Interview help please

[jamescodriver]

Despite approaching middle age, I've never really had a proper interview. All previous ones were a coffee
And a quick chat. This week I've got a full on interview with a panel of three people.

Format appears to be:

10 mins to look at a scenario then 5 mins to present my answers to the Panel (informally) and then a 10-15 minute 'competency interview'.

I appreciate it's a bit vague but what sort of questions do you think
I'll face?

If you need more info, let me know...

[STW2010]

Why did you choose that approach?

What other approach could you have taken?

What experience have you got of your chosen approach, and the approaches you decided against?

How would you measure the success?

What could go wrong? How would you deal with unexpected occurances?



If it's not technical, then substitute 'approach' for 'answer' (more info is needed, and I will offer other examples if you like)



Just a few suggestions, which would are the sort of questions that I would ask. Basically to see if a) you had thought through the problem/scenario, b) you are capable of a logical and justifiable approach and c) that you can discuss and reason decisions with co-workers.

Edited by STW2010 on Monday 8th August 22:06

[rog007]

^
+ get a haircut, be clean shaven (unless your personal preference is to wear a beard), polish your shoes, ensure suit, shirt, tie and socks work together (get someone else to give you an honest opinion), smile, take your time, try to relax, make good eye contact with whoever is speaking at the time, remember that you're interviewing them too (and if they're good, they'll know that you're also coming to an opinion as to whether you can work with them), be prepared to ask any questions at the end to clear anything up in your own mind, be confident in your own abilities and come across as the person they would want to hire due to your competency, ability to develop further and the fact that you're also a nice bloke. Good luck!

[STW2010]

As above, but make sure that you do have questions to ask at the end. This is very important, and is also something that a lot of people don't do. Just don't ask 'so, how much holiday do I get?'

Have a look at the Business Balls website for tips

[jamescodriver]

Thanks for the ideas so far. Any more gratefully recieved

The job is a commercial manager, looking after sales / staff / marketing.

[jamescodriver]

Had the interview, not easy at all.. Many thanks for the heads up for the business balls website, lifesaver!

Anyone going for an interview or if they haven't had one for a while should have a look!

Edited by jamescodriver on Thursday 11th August 21:30

[Mr POD]

Zulu 10 said:

smug middle ranking civil service types.

I took it quite seriously until one of them asked me how I respond to failure.

I gave it a few seconds pause for effect and then replied “I’m not really sure, it’s never happened…”

These days I'm less uptight than I used to be, I'd probabally say "fk me, Failure. That's my specialsim. Best do an ishikawa diagram and adopt an 8 D approach to make sure it doesn't happen again, perhaps review the Design and Process Fmea's and carry out a gauge R&R and check the SpC records, before retraining the assembly operator with his P45" and then give that smile, that says, I know you meant if I make a cock up, but I'm not going to acknowledge that is even remotely possible.

On the other hand I find that I never get a job when a woman is interviewing. Take themselves Very seriously, and usually are very uptight. I think they don't like the fact that my wife is a housewife and my kids haven't ever had to go to a child minders (Not sure how they'd know that fact, but I guess they just know)