Interview adivce

coin_operated_girl

Hi guys,

So I've got an interview next week. Its just a part time pub job, but hey, at least its work.

I was told the interview would last about 40mins :eek: which I thought was quite a long time given the fact it is just bar work. So I'm expecting either a LOT of questions or maybe they will get me to pour some drinks or something (I've never worked in a pub before but I reckon I've watched Eastenders enough to know how to pull the perfect pint ).

Anyway, I'm expecting the dreaded "why do you want to work for us?" question to come up. I just don't know what to say to this. Its not like something you can pretend to have a passion in is it? I mean, I want to eventually work in mental health because I have a real passion for it and I could talk for hours about why I want to work in that line of work and demonstrate my knowledge of different disorders etc, but the same can't be said for pub work.

This is my first interview in about 3 and half years. When I finished uni I applied to anything and everything and had a few interviews with supermarkets and hotels etc and every time I got the same question; "you've got a degree, why do you want to work in a supermarket/hotel?". I can't remember what I said, but I never got any of the jobs lol. So what do I say to that? I mean, having a degree doesn't make me some kind of super genius- a lot of people have them now so I don't think it makes me special. My degree is from quite a good uni, but the actual degree is pretty useless and I got a very average mark lol, so its not like I got a 1st in mathematics from Oxford or anything.

I've done some research on the company and I think they've won some awards for being great employers, but I don't think just saying that would be enough.

Just some other background info: I'm studying part time with the Open Uni. I've got 2 more years left- I don't know whether to mention this and say it fits around my studying quite nicely or something.

I've been unemployed for about 3 years due to ill health. I mentioned this on the application form to explain the big gap in my CV and I said that my condition is now completely managed and doesn't affect my ability to work (this isn't really true, but it shouldn't affect my ability to work 16 hours-fingers crossed).

Oh and just one last thing, they have an A4E logo on their website, so I'm thinking maybe they like to try (or get funding or something) and help the long term unemployed get back into work. So I did wonder about saying something about how I think it would be a good way to ease me back into work (its just 3 hour shifts spread over 5 days and its morning work, so I think I'll be more cleaning and stuff rather than running around serving customers like you would on a fri eve). But I don't know whether that just makes it sound like I'm using them to get my foot back on the employment ladder and I will leave after a couple of months.

Sorry for rambling on. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I've been job hunting for about 3 months now and this is the only response I've ever had back. As you can imagine, being out of work for 3 years means I'm pretty desperate for work, so I really, really want this job.

RuthnJasper

Hi,

Congratulations on getting your interview!

I would just say that, on the day, just be yourself, be open, honest, friendly and smile! Your post indicates that you are conscientious and intelligent, with a nice sense of humour, so I'm sure you'll be OK.

Don't worry if they query why you are looking for bar work if you have a degree, just say (for example) that you love meeting people from all walks of life and it's just something that you'd like to do at the moment. It's interesting to be around people and especially in a setting (big-up the nice atmosphere of the bar!) in which people have come to socialise and have fun.

As long as you are pleasant and engaging in your manner, which I have no doubt you will be, you'll be fine. Just remember not to let your desperation for the job to show (I know that can be hard sometimes), and emphasise how much you would like to do this type of work.

The barman/barmaid is everyone's friend!!

Good luck to you - hope all goes well. Let us know how you get on! xx

Voyager2002

You have given some good reasons for wanting the job. You know that it is a good company and a good employer, and in the long term it offers opportunities at different levels. Right now what you need is something to ease you back into work, but in the longer term you want to climb the employment ladder WITH THIS COMPANY. Your aim is to grow with them, as your confidence and experience grows.

Have some idea of the kinds of jobs with this company that you might want in the next few years, and if your OU studies would be relevant to these kinds of goals then explain your course in those terms.

coin_operated_girl

RuthnJasper wrote: »

Hi,

Congratulations on getting your interview!

I would just say that, on the day, just be yourself, be open, honest, friendly and smile! Your post indicates that you are conscientious and intelligent, with a nice sense of humour, so I'm sure you'll be OK.

Don't worry if they query why you are looking for bar work if you have a degree, just say (for example) that you love meeting people from all walks of life and it's just something that you'd like to do at the moment. It's interesting to be around people and especially in a setting (big-up the nice atmosphere of the bar!) in which people have come to socialise and have fun.

As long as you are pleasant and engaging in your manner, which I have no doubt you will be, you'll be fine. Just remember not to let your desperation for the job to show (I know that can be hard sometimes), and emphasise how much you would like to do this type of work.

The barman/barmaid is everyone's friend!!

Good luck to you - hope all goes well. Let us know how you get on! xx

Thanks very much for the kind words

That's a good idea about saying that I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life etc.

Its also a good point about not letting my desperation for the job show- I need to be keen, not desperate.

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You have given some good reasons for wanting the job. You know that it is a good company and a good employer, and in the long term it offers opportunities at different levels. Right now what you need is something to ease you back into work, but in the longer term you want to climb the employment ladder WITH THIS COMPANY. Your aim is to grow with them, as your confidence and experience grows.

Have some idea of the kinds of jobs with this company that you might want in the next few years, and if your OU studies would be relevant to these kinds of goals then explain your course in those terms.

That's a good idea about saying that I want to ease myself back into work, but I want to progress within the company. I better do a bit of research into other, higher up jobs they have.

I'll update this thread with some hopefully good news. The application deadline was last Fri and they emailed me about the interview a couple of weeks ago, so I'm hoping that's a sign that not many people have applied. I guess because of the hours it doesn't really fit into most peoples schedules like students, people with young kids, people looking for a second job etc probably aren't available to work 9am-12pm so I'm hoping it will rule out a lot of people. I'm also hoping that because its 1 hour a week over what you are allowed to work to receive benefits it will hopefully put some less motivated people off applying. If it was 15 hours a week I would be much better off because I could still claim ESA.

I'm only going to be about £30 better off a week working than I am on benefits which doesn't bother me, I'd rather be in work, but I think some people would say that its not worth it.

This is what I am hoping anyway.