Nice people thread part 5 - nicely does it

misskool

vivatifosi wrote: »

I guess it would be inappropriate to say that would be my weapon of choice as an assassin and that I have no intention of sticking a gun against my head for anyone so how about I held it against one of the panel's instead and see how it turns out.

I don't really like mind games and can go all alpha-female. At this point I would know that I wouldn't have the job but wouldn't give a flying f*ck either as they don't sound a company I would want to work for. I'd probably walk out afterwards annoyed at the wasted time but glad I didn't have to spend my waking hours with a bunch of jerks.

Would it be wrong for me to think that it would be an exciting game rather than a waste of time or a simple calculation?

What does this make me?

must. write. questions.

vivatifosi

LydiaJ wrote: »

I didn't take it as a mind game but a simple test of probability calculations, given that we were told that the gun was imaginary.
Am I hopelessly naive, or is it just that the business world is more into silly mind games than the education world, where I belong?

The probability thing was the right thing to do. However my favourite odds are not holding a gun to my head at all and I can't get that out of my head:o.

I think you are right, public sector panel interviews are very different to interviews in the private sector. I find public sector interviews a bit like some sort of yoghurt-knitting sudoku - very worthy and politically correct but if you work out the formula you can solve the puzzle and get the post (providing of course there aren't other internal candidates who are a shoe in but they have to go through some bloomin' stupid processes because they aren't allowed to just give people the job). Private sector interviews tend to be very different. More likely to be one-to-one, at least for the first round and can be very varied. Hard to know what to expect until you get there, you can do your research and find out about the company but there's still no guarantee that'll be what you are asked about.

vivatifosi

misskool wrote: »

Would it be wrong for me to think that it would be an exciting game rather than a waste of time or a simple calculation?

My idea of an exciting game is Monopoly. Getting your head blown off, well that's in a totally different league, er, and one you are welcome to:o.

lostinrates

Oh, meant to say found a sleepy app bettervthan the ain one, or a good. Its called rela, or something
Ike that, and you can choose other sounds, though less variety of rain. I like the night and campfire ones, but the dramatic few bars of epic music felt like going to sleep in a very repetitive film. Good though.

LydiaJ

vivatifosi wrote: »

The probability thing was the right thing to do. However my favourite odds are not holding a gun to my head at all and I can't get that out of my head:o.

I think you are right, public sector panel interviews are very different to interviews in the private sector. I find public sector interviews a bit like some sort of yoghurt-knitting sudoku - very worthy and politically correct but if you work out the formula you can solve the puzzle and get the post (providing of course there aren't other internal candidates who are a shoe in but they have to go through some bloomin' stupid processes because they aren't allowed to just give people the job). Private sector interviews tend to be very different. More likely to be one-to-one, at least for the first round and can be very varied. Hard to know what to expect until you get there, you can do your research and find out about the company but there's still no guarantee that'll be what you are asked about.

I'm not sure how I fit into your public/private dichotomy there. I've spent my entire career teaching in independent schools, so neither the public sector enforced box-ticking nor the business culture randomness really apply. In independent school interviews, they watch you teach a lesson, and then you have a tour of the school and a couple of one-to-one or two-to-one interviews (usually with the head of dept and then the headteacher) in which they ask you straightforward questions about your previous teaching experience, or the lesson you've just taught, or similar, and then you go home, and they phone the successful candidate that evening. Compared with what I hear goes on in other walks of life, it's really pretty sane.

chewmylegoff

vivatifosi wrote: »

The probability thing was the right thing to do. However my favourite odds are not holding a gun to my head at all and I can't get that out of my head:o.

I think you are right, public sector panel interviews are very different to interviews in the private sector. I find public sector interviews a bit like some sort of yoghurt-knitting sudoku - very worthy and politically correct but if you work out the formula you can solve the puzzle and get the post (providing of course there aren't other internal candidates who are a shoe in but they have to go through some bloomin' stupid processes because they aren't allowed to just give people the job). Private sector interviews tend to be very different. More likely to be one-to-one, at least for the first round and can be very varied. Hard to know what to expect until you get there, you can do your research and find out about the company but there's still no guarantee that'll be what you are asked about.

My public sector interviews have all been really good except one when I was at the SFO and the interviewer didn't realise they were interviewing an accountant and not a lawyer, and it went a bit wrong. I got fluid graded around that problem though! They've all included technical case studies as well.

Private sector...completely different, fairly vague and high level in comparison. Always hit and miss and I've felt it's a lot more whether you fit with the organisational culture than whether you are good at the job.

vivatifosi

Has anyone read any Jon Ronson? I've just finished the Psychopath Test, which I thoroughly enjoyed and which has probably shaped some of my comments re job interviews tonight - he says about 4% of bosses are psychopaths, a much higher rate than in the general population - and I sense that's the sort of person that would ask the question re guns.

The reason I asked is that I'd like to read another and so I thought I'd see if anyone had any recommendations. Meanwhile I'm reading Michael Lewis's Boomerang. There are so many good books out there at the moment, it is so hard to find the time for all the ones I want to read. I've got 19 on my library card at the moment.

chewmylegoff

vivatifosi wrote: »

I guess it would be inappropriate to say that would be my weapon of choice as an assassin and that I have no intention of sticking a gun against my head for anyone so how about I held it against one of the panel's instead and see how it turns out.

I don't really like mind games and can go all alpha-female. At this point I would know that I wouldn't have the job but wouldn't give a flying f*ck either as they don't sound a company I would want to work for. I'd probably walk out afterwards annoyed at the wasted time but glad I didn't have to spend my waking hours with a bunch of jerks.

So to summarise, your reply would be " I would point the gun at you and pull the trigger until I shot you in the face!"

Tbf, I've never heard of anyone asking or being asked a question anything like that in an interview. I had 2 interviews at Oxford uni and even they didn't ask me anything weird.

vivatifosi

chewmylegoff wrote: »

So to summarise, your reply would be " I would point the gun at you and pull the trigger until I shot you in the face!"

Tbf, I've never heard of anyone asking or being asked a question anything like that in an interview. I had 2 interviews at Oxford uni and even they didn't ask me anything weird.

I've never been asked anything that weird either. The off the wall questions have tended to be odd psychobabble according to whatever management theory has been in vogue at the time and with ample opportunity to play bullsh1t bingo. Frankly I'm quite glad now I've heard the gun question. Also I'd never shoot anyone in the face, it would be too inelegant.

SingleSue

Nickable items here...

Erm, James' laptop and possibly mine.

The rest is 3 14inch old style portable tellies (2 not working and one with a bally great crack on the top), one 32 inch old style monster, working but with a hole in the top and a possibly nickable flat screen 32 inch but getting on a bit television.

We also have our old laptop, already been repaired and looking like it will soon be going to laptop heaven, a crap slightly newer laptop (by about 2 months) which is so slow you could eat your way through all the food at an all you can eat buffet before it loads and a broken, non working desktop.

Apart from that, my digital camera (old but still takes good pictures), an ancient xbox 360 (which now ex hubby paid £20 for), a newer xbox 360 (which James saved for a year for), youngest's Ipod (he saved/worked odd jobs/sold other toys for) and James' Ipod (similar to youngest).

Re the gun, my reply would be I am against violence and especially guns, so I would have no part in that particular game and anyone who would take part, would be especially silly and probably need to see their doctor regarding personal safety issues.