Discussion
I have my first interview coming up after a year of sending cv's, searching,phone calls and doing my head in . I have smart clothes but dont have a suit never had one so will have to wear what i have. Now what questions must i expect during the interview? . Any advice on this guys also its a construction company not IT or any thing like that
GO AND BUY A SUIT...
Go to Tesco and get a dark grey wool suit for £50.
It's expected at an interview & (IMHO) you'll stand out for the wrong reasons turning up with no suit on.
Other than that - take your time answering questions and don't appear *too* desperate!!
Good luck and let us know how you get on
Go to Tesco and get a dark grey wool suit for £50.
It's expected at an interview & (IMHO) you'll stand out for the wrong reasons turning up with no suit on.
Other than that - take your time answering questions and don't appear *too* desperate!!
Good luck and let us know how you get on
Most of the supermarkets do cheap suits (that don't actually look cheap either!) these days.
George in Asda - Suit £47, Cotton shirt (none of this polyester rubbish!) £8, Tie £2.50
Hardly going to break the bank.
Whatever you do, make sure that you wear clean polished shoes!
Whenever I have interviewed staff, it is one of the first things I look for!
George in Asda - Suit £47, Cotton shirt (none of this polyester rubbish!) £8, Tie £2.50
Hardly going to break the bank.
Whatever you do, make sure that you wear clean polished shoes!
Whenever I have interviewed staff, it is one of the first things I look for!
1. As above said buy, borrow a suit it matter's
2. Make sure your mobile is switched OFF, not on silent as it will distract you. Nothing worse interviewing someone and there stupid ring tone going off.
3. Arrive early preferrably half an hour. It will give you time to get familar with the place, maybe see something on the wall that you could talk about to break the ice. It also shows your keen, punctual and in the long run dependable.
4. Be honest. If your asked a question you have no idea the answer to admit it but tell them you are willing to learn, shows you have integrity.
5. Try and be as personable as possible. The company obviously liked your C.V. now they want to see you, prove to them that your not a cranky, quiet so and so. Be out going without going over the top.
6. Do some research on the company you are going to the interview for. It really shows how keen you are when you know some of the projects they have completed successfully in the past or are currently working on.
7. Eye contact is crucial. If you want someone to trust you don't let your eyes wander around the room when talking to the interviewer, it's really annoying.
8. Goes without saying don't go out the night before. Not even for the fateful 1.
9. Don't be afraid to play yourself up but don't BS. The interviewer should be a very experienced person in their field so don't tell them how you single handly built Canary Wharf. Most likely they will take a keen interest in it and ask a lot of embarrassing questions if your lying.
10. Be confident, and enjoy it as much as you can. Remember they want to hire you they just want you to convince them.
I sincerly wish you the best of luck and let us know how you get on.
S&B
2. Make sure your mobile is switched OFF, not on silent as it will distract you. Nothing worse interviewing someone and there stupid ring tone going off.
3. Arrive early preferrably half an hour. It will give you time to get familar with the place, maybe see something on the wall that you could talk about to break the ice. It also shows your keen, punctual and in the long run dependable.
4. Be honest. If your asked a question you have no idea the answer to admit it but tell them you are willing to learn, shows you have integrity.
5. Try and be as personable as possible. The company obviously liked your C.V. now they want to see you, prove to them that your not a cranky, quiet so and so. Be out going without going over the top.
6. Do some research on the company you are going to the interview for. It really shows how keen you are when you know some of the projects they have completed successfully in the past or are currently working on.
7. Eye contact is crucial. If you want someone to trust you don't let your eyes wander around the room when talking to the interviewer, it's really annoying.
8. Goes without saying don't go out the night before. Not even for the fateful 1.
9. Don't be afraid to play yourself up but don't BS. The interviewer should be a very experienced person in their field so don't tell them how you single handly built Canary Wharf. Most likely they will take a keen interest in it and ask a lot of embarrassing questions if your lying.
10. Be confident, and enjoy it as much as you can. Remember they want to hire you they just want you to convince them.
I sincerly wish you the best of luck and let us know how you get on.
S&B
Edited by Shake&Bake on Thursday 26th February 07:46
Edited by Shake&Bake on Thursday 26th February 07:48
Shake_Bake said:
9. Don't be afraid to play yourself up but don't BS. The interviewer should be a very experienced person in their field so don't tell them how you single handly built Canary Wharf. Most likely they will take a keen interest in it and ask a lot of embarrassing questions if your lying.
I have seen it done when I have been on an interview panel, and I have done it myself.
Allow an interviewee to dig themselves right in, and then drop in a line so that they know they have been found out.
Meeja said:
Allow an interviewee to dig themselves right in, and then drop in a line so that they know they have been found out.
I know a young lady who was applying for a job where honesty is important... She explained how she loved running etc.. Interviewer asked if she'd done any marathons or half marathons, she said yes. He said what's your best time? She said she did the Half Marathon in one hour twenty seven minutes...............As someone once told me, be honest about your hobbies and knowledge etc.. because no matter how much you think you can blag it, there is always going to be someone on the panel who is semi-pro on whatever it is you are blagging about (sod's law).
Also, if you don't know the answer, say so. (IMHO). Rather than prattle on when you don't know what you are talking about.
Basic rule to me is be honest in your answers. All of them. Wear a suit. Be friendly. Smile a lot (but not like you are a headcase - think Here's Johnny)...Find out a bit about the company before you go in, perhaps any new projects they are doing. Perhaps ask them when you can expect to hear from them?
Finally, after the interview, a quick e-mail to thank them for their time and tell them you look forward to hearing from them.
Jasandjules said:
I know a young lady who was applying for a job where honesty is important... She explained how she loved running etc.. Interviewer asked if she'd done any marathons or half marathons, she said yes. He said what's your best time? She said she did the Half Marathon in one hour twenty seven minutes...............
Around 6:40 minutes/mile pace. Not exactly world class pace. As a student I did a half marathon in about 1:40 with no training, and I was always the last kid to be picked for school sports teams.Those are good tips from ShakeNBake.
I would prepare yourself for a few questions like this:
What do you know about this company?
What contribution would you make to the success of this company?
Why are you the best man for this job?
What would previous colleagues say are your strongest and weakest points?
Tell us about a success you are particularly proud of.
Tell us about a time you failed professionally - and what you did.
Where do you want to be in five years / what are your ambitions?
Technical questions about the post.
Do you have any questions for us? (Make sure you do - and not just focussing on money/holiday etc)
Make sure you relax and smile. Don't attempt to bulls
t - if you don't know the answer say "I don't know, but I would like to find out", emphasise your receptiveness to learning new skills and stress your enthusiasm and positive attitude. And smile again.
Hope that helps.
I would prepare yourself for a few questions like this:
What do you know about this company?
What contribution would you make to the success of this company?
Why are you the best man for this job?
What would previous colleagues say are your strongest and weakest points?
Tell us about a success you are particularly proud of.
Tell us about a time you failed professionally - and what you did.
Where do you want to be in five years / what are your ambitions?
Technical questions about the post.
Do you have any questions for us? (Make sure you do - and not just focussing on money/holiday etc)
Make sure you relax and smile. Don't attempt to bulls
t - if you don't know the answer say "I don't know, but I would like to find out", emphasise your receptiveness to learning new skills and stress your enthusiasm and positive attitude. And smile again.Hope that helps.
HundredthIdiot said:
Around 6:40 minutes/mile pace. Not exactly world class pace. As a student I did a half marathon in about 1:40 with no training, and I was always the last kid to be picked for school sports teams.
IN that case it must have been the marathon and not the half. Because her time was supposedly better than the current world record as the story was relayed to me, which the interviewer happily informed her...... And she didn't get the job......chris.mapey said:
GO AND BUY A SUIT...
Go to Tesco and get a dark grey wool suit for £50.
It's expected at an interview & (IMHO) you'll stand out for the wrong reasons turning up with no suit on.
Other than that - take your time answering questions and don't appear *too* desperate!!
Good luck and let us know how you get on
yea get a nice suit, you can get nice ones for cheapish, like Tescos Go to Tesco and get a dark grey wool suit for £50.
It's expected at an interview & (IMHO) you'll stand out for the wrong reasons turning up with no suit on.
Other than that - take your time answering questions and don't appear *too* desperate!!
Good luck and let us know how you get on
I had smart black trousers for my interview and bought a Suit jacket from Tesco or next for about £25
Oh, and more importantly, smart CLEAN shoes
Edited by *Raz* on Thursday 26th February 16:53
[quote=Shake&Bake]3. Arrive early preferrably half an hour. It will give you time to get familar with the place, maybe see something on the wall that you could talk about to break the ice. It also shows your keen, punctual and in the long run dependable.
[/quote]
I would've said be 5-10 min's early, but in the area ½ hr earlier with a clear idea of where you are going and how long it takes.
Someone turning up ½hr early does not highlight to me they are punctual.
Interview Times are given for a reason.
[/quote]
I would've said be 5-10 min's early, but in the area ½ hr earlier with a clear idea of where you are going and how long it takes.
Someone turning up ½hr early does not highlight to me they are punctual.
Interview Times are given for a reason.
cjs said:
If you smoke then don't before the interview and that includes in the car on the way. A stinky smoke smell may well put the interviewer off plus smokers are skivers, I would not employ a smoker.
I'm a smoker but certainly not a skiver. In fact, I'm the first to arrive and normally the last to leave. Sure, 3 times a day I go for a quick ciggie but I don't sit gossiping, nip to make another brew every 20 mins or go and catch up on the latest goss from Sue in accounts. I get my job done.The 'smokers are skivers' sentiment really grates
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