Interview advice

**pete** · 17/10/2006, 10:54 AM

Memorise your CV - you should never need to refer to your CV when queried about it. If your CV is 2 pages then you should have a 5-6 page personal expanded version with examples of your skills or experiences. Never say "i think", & ensure you come across confident & assured.

IMO if you have the interview then half way to getting the job unless you have been called in due to an error.

Arrive in plenty of time, if for some unexpected reason you are late then ring well in advance.

**wws** · 17/10/2006, 11:34 AM

Tell them nothing but your name rank and serial number.
Remember under the Geneva Convention you are entitled to adequate food and water. Try and count the floor tiles. When finished start again. Legally they can only hold you for 48 hours.

**dcfc_1928** · 17/10/2006, 11:52 AM

This book is pretty good too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Answer.../dp/0749435526

Gets you really thinking about the type of answers they may be looking for.

**cullenswood** · 17/10/2006, 11:55 AM

Don't waffle (too much), and answer the question they ask you. It's amazing how easy it is to spot when a candidate is bluffing, and also how many times they will try and answer a different question from what they are asked

**BohsPartisan** · 17/10/2006, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by dcfc_1928

This book is pretty good too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Answer.../dp/0749435526

Gets you really thinking about the type of answers they may be looking for.

Believe me, he doesn't need a book to take this interview - I have both sat this interview and been on a panel giving this interview, for this exact job. Seriously, just follow the outline I gave in my first post. You WILL get the job. When they are recruiting for Services there is always a good few positions and they will give you the job as long as you aren't completely thick and you have a few examples from the above areas. Don't be worried about it, don't make it too complicated, it really is a piece of p'ss.
Some or all of the following people will be on the panel. Gary Smith, Richard Brierly and Enda Bennett. They are all sound blokes. Just be yourself.

**Poor Student** · 17/10/2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Seriously, just follow the outline I gave in my first post. Some or all of the following people will be on the panel.

Don't worry, I'll be doing just that.

Gary Smith, Richard Brierly and Enda Bennett. They are all sound blokes. Just be yourself.

There's three people on the panel, but none of them are them. I talked to the HR Consultant on the phone and she's one of the panel. She seemed grand.

**Dr.Nightdub** · 17/10/2006, 9:59 PM

Get the DVD of Trainspotting out from your local video shop and pay especial attention to the scene where Spud goes for an interview.

**Poor Student** · 18/10/2006, 9:19 AM

Think it went ok. The panel was very nice. BohsPartisan, your advice was very helpful. Still stumbled on one or two questions but most of them went ok. I should know in a week or so.

**Magicme** · 18/10/2006, 10:02 AM

Good luck, hope you get it !

**pete** · 18/10/2006, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Think it went ok. The panel was very nice.

Student for life so?

**BohsPartisan** · 18/10/2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Think it went ok. The panel was very nice. BohsPartisan, your advice was very helpful. Still stumbled on one or two questions but most of them went ok. I should know in a week or so.

Good stuff. It can be a pretty good place to work and there's a good social scene attached to it. Well there was when I was there anyway.

**First** · 18/10/2006, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Believe me, he doesn't need a book to take this interview - I have both sat this interview and been on a panel giving this interview, for this exact job. Seriously, just follow the outline I gave in my first post. You WILL get the job. When they are recruiting for Services there is always a good few positions and they will give you the job as long as you aren't completely thick and you have a few examples from the above areas. Don't be worried about it, don't make it too complicated, it really is a piece of p'ss.
Some or all of the following people will be on the panel. Gary Smith, Richard Brierly and Enda Bennett. They are all sound blokes. Just be yourself.

This is tantamount to canvassing and he should be excluded immediately

**Poor Student** · 18/10/2006, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Student for life so?

I'm still a student, it's only part-time work.

**Poor Student** · 23/10/2006, 3:38 PM

Got a letter in the post, said I was unsuccessful. There must have been high demand for the job or according to BP's info about it being a shoe in, I must have been pretty crap.

Rovers'Til IDie · 23/10/2006, 3:59 PM

Here are some simple tips:

1. Look at whoever is asking the questions.
2. Make eye contact with all the panel
3. If you don't know an answer, say so, you aren't expected to know everything.
4. If any of the panel are good looking women, don't try to look down their tops/up their skirts.
5. Don't pick your nose
6. Don't interrupt the interview to answer your phone.
7. Don't yawn/look at your watch/stare out the window/scratch your bolix
8. Turn off your ipod before going into the interview
9. Don't cry during the interview
10. Make sure you know what job you are being interviewed for.
11. Don't try to bribe the interview panel (unless it's a job with Fianna Fail)

**Lionel Ritchie** · 24/10/2006, 1:06 PM

Best piece of interview advice I ever heard...

If, in the course of the interview you happen to fart -It is crucial that you don't say "safety".

**First** · 24/10/2006, 1:58 PM

[QUOTE=Rovers'Til IDie;561513]Here are some simple tips:

4. If any of the panel are good looking women, don't try to look down their tops/up their skirts.

You should at this point look around for the casting couch so you don't trip and make a **** of yourself whilst rushing to get to it

**Jock MIB** · 24/10/2006, 2:15 PM

a good question to ask at the end is

is there anything you feel that will prevent me from getting this job?

it will turn the emphasis on them to ask you anything that is still bothering them slightly about your application for there job...before you leave the interview giving you the final chance to ease any worries they might have

**BohsPartisan** · 24/10/2006, 9:29 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Got a letter in the post, said I was unsuccessful. There must have been high demand for the job or according to BP's info about it being a shoe in, I must have been pretty crap.

Hard luck. Thought you'd get it. Must have been a lot of people going for it.

**pete** · 26/10/2006, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by holycrossjock

a good question to ask at the end is
is there anything you feel that will prevent me from getting this job?

I am have been interviewing people recently & asking that question would not give interviewee an advantage. We are small company so I do most of my screening via CVs. Crap CV means candidate will not get interview & while i might ask someone for short 1st round interview & won't waste my time with 2nd round.

- Have a good CV & do not included everything & don't make too long. Had a a guy recently with 9 page CV - he might have been good but i don't have time to read & try to find info in that. Don't give me half page on job you did 8 years ago unless is very relevant. Memorise your CV verbatim.
- A CV is designed to get you the interview. The interview is to get you a job offer. You can make decision then.
- Even if you unsure approach interview as if for dream job as once you have offer are in position to accept or reject.
- Recruitment agencies "work" (relative term) for the employer, not the candidate so be careful what you tell them.
- Always be enthuasistic about position when talking to recruiter as they pass that onto employer.
- Never bluff about something you don't know about. You can definitely bluff your knowledge of some things if already have some knowledge.
- Look at desirable skills in job description as the advantageous skills are not so relevant as its rare a candidate can match all the desirables.