Advice on Interview!

Baby_A

Hi

I have a interview tomorrow, and am extremley nervous. I have been out of work for 2 years due to having a baby but ready to go back. However I completley lack interview skills so was wondering if anyone knew is it acceptable to take some notes with you to an interview?

Id be more comfortable with a few notes on strengths, weaknesses etc as my mind will go completley blank when asked and then I'll kick myself when I come out!

Also as I have been out of work for 2 years giving examples isnt easy as I really have to cast my mind back, and the highlight of my life for the past year has been CBeebies!

Id much rather work for free for a week and let people see how I work than have a interview!!!

dalepearson

It would probably help to have some information on the job your going for as to the suitability to taking in notes etc.

Personally if you took something in you could conceal it, also remember that being out of work to have a child will also have brought new skills and experiances.

As for the working for free, some companies do offer week interviews where you work and prove yourself, and see how you fit into the organisation.

Savvy_Sue

To me, it would be perfectly acceptable for you to bring in a couple of small card index cards or a small notebook in which you would have a couple of prepared questions: what scope is there for promotion, would I ever be required to work overtime, how big is the team I will be working in etc rather than what's the salary and how much holiday do I get! (Those two should be answered anyway, no harm in having them ready but you'll be a bit stumped if they're your only two and the interviewer answers them!

Do a search for interviews on this board if you want some more tips (and have got time to take them in!)

Good luck!

Edna_Bucket_2

It's also perfectly acceptable to have a copy of your own CV in front of you (or if an employment agency did one and put you forward their version) - in the pressure of an interview (i.e. unreal) situation people often easily forget even their own experience!

Remember two other things:

1) Interviews are a two way process - it's up to the company to "sell" you the job as much as for you to "sell" yourself as being the perfect person for it.

2) People always assume that the interviewer will be confident and self-assured, when often they are as nervous about conducting interviews as the person is being interviewed!

Be honest and be yourself - it's their job as hopefully a responsible employer by putting you at your ease to get the best out of the meeting. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you are not an expert on interviews either - it could help focus their minds on the fact that:

a) You're not applying widely but are specifically interested in them rather than comparing them to 10+ other job opportunities

b) They should judge you on yourself - the person with all the glib answers may not be as good a fit as you will be - they've simply just been to several other interviews and answered the same questions!

Enthusiasm, honesty, and you convincing them that you'll be a valued asset to their business are they key things - try if you can to get them picturing you actually doing the job as an employee rather than as an interviewee.

You know something? That last line of your post is an absolute winner if you can work it into the conversation and sound dedicated not desperate (rest assured they won't take you up on the free offer!)

Good luck and be yourself - it's either good enough for them or not, and that's the best you can do.

Glad

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freebie_junkie

hiya, im my prevoius job (manager at mcdonalds) i used to interview a lot of peopel that had been out of work for some time due to illness/ havign children etc.

dont forget how many skills being a new mum has brought you, if youve been doing all teh housework as well as raising your baby youve been doing 2 full time jobs as it is! plus, you have learnt how to multi-task, youhave proved you can work in a caring role, you arent afraid of hard work etc. etc.

if its at all possible i would take note, but can you practice before hand with your partner/ a friend?

good luck- remeber to focus on what you CAN do and not what you CANT, we had so many peopel just basically rubbish themselves and we didnt give them a job! but teh people who showed that they were freindle, willing to learn, good at hard work etc. are now all in managemenet themselves.

Justicia

Baby,

I don't see any reason why you could not take notes with you to the interview but I would urge you, if possible, to take prompts with you, ie. perhaps key words of your previous experiences, rather than any written "essays." If you write out what you want to say in full, it may be tempting to read it straight from the page and appear a bit tooo rehearsed and robotic.

I am sure that you will do fine - please do come back and update us with how you feel it went (as I have said in previous posts though, many interviews can seem like total failures just after the event when they weren't! On your return from the interview however, sit down, chill out and try not to think about it too much immediately).

Best of luck

Baby_A

dalepearson wrote:

It would probably help to have some information on the job your going for as to the suitability to taking in notes etc.

Im going for a HR and Payroll Officer role, similar to what I done before I had my baby.

Penny-Pincher!!

Hi

I think taking notes is a good idea and shows initiative on your part.

MY SIL had an interview the other day for a big company in sales and they asked her to take 1 item from her handbag and explain to the group why that item is so important to them.

There are alot of different interviewing techniques but this will depend on the type of job you are applying for.

What kind of job is it?

Remember to keep eye contact, focused and say what you can do rather than what you cant! Shake their hand and thank them for interviewing you and if you arent a lucky candidate this time, maybe they can consider you for any fruther positions that become available. Dont apologise for being a SAH mum over the past 2 years, maybe say that as you have done this, you are used to multi-tasking, keeping everyone happy and prioritizing

Good luck hun. Im sure you will be fine.

PP
xx

Baby_A

Another dilemma I have is that the agent asked me what my salary expectations are and I told him figure A, the job advert for the interview I am going for has a salary band for figure A - plus 5k.

In the interview when they ask me my salary expectations should I say higher than I told the agent, or should I leave it and I hope I get the job then ask for a pay rise.

I have nursery costs to cover and they dont come cheap in London (£50 a day!) so every penny helps!

Penny-Pincher!!

If they have advertised at a certain salary, then you should receive that. You could explain that when asked before you hadnt taken into account all of childcare costs etc and that basically the more money the better IYKWIM. State that you are worth every penny....I think a little confidence here is the key.

I know its going to be difficult as youve not worked in the last 2 yrs, but you really need to sell yourself...you have done this job before with ease and you can do it again!

I have found that talking to yourself loudly to your reflection in a mirror builds your confidence.

Good Luck

PP
xx