Just been called for an interview! Help!

honeyD

Hello,
Just received a call asking me to go to an interview next week! :eek:
Its for a care assistant job in a nearby town, I think going to peoples homes.
Ive never had an interview before and my hands are still shaking at the thought of it lol but I really really need a job so we can move house.
Does anyone know what kind of questions I will be asked? I want to be a bit prepared. Also if anyone works in care has any advice they can offer please do as I really want to get this.
Thanks in advance.

cookie54

i do that type of work. It might be worth comparing other companys to see what they pay etc as where we are they are very wide difference in pay etc. The company i work for dont grantue(sp) your hours and they may br a lot of unpaid time in the day as most people get up / lunch / tea/ bedtime so mid/ morning / mid afternnon nothing. Also do the pay for your crb and training or do you. is the travel paid at per call or per mile. What are there open hours etc.

Our place take on most of there staff as mums or those just about to retrire.... Most of all they will be looking at being able to read/ write to a good standard . how the importance of time keeping amd be able to cope with anything!!!!!!!!!! and to be able to relate to everyone . Also to be able to keep your feeling to yourself but most of all to have a sense of humour........

good luck

honeyD

cookie54 wrote: »

i do that type of work. It might be worth comparing other companys to see what they pay etc as where we are they are very wide difference in pay etc. The company i work for dont grantue(sp) your hours and they may br a lot of unpaid time in the day as most people get up / lunch / tea/ bedtime so mid/ morning / mid afternnon nothing. Also do the pay for your crb and training or do you. is the travel paid at per call or per mile. What are there open hours etc.

Our place take on most of there staff as mums or those just about to retrire.... Most of all they will be looking at being able to read/ write to a good standard . how the importance of time keeping amd be able to cope with anything!!!!!!!!!! and to be able to relate to everyone . Also to be able to keep your feeling to yourself but most of all to have a sense of humour........

good luck

Hi, thanks. I dont drive so will have less hours but I knew this anyway. Maybe I could get a bus pass or something, not sure yet dont want to think too far ahead lol.
The pay ranges from £6 - £9 an hour. My sister said to just be myself in the interview and I should be ok lol. Im a nice person so hoping they will see that, and that I really want the job. I know its not everyones cup of tea but its something Ive been interested in for a while.

terra_ferma

honeyD wrote: »

Hi, thanks. I dont drive so will have less hours but I knew this anyway. Maybe I could get a bus pass or something, not sure yet dont want to think too far ahead lol.
The pay ranges from £6 - £9 an hour. My sister said to just be myself in the interview and I should be ok lol. Im a nice person so hoping they will see that, and that I really want the job. I know its not everyones cup of tea but its something Ive been interested in for a while.

Show a lot of enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
Show interest in the job, and when you ask questions ask something about the work, not just pay and conditions etc (something you have not been told already, maybe the type of clients older people only or learning disabilities as well, as you are new asking about training and qualifications is very relevant too).

If you work on your own it's very important that you show you can use your initiative, they may ask what you would do in certain situations.They will probably ask questions about dealing with incidents, or if you suspect someone is being abused (physically/financially etc).
The needs of the client group (e.g. older people), communication (with someone hard of hearing, or someone whose first language is not English).
A common questions is an example of working in a team (or what makes a good team).

Things to think about:
Why do you want to do that type of work? Why do you want to work for that company?
Think of examples when you dealt with a difficult situation on your own, when you worked as part of a team (or a group of people solving a problem).

As you don't have experience they will want to know that you have common sense and are willing to learn.

Good luck!

samtrad

Main question are likely to do with experience and qualifications and how and where you have applied them. Best to be as honest as possible

honeyD

I dont have the qualifications, but then they know that from my CV I sent when I applied. They do offer training to NVQ3 though which is great.
The closer Friday gets the more nervous Im getting which is silly really but I cant help it. Thanks for the advice so far.

terra_ferma

honeyD wrote: »

I dont have the qualifications, but then they know that from my CV I sent when I applied. They do offer training to NVQ3 though which is great.
The closer Friday gets the more nervous Im getting which is silly really but I cant help it. Thanks for the advice so far.

You have relevant skills and experience that they will want to hear about, or they would have not called you for an interview.
It's normal to get nervous, just remember that they will not expect you to give perfect answers.

honeyD

Thanks. I do have experience of being a carer just no quals to go with it.
Ive only gone and got myself another interview, this one is in a different field, working with children which I am actually qualified to do lol. And I got this one before the care interview so not sure what to do if I get offered it but Im willing to take either of them if offered.

terra_ferma

honeyD wrote: »

Thanks. I do have experience of being a carer just no quals to go with it.
Ive only gone and got myself another interview, this one is in a different field, working with children which I am actually qualified to do lol. And I got this one before the care interview so not sure what to do if I get offered it but Im willing to take either of them if offered.

Great, double chances of getting a job then! :j

missma

Hi I am a learning disability nurse and still find interviews awful... have one this week myself. I think for any care job you need to show you are honest, reliable, have an interest in caring and can work as part of a team. Things that will help are talking about following policy, ensuring that care is recorded and anything out of your re mit you discuss ensuring that you report to whoever is in charge.

Communication skill are also so important, you could be asked summit about this think about verbal, non verbal such as gestures, appropriate touch, maybe for those with communication problems writing things down

I think if you show an interest talk about treating people with respect and dignity. Also promote independence you will be fine. I would also see if ought about organisation on net. Good luck.

honeyD

Hi all,
I had an interview today for working with children in a small creche.
Ive come away feeling so.. deflated and disappointed.
The interview didnt seem very professional at all, the woman kept forgetting things, said she didnt feel well, looking at the wrong CV for my info and the job info is different from what I originally applied for.
It was supposed to be 32 hours a week but now only 10, not sure why? So £6 an hour for 2 hours a day. I would be in a room with sometimes up to 10 children on my own with only a tv and some toys to keep them entertained/happy/busy while their parents studied in another room. She said they dont have to answer to any governing body or anything like that since the parents are in the building (is this right?). Also I would have to pay for my own CRB check which she said I would only have to do standard and is about £49.xx for that yet I read its only £26. Oh and the job is temp for 10 weeks with the slight chance of them keeping the creche going after.
Do I have to take it if it is offered? Considering Im on Jobseekers, not sure what they will say if I turn down a job. I have another interview on friday so hoping that goes better.