Support Each Other in Looking For Work - Pt 2

Drea

I know this thread has fizzed out a little but as there were over 4,000 posts on the other one I thought it was time for part 2 and I'm hoping people will join in again because I need the motivation and confidence that it brought me last time! Previous thread is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2982124

I've been working for the last 9 months but have just been told I didn't pass my probation so I'm back on the hunt

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Interview Question Ideas:

Questions to Ask:

• Why has this vacancy arisen?
• How do you review performance?
• How was the job handled in the past?
• What would you expect of me in the first six months?
• What do you see as my key long-term challenges?
• What is the expected career path for this position?
• Do you expect me to develop new expertise in any areas?
• What are the characteristics of successful people in this firm?
• Where would I fit into the overall structure?
• Will anyone report into me?
• Who would I report to and what is the line of authority?
• Is any training required as part of this job?
• What are the opportunities for advancement/promotion?
• What is the firm’s long-term strategy?
• Is the firm looking to expand into new areas?
• What is the largest challenge facing the firm at the moment?
• How would you describe the firm’s values?
• Is there likely to be any relocation in the future?
• Who is your biggest customer
• Who would be your main competitor
• How long has the current person been in this role
• What is the structure of the team
• Will I have my own targets
• What computer systems do you have in place
• How long have you been here
• What is the best thing about working here
• When is your company year end (accounts question)
• Who are your auditors/when is your audit (accounts question)

Questions you might be asked:


Questions where you can sell yourself

Tell me about yourself.

• Why do you want this job?
• What would you expect to accomplish here?
• Where do you want to be in five years time?
• Do you consider yourself to be a natural leader?
• What attracts you to this role?
• What does success mean to you?
• What are your career aspirations?
• What have been your major accomplishments?
• How would members of your team describe you?
• What really motivates you?
• What special skills do you have?
• What is your greatest strength?
• What do you do on your days off?
• What are you looking for in your new role/describe the ideal role
• 5 words how they would decribe you in your last job
• 3 words how friends would describe you
• Is there any reason why I shouldn't put you into the next stage

Questions where the interviewer is seeking informative answers:

• What do you know about this firm?
• What is a typical week’s work in your current job?
• Describe your greatest challenge so far.
• What are you looking for in your next job?
• How long have you been looking for another position?
• Why do you want to work for this firm?
• What can we offer that your current firm cannot?
• Do you deal with any of your firm’s top 10 clients?
• How do you determine priorities?
• Why should I hire you?
• How do you handle criticism?
• What makes a good manager?
• How do you run a meeting?

Questions where you may need to turn a negative into a positive:

• Why do you want to leave your current employer?
• What has been your greatest challenge in business so far?
• What are your key strengths or weaknesses?
• What thing irritates you most in the workplace?
• Describe your toughest client.
• How do you work under pressure?
• Describer a difficult work situation and how you managed it.
• What do you dislike about your current role?
• Which tasks don’t you like to do?
• Is there anyone in your current organisation you really don’t get on with?
• Do you make your opinions known if you disagree with a more senior member of staff?
• How do you feel about working weekends?
• Why aren’t you earning more at this stage of your career?
• Why were you made redundant/fired?

Blue-sky questions

• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• If you became Prime Minister what would be the first thing you’d change?
• What do you think of me as an interviewer?
• If you had to move to another industry, which would you choose?

November5th

I will post up a debrief after my interview today, could potentially be a shocker as I feel very clueless this morning!

Drea

November5th wrote: »

I will post up a debrief after my interview today, could potentially be a shocker as I feel very clueless this morning!

Good luck with it sometimes the less prepared you are the better they go!

I'm creating my job search spreadsheet as we speak, this is so depressing!

looby75

oh Drea, so sorry to hear you are out of a job again. Did they tell you why you didn't pass your probation or do you think they were just using it as an excuse?

falko89

Sad news Drea, I'm happy to jump aboard this time.

Drea

looby75 wrote: »

oh Drea, so sorry to hear you are out of a job again. Did they tell you why you didn't pass your probation or do you think they were just using it as an excuse?

Thanks

They made a huge fuss out of 3 mistakes that I have made while I've worked there for 9 months. It's completely ridiculous because I know others made the exact same mistakes, I guess my face just didn't fit when the new manager came in!

It's really frustrating because before she joined the company it was talked about that I'd be supervisor, I went from that to being out the door!

Drea

Just spent a pointless 10 minutes on the phone to the job centre. I knew I wouldn't get any money because the OH earns too much (not that that benefits us as it is all being paid straight back out) but phoned to ask about NI. They were clueless and started just going through a JSA claim with me, I had to hang up in the end!

So, anyone got any idea about NI and if it's worth signing on for it? Isn't there a way to pay it myself too? I'm not sure I can cope with going back to that job centre every couple of weeks again...

looby75

yeah that certainly sounds like a face not fitting scenario I hope you find something else quickly.

I'm still looking, not had an interview in a year despite applying for everything and anything I can. I can't even find any volunteer work everywhere that isn't a charity shop (can't stand for long so shops are no good for me) has waiting lists of people wanting to volunteer for them. Thats how bad it is round here :eek:

falko89

Drea wrote: »

Thanks

They made a huge fuss out of 3 mistakes that I have made while I've worked there for 9 months. It's completely ridiculous because I know others made the exact same mistakes, I guess my face just didn't fit when the new manager came in!

It's really frustrating because before she joined the company it was talked about that I'd be supervisor, I went from that to being out the door!

Oh I hate when that happens, Back last Summer my firm offered voluntary redundancies, I was going to take mine when my manager told me how valued I was etc so I stayed, the manager left and a new one put in charge who I just didn't gel with, then the company folded and we all got made redundant, few days later this new manager started up the company again, no surprise that I wasn't rehired.

falko89

looby75 wrote: »

yeah that certainly sounds like a face not fitting scenario I hope you find something else quickly.

I'm still looking, not had an interview in a year despite applying for everything and anything I can. I can't even find any volunteer work everywhere that isn't a charity shop (can't stand for long so shops are no good for me) has waiting lists of people wanting to volunteer for them. Thats how bad it is round here :eek:

In a year:eek: I thought I was bad 6 weeks, that's shocking really.

Drea

looby75 wrote: »

yeah that certainly sounds like a face not fitting scenario I hope you find something else quickly.

I'm still looking, not had an interview in a year despite applying for everything and anything I can. I can't even find any volunteer work everywhere that isn't a charity shop (can't stand for long so shops are no good for me) has waiting lists of people wanting to volunteer for them. Thats how bad it is round here :eek:

Aww looby, I can't believe you're still looking try to keep your chin up, maybe look into doing Avon, Betterware, etc for some extra cash? I've applied to sign up to Avon. I figured if I'm out of work for a while at least I can say I've been doing something if questioned about it.

It's much worse now that it was 9 months ago and it was bad then! I don't know how I'll find anything especially when any reference I give for my last job will say "failed to pass probation period"!

Last time around I felt quite confident and it still took 5 months to get something, just feel down this time.

falko89 wrote: »

Oh I hate when that happens, Back last Summer my firm offered voluntary redundancies, I was going to take mine when my manager told me how valued I was etc so I stayed, the manager left and a new one put in charge who I just didn't gel with, then the company folded and we all got made redundant, few days later this new manager started up the company again, no surprise that I wasn't rehired.

It's a horrible situation when you've worked your socks off in a place then someone else comes in who can do anything they like.