told I will receive an offer - hopefully all will be as discussed - very exciting
All quite relaxed, and few questions, but one or two on a more personal/aspirations level that were hard to answer. I was there four hours chatting, and learning about the business.
Reassuring talk about part time work over the summer to see how we work together, and chat of pension schemes, organising a scheme to sort a decent car out, bonuses, and 'putting something together' mentioned at the end.
Today i've been told I will receive an offer - hopefully all will be as discussed - very exciting
Thanks guys. Yes, I had wondered if he may see it, so i've tried not to write too much!
Basically the interview was just a 4 hour chat about the business, and lunch. No questions really other than a couple of questions about what I want and where I see myself in a few years. Nothing went badly and I came away feeling positive, there were signs that he was keen, and I had shown my enthusiasm. A few days later he gave the heads up I would receive an offer when he had some time to write it.
Offer received yesterday is as expected. Fairly standard 6 months probationary period, typical amount of annual leave (with more in lieu of weekend work at race meetings), reasonable mileage allowance and pay heavily performance related, but anticipated I will earn 3/4+ of it, giving me a slightly above average salary for an engineering graduate (based on several friends incomes at least).
It seems I would be starting after the summer holidays (North Coast 500 trip?!) but some part time work over the summer. He's a great bloke, and the other guy he employs is really easy to get along with too.
I'm going to read over the offer, and the job description again, but I'm pretty sure i'll be accepting the offer!
Basically the interview was just a 4 hour chat about the business, and lunch. No questions really other than a couple of questions about what I want and where I see myself in a few years. Nothing went badly and I came away feeling positive, there were signs that he was keen, and I had shown my enthusiasm. A few days later he gave the heads up I would receive an offer when he had some time to write it.
Offer received yesterday is as expected. Fairly standard 6 months probationary period, typical amount of annual leave (with more in lieu of weekend work at race meetings), reasonable mileage allowance and pay heavily performance related, but anticipated I will earn 3/4+ of it, giving me a slightly above average salary for an engineering graduate (based on several friends incomes at least).
It seems I would be starting after the summer holidays (North Coast 500 trip?!) but some part time work over the summer. He's a great bloke, and the other guy he employs is really easy to get along with too.
I'm going to read over the offer, and the job description again, but I'm pretty sure i'll be accepting the offer!
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