Job Interview

[gambleingaz]

Im going for an internal interview soon for the  company i work for,its a 5 hour assessment/interveiw including a presentation,there are about 12 candidates for the job,the thing is i currently do all the recruitments and interviews,assessments myself.So the preasure is on me.Iv got my presentation done and practiced it (not big headed but my boss said its fantastic) I guess i just need reassurance,has anyone had any similar experiance and any advice for my nerves.Thanks  GAZ

[DaveShoelace]

I once managed to fuck up a job interview where a friend managed to sneak me the questions a week early, I misread the time of the presentation, which said 10 minutes max and I accidently read the time for the interview itself, which was 45 minutes. In fairness as 45 minute presentations go, it was a good un.

I would say best advice is to treat it as if you are new to the company, not like you are nailed on to get it (and read the times of the presentation properly), im sure they will be impressed at how seriously you have took it.

[ripple11]

Fail to prepare......prepare to fail.

Also I would say, make sure you have plenty of questions for them!

Good luck.

[AndrewT]

Couple of shots of tequila before the interview, and make sure you address the interviewers as 'sugartits'. Even the women.

[Matt.NFFC.]

The job I've currently got involved doing a 10 min presentation with a 1hr interview.  I went into the room with a "not bothered" frame of mind as it helps me relax and not put pressure on myself.

I got the job and have had 3 interviews in my life......and got the job everytime!

All internal jobs though......guess my face fits eh!

[Simon Galloway]

In my experience, there is usually a "preferred candidate" (otherwise known as a shoo-in) and a decent amount of these are decided before the interviews are conducted.  So while performing well in an internal interview never hurts, I'd also do more leg-work prior and "socialise" your application with those responsible for selection beforehand.

I have been asked to make up numbers on a interview panel before and thought to myself "I wonder what this person is going to have to do NOT to get this.."  I have also sat there and thought "I know that none of the internal applicants are going to get this because the project consultants are desperate to springboard someone in from their bench"  No wonder I don't miss it ~ what a waste of everyone's day that was.

Hopefully you don't work in an environment where all this bullshit goes on, and the interview is on the up.  In which case:

1) As you know the stock interview questions from the other side of the table, it would be a very bad own goal not to have a well-rehearsed answer to them all.  The usual "what is your greatest achievement in life" tat..
2) Ask the (to-be) line manager for a short meet asap to discuss the role, show willing and probe around the future of the role.  Don't wait for "do you have any questions" in the interview - demonstrate that you did have questions, but you got of your arse and got them all answered already.
3) Make sure you understand the longevity of the role you are applying for - i.e. don't give up a solid ops role to join a 3 month delivery team that will be disbanded thereafter ~ unless you want to ofc.
4) Have a large doner just before the meeting.  Then take Andrew T's tips as well and you are home and hosed.

[Josedinho]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm also looking to change jobs at the moment. I get pretty nervous in interviews but i'm not sure if I can do a lot about that.
I just wondered if anybody has ever had to do a psychometric test as part of an interview process? Do you know what it involves. I'm pretty sure I'm sane, can the tests have a big influence or will they just give a rough idea of what I am like?

[outragous76]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm also looking to change jobs at the moment. I get pretty nervous in interviews but i'm not sure if I can do a lot about that.
I just wondered if anybody has ever had to do a psychometric test as part of an interview process? Do you know what it involves. I'm pretty sure I'm sane, can the tests have a big influence or will they just give a rough idea of what I am like?

they can certainly have a big influence if the organisation is looking for a "person type" 

Not point in faking your answers as you dont know what  they are looking for when you take it - just relax and be honest

As for interviews - always go into them knowing that they are wanting to find the best in people and the right candidate for them.

I have done alot of interviewing and reject a lot of very good technical surveyors, just because we were really selective on commercial skills and character type than pure techincal ability

[Claw75]

yep there are no right or wrong answers in psychometric tests - they're just used to get an idea of your personality, and will probably just be a series of multiple choice questions about how you'd behave in certain situations.

Had to do Myers Briggs at some team building event when I was in my last job, and wasn't too surprised to find my personality type was the diametric opposite of the ideal postholder.  Explained why I found it difficult to get enthusiastic

Lots of people get nervous in interviews (I'm terrible) but interviewers will be aware of that, and imo there's no shame in telling them you're nervous and pausing to get yourself back on track if you start stumbling a bit.

good luck

[gatso]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm also looking to change jobs at the moment. I get pretty nervous in interviews but i'm not sure if I can do a lot about that.
I just wondered if anybody has ever had to do a psychometric test as part of an interview process? Do you know what it involves. I'm pretty sure I'm sane, can the tests have a big influence or will they just give a rough idea of what I am like?

www.bps.org.uk
www.shl.com
www.ase-solutions.co.uk
www.kent.ac.uk

apparently all have free psychometric tests so you can give yourself an idea what you're letting yourself in for before doing the real thing

I've not actually checked any of them though, just taken off a list I've got lying around

[gambleingaz]

thanks for all the replies peeps and advice,oh yeh i got the job yipppeeeee for me.

[Claw75]

wheee - well done!

[AndrewT]

Can't fail with tequila IMO.

[Waz1892]

wheee - well done!

[Delboy]

wheee - well done!