Interview for possible dream job - advice appreciated!
Interview for possible dream job - advice appreciated!
Author
Discussion

oobster

Original Poster:

7,686 posts

241 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Folks,

I was made redundant from a Health & Safety position just under a month ago and I applied for what could turn out to be a perfect job at a local zoo.

I received a telephone call this afternoon asking me to an interview on Friday (they apologised for the short notice) but they've said 15 minutes of the 60 minute interview will be me giving a presentation.

I'm not used to doing this sort of thing so advice would be appreciated!

I've copy/pasted the relevant paragraph I just received in an email:

"As part of the selection process we require candidates to prepare a 15 minute presentation on what would be your highest health and safety consideration within a visitor attraction and three environmental improvements that would make a substantial difference to the Society. You may use a variety of presentation techniques such as overheads or PowerPoint. Please let me know of your requirements in advance. The remaining 45 minutes will be taken up by the formal interview".

The job is for a Health and Safety & Environmental Officer - I don't have any real experience or knowledge of the environment side of things, so what improvements could I suggest in my presentation?

scotal

8,751 posts

309 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Is it possible for you to go for a walk round the zoo sometime this week (like tomorrow) to see if any improveemts jump out at you?

ETA. Not letting the animals eat the visitors would be a pretty big H&S consideration for me, but I'm not an H&S officer.



Edited by scotal on Monday 13th October 15:45

Scott328i

18,294 posts

231 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Ban dangerous animals from the zoo!!!

prand

6,244 posts

226 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Depends on the animals there, but I'd certainly be mentioning something on the lines of contingency procedures in case the tiger escapes, ensuring elephant do-do is cleared up in case anyone slips over in it, and there's plenty of anti-venin in case the snakes bite people.

I'd demand a clipboard and a hat for that job.

PeteG

4,278 posts

241 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Scott328i said:
Ban dangerous animals from the zoo!!!
Issue warning tickets for people who pull faces at the lions.

bigandclever

14,386 posts

268 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
scotal said:
Is it possible for you to go for a walk round the zoo sometime this week (like tomorrow) to see if any improveemts jump out at you?
I'd agree with that, and google till your heart's content for 'zoo safety isssues' and the like. I'd suggest the inmates eating kids is potentially a big problem, so banning kids is an obvious solution smile

Mekon

2,493 posts

246 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
I remember that Marwell Zoo used to have signs that warned that Tigers can piss in your face from quite a distance. You should definitely knock some of them up.

scotal

8,751 posts

309 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
prand said:
Depends on the animals there, but I'd certainly be mentioning something on the lines of contingency procedures in case the tiger escapes, ensuring elephant do-do is cleared up in case anyone slips over in it, and there's plenty of anti-venin in case the snakes bite people.

I'd demand a clipboard and a hat for that job.
and wellys, in case you end up standing in the elephant crap.

Caruso

7,557 posts

286 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
After hearing that story last week about the 7 yr old that went round a zoo killing all sorts of animals, you could do a presentation about keeping animals safe from the public!

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

301 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all


rofl

There is no job, they're just too tight to pay a consultant so they're getting half a dozen mugs in to present to them so that they can nick the ideas.


scotal

8,751 posts

309 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
I may be reading this wrong, but by Environmental, do they mean"green issues" or do they mean makingthe Zoo a nicer place to visit.


james_tigerwoods

16,347 posts

227 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
On a serious note - keep it light and have a humour edge to it if you can...

digitise

179 posts

241 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
3 Environmental improvements:

1. Encourage recycling - marked bins near all food vending stations
2. Sell animal waste to local garden centres
3. Sell waste animals to local kebab house
and a backup:
4. Make safari tours more environmentally friendly by banning cars and introducing bicycles.

Don't forget to sort me out a couple of free tickets when you get the job;)

scotal

8,751 posts

309 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Vesuvius 996 said:
rofl

There is no job, they're just too tight to pay a consultant so they're getting half a dozen mugs in to present to them so that they can nick the ideas.
Why the rofl soov?

You were getting on your high horse last week about bankers losing their jobs and peope not laughing at them. They still have mortgages to pay and lives to lead etc.

This guy is in a similar situation........



Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

301 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
scotal said:
Vesuvius 996 said:
rofl

There is no job, they're just too tight to pay a consultant so they're getting half a dozen mugs in to present to them so that they can nick the ideas.
Why the rofl soov?

You were getting on your high horse last week about bankers losing their jobs and peope not laughing at them. They still have mortgages to pay and lives to lead etc.

This guy is in a similar situation........
Oh come on. Sorry if I offended.

There are some good proforma presentations if you Google for them.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

247 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Vesuvius 996 said:
scotal said:
Vesuvius 996 said:
rofl

There is no job, they're just too tight to pay a consultant so they're getting half a dozen mugs in to present to them so that they can nick the ideas.
Why the rofl soov?

You were getting on your high horse last week about bankers losing their jobs and peope not laughing at them. They still have mortgages to pay and lives to lead etc.

This guy is in a similar situation........
Oh come on. Sorry if I offended.

There are some good proforma presentations if you Google for them.
Cor blimey, you going for a record number of angry stalkers, Soov? hehe

oobster

Original Poster:

7,686 posts

241 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Many thanks for the suggestions so far - very helpful stuff.

As for actually presenting it, I dont have access to PowerPoint so any tips on how to actually present what I've produced?

scotal

8,751 posts

309 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Vesuvius 996 said:
Oh come on. Sorry if I offended.
No problem, just sauce for the goose being sauce for the gander and all that. beer


Vesuvius 996 said:
There are some good proforma presentations if you Google for them.
Good idea that,

Hoppy2008

2,496 posts

225 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Mekon said:
I remember that Marwell Zoo used to have signs that warned that Tigers can piss in your face from quite a distance. You should definitely knock some of them up.
rofl
I was there yesterday - they still have the signs!!

I would LOVE to see a tiger piss in someones face.
rofl

toastboy

8,408 posts

250 months

Monday 13th October 2008
quotequote all
Tell them the last zoo you worked at only had one dog...