Help with a job interview question

[Kitch88]

Hi all,

I recently graduated and have finally got to within reaching distance of my first proper job after applying like mad since June.

Got through the 1st round of interviews fine, and was told by the recruitment agency bloke (who funnily enough, used to work for the company im applying for) that I was their favourite candidate.

All good news so far, he then told me about what kinds of things they're going to ask for during the 2nd and final interview on Monday, one is that they want to make sure I can meet deadlines. I was asked if I had any examples on the top of my head to work from, and I just mentioned uni and meeting deadlines with reports/dissertation etc, but he said work related ones would be far more useful if I could think of any.

The problem is, before this job, all I've ever had was a part-time bar job whilst I was at 6th form, so have no real work-related experience meeting deadlines, I know I can, but just wondering if anyone can advise on how best to go about this question when I'm asked?

Cheers all.

[Kermit power]

In addition to meeting course deadlines, you could swing the bar work round. Doubtless you've worked on some very busy bars without getting lynched because the service is slow, or you're serving people in the wrong order? There's an example of working under pressure to deliver the right result without screwing up.

It's all well and good for the recruitment consultant to say they want something from the world of work, but if you're going for a formal graduate position rather than one where you're competing with people with real world career experience, then most of your competitors are unlikely in all honesty to have experience of meeting work deadlines any more challenging than you have.

[bridgdav]

Was there ever a need to organise, plan and facilitate a Function or Party, whilst in your bar job..?

Organisation of:
Staff, catering, entertainment, guests, safety, age limits, security, Cash, tickets / collection, disputes, customers, stock etc etc..

You can elude to the fact (stretching the truth a bit) that you either managed it yourself, or was part of the team who did.
Ensuring ALL things came together on time and right - to a Deadline, Under pressure, lots depending on it...!

You can answer questions of: What went well / not so well / do better / learnings / applied yourself / responsibility etc...

HTH

[Kitch88]

cheers for those replies (and sorry for my slow response to them)

the replies have helped me think of a good response so the question so fingers crossed now I guess