Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

asparagusnextleft

I hate, hate, hate the bit in interviews where they ask you if you have any questions, as the questions I've prepared have almost always been answered during the interview and I end up saying 'No, I think everything I was going to ask has already been answered' and then feel like a complete idiot.

loops87

asparagusnextleft wrote: »

I hate, hate, hate the bit in interviews where they ask you if you have any questions, as the questions I've prepared have almost always been answered during the interview and I end up saying 'No, I think everything I was going to ask has already been answered' and then feel like a complete idiot.

I know me too! Or I will ask questions that aren't all that important just so i have something to say and they will look at me like, who cares?

November5th

asparagusnextleft wrote: »

I hate, hate, hate the bit in interviews where they ask you if you have any questions, as the questions I've prepared have almost always been answered during the interview and I end up saying 'No, I think everything I was going to ask has already been answered' and then feel like a complete idiot.

It's great when you feel you can ask your interviewer their valued opinion on something related to the business. As you are asking their personal opinion, it is less likely to have come up in interview. Tricky and of course not every interviewer is going to bite. I asked one interviewer why he thought another business had failed, where they succeeded, great question! You also indicate that you respect their superior knowledge of their company and field.

Great news, I have an interview next week. Lots of prep to do, and mistakes not to make

asparagusnextleft

Hubby's given me a good tip for the questions conundrum - he says when they ask you, whip out a notebook and appear to be checking questions off a list saying 'that's answered, so is that' etc etc so that it looks like you've prepared a whole list even though they've all been answered. He says it looks better than just saying 'no, they've all been answered'. It doesn't matter what's written down in the notebook, it could be your shopping list!

That is, of course, if you have nothing to ask!

Slinky

asparagusnextleft wrote: »

Hubby's given me a good tip for the questions conundrum - he says when they ask you, whip out a notebook and appear to be checking questions off a list saying 'that's answered, so is that' etc etc so that it looks like you've prepared a whole list even though they've all been answered. He says it looks better than just saying 'no, they've all been answered'. It doesn't matter what's written down in the notebook, it could be your shopping list!

That is, of course, if you have nothing to ask!

My husband does this. He has a list of questions and things he wants to bring up in interviews which he has typed up. He prints it off in pale grey so that he can read it but it's unlikely the interviewer can from a distance and upside down!

jobbingmusician

My standard questions:

What do YOU see as the greatest opportunities, and the greatest difficulties, facing the holder of this post in the next year? (You can change this to incorporate bits that have already come up in the interview - eg - apart from the big legal case facing us, etc )

November5th

What do numeracy tests usually consist of? Looks like a written test as I am offered the use of a calculator.

How about literacy tests? The last one I did was a grammar test, so slightly different I imagine (large part of job was precise copy editing)

ferien_uk2011

I think the whole asking questions thing is easier when you already have a job or job offer somewhere else as it gives you more information to make a decision with. When you're unemployed and you know you'll take the job no matter what, I find asking questions at the interview stage a bit tricker.

November5th. I have taken some numeracy and literacy tests for the DWP. The literacy test was a letter where you had to circle all the mistakes and the numeracy test consisted of a bunch of questions (multiple choice) based on some data we were given. The main things were addition and percentages - it also tested your attention to detail.

loops87

I have a job!! :j
It's fixed term until November, and not ideal in terms of pay or location really, but I am happy
Thanks to everyone on here for help & advice.:T
Best of luck to all of you - I'm really impressed with the amount of work all of you put into finding a job and hopefully as Persa said there will be lots more positive news on the way on here

lexilex

loops87 wrote: »

I have a job!! :j
It's fixed term until November, and not ideal in terms of pay or location really, but I am happy
Thanks to everyone on here for help & advice.:T
Best of luck to all of you - I'm really impressed with the amount of work all of you put into finding a job and hopefully as Persa said there will be lots more positive news on the way on here

Congratulations!! :j

I've applied for three jobs this morning, the first I started at 6.30am, I think I am losing the plot

I am just sending Hays an email. They told me all about a fab job in March, then it got put back to May. I have been emailing him weekly to ask for an update but never get a reply. If he doesn't reply this time I'm going to find another email address and get in touch with somebody else at the company. HATE agencies :mad: