Being interviewed by young people

Plans_all_plans

Hi all,

I've got an interview for an administrative job, working for an organisation supporting young people. They have said that part of the interview process will take place with a group of young people asking m questions. As far as the person spec/job desc is concerned there is no mention of working directly "with" children or young people, so I was wondering what sort of questions they might ask me?

This interview by young people is as well as a panel interview and computer test. I am keen to get the job, so any advice as to what the young people may ask would be helpful.

Thanks.

Plans

[Deleted User]

Have a look back over the person specification, anything they'll ask will be in there. But it will be asked from a different angle than when the managers are interviewing you.
ie they dont want to hear about your list of qualifications or where you went to college but they will want to hear that you can relate to them. That you've worked with people like them in the past, can understand and accept them, wont breach their trust etc. They'll get that by asking about your past experiences in work or life.

fengirl_2

In my opinion this is so, so wrong.
The responsibilities of an employer start at recruitment, so a potential employer needs to be aware of the anti discrimination laws, hence no questions about childcare, etc. If you feel you have been discriminated against in recruitment, you can take the employer to an ET. Why would any employer want to involve young people in this potential situation?

[Deleted User]

Who said anything about childcare? Young peoples panels are about inclusion of the service user.
Cant say I've ever been asked a question directly or indirectly about my personal circumstances like my own children or plans for one.

SueC_2

My 5 year old nephew was recently on a panel of children from his school who 'interviewed' potential new Deputy Head Teachers.

I doubt that anyone expected him to ask any particularly probing questions (I think he actually asked how many children they had taught before), or that much interest was taken in his opinion of which candidate should get the job.

I would guess that it was more about being perceived to involve the kids in the management of the school and being 'all inclusive'. This type of thing looks great on Ofsted reports, or reports to customers, service users etc.

I'd guess that yours is a similar situation, particularly that if, as you say, your role doesn't actually come into contact with this group of people. If there were to be contact then they would be likely to be checking that your were able to interact and relate, but as there isn't, I really wouldn't worry about this. I think (unusually in an interview situation) this is probably more about them than you!

Just be polite, friendly and interested (and be prepared for some very basic questions) and I'm sure you'll do fine.

bristol_pilot

Hmmm...I think it depends on whether the 'young people' are actually children or are young adults. There are plenty of horror stories of kids panels asking prospective teachers rude, personal, inappropriate or illegal questions that no responsible employer would ever normally ask a candidate. Some kids on panels just see it as an opportunity to humiliate the candidate, such as the case of the prospective deputy head who was asked to sing their favourite song and told they would not get the job if they refused. Another one was apparently asked why he was so fat.

SueC_2

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Some kids on panels just see it as an opportunity to humiliate the candidate, such as the case of the prospective deputy head who was asked to sing their favourite song and told they would not get the job if they refused. Another one was apparently asked why he was so fat.

All part of the joy of working with kids (and why I would never do it)!

In the teacher scenario these are all questions that could quite well be put to them once they were in the classroom, so I guess it made interesting viewing for the 'grown up' interview panel to observe how the teacher handled it.

But tales like this will possibly only serve to scare the OP more than they already are, so probably not entirely helpful here and now!

OP - I stick by my original asssessment, given that your role will give you no exposure to these 'young people' it would serve no useful purpose whatsoever for the employer to set you up for failure by giving you a load of demons to contend with!

annie-c

SueC wrote: »

All part of the joy of working with kids (and why I would never do it)!

In the teacher scenario these are all questions that could quite well be put to them once they were in the classroom, so I guess it made interesting viewing for the 'grown up' interview panel to observe how the teacher handled it.

But tales like this will possibly only serve to scare the OP more than they already are, so probably not entirely helpful here and now!

OP - I stick by my original asssessment, given that your role will give you no exposure to these 'young people' it would serve no useful purpose whatsoever for the employer to set you up for failure by giving you a load of demons to contend with!

I agree with this assessment - and the earlier comment that this procedure is more about them needing to demonstrate inclusiveness than requiring anything particular from the candidates.

The young people will most likely have been briefed well before the interview and won't be there to catch you out. For them it will be a big day and they will be feeling very important, most likely, so show that you are friendly and approachable, be open, friendly, interested and treat them politely and as 'grown ups'. The 'real' interviewers will just be looking to see that you treat them respectfully and that you will fit in with the overall ethos of the organisation, I would think.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

fengirl_2

My coment on childcare was just an example of the sexist questions which may not be asked at interview - it was only an example of the type of questions which can get an employer into trouble. The fact remains that if someone is tunred down for a job, they can decide that it was because they were the wrong sex, the wrong colour, the wrong religion, disabled, etc and take the employer to an ET for discrimination. I dont think its right to expose people who are not the actual employer to this type of risk.

Plans_all_plans

bristol_pilot wrote: »

Hmmm...I think it depends on whether the 'young people' are actually children or are young adults. There are plenty of horror stories of kids panels asking prospective teachers rude, personal, inappropriate or illegal questions that no responsible employer would ever normally ask a candidate. Some kids on panels just see it as an opportunity to humiliate the candidate, such as the case of the prospective deputy head who was asked to sing their favourite song and told they would not get the job if they refused. Another one was apparently asked why he was so fat.

Thanks for everyone's responses. I expect they will be between the ages of 8-17. If they asked me to sing my favourite song, I'd have done it with aplomb and if they asked me why I was fat I'd say "it's cos I eat too much and exercise too little." I certainly wouldnt get worked up over those questions, although I would have been surprised to be asked them!

bristol_pilot

Certainly if I went for an interview and was told by a 12-year old that I was too old, the wrong colour, looked a bit gay or whatever and was then not appointed I would definitely sue. The employer that is; the kids are not 'at risk' of legal action.