Advice on this job

gohan2091

I'm 26 and been unemployed for 2 years now. Prior to this, I've had 2 office based jobs as a clerical assist and briefly on an IT help desk. (Before these jobs, I was in full time college) I have had a couple of interviews in the last 2 years which obviously haven't gone the way I wanted (hence me being unemployed still).

Bertrams Books had my CV on file and used that as a means to ask me to attend an interview. Here is the job description: I have an interview on Tuesday for Bertrams Books and was wondering if people here can explain the job description better? Or give me tips on questions to ask or things to point out? I have no sales experience and my skills lay within IT and administration.

http://www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk/job/central-sales-executive/897921

Thanks

sniggings

did this come from the Jobcentre?

Sorry but I have just read the details and it sounds it is a very skilled job, unless you have direct training or experience in this field I think you would be wasting your time but you can't really turn an interview down or your benefits will stop but I wouldn't expect getting the job, good experience though of interviews.

gohan2091

sniggings wrote: »

did this come from the Jobcentre?

Sorry but I have just read the details and it sounds it is a very skilled job, unless you have direct training or experience in this field I think you would be wasting your time but you can't really turn an interview down or your benefits will stop but I wouldn't expect getting the job, good experience though of interviews.

Your question is answered in my original post Bertrams had my CV on file and used that to contact me for an interview.

sniggings

gohan2091 wrote: »

Your question is answered in my original post Bertrams had my CV on file and used that to contact me for an interview.

Sorry I thought you may be smart enough to read between the lines, I was questioning the accuracy of your statement it came from the business themselves, as I am shocked a business would ask to see you on the limited experience you have stated here, being incapable of understanding a job description, leads me to think the job is way out of your league.

So lead me to think it would be more likely such an interview would have been initiated by the jobcentre.

Good Luck anyway.

gohan2091

I fail to see the purpose of your post sniggings, and will make the conclusion that you replied here to imply that myself and others who attend the Job Centre are dumb and incapatible of working in a 'basic' job such as this. I merely asked for advice and support, not for someone to further reduce my confidence. Being unemployed for 2 years when you've out great effort to secure employment is not a nice experience. I don't need you to throw in unhelpful comments.

Things like KPI's, comission statements, credit references and AS400 are things I don't understand. I will do what I can to ensure I am ready for this interview, but I thought it would be worth 5 minutes typing a post on this forum.

sniggings

I too am out of work so I understand your feelings.

My first post was clearly trying to help, I think it is worse to build yourself up for a job that you stand little hope of getting, I hope you do get it though.

My second post was less than helpful as I felt you didn't need to post what I felt was rude to say I had failed to see the answer to my question in your first post, you could have just as easily answered the question than to say "Your question is answered in my original post", would you have answered the same to an interviewer who may ask a question that was answered in your job application! I doubt it.

Feelings work both ways, so sorry if I was too harsh but likewise you need to be understanding of other peoples feelings.

jobbingmusician

All of these things can be googled, but I will tell you that KPI's are key performance indicators - so that bit of the JD is simply making sure you, or your customers, hit targets. AS400 seems to be, as I rather expected, a computer application.....

gohan2091

sniggings wrote: »

My second post was less than helpful as I felt you didn't need to post what I felt was rude to say I had failed to see the answer to my question in your first post, you could have just as easily answered the question than to say "Your question is answered in my original post", would you have answered the same to an interviewer who may ask a question that was answered in your job application! I doubt it.

I am sorry you felt my reply was rude. I stated both that your question has already been answered in my original post AND I provided the answer again for you. I also put a smiley face to suggest I am trying to be polite in my answer. Why ask the question "did this come from the job centre" if you already knew it did not from what I said in my original post?

No, I would not have answered the same to an interviewer as I did with you. An interviewer would have a purpose to ask me an already answered question. Maybe my answers were not fresh in his/her mind, perhaps he/she wanted to see if I would answer the same as I did previously, or perhaps he/she just wants to add pressure to the interview by asking lots of questions. In your case, my answer was written in the message above yours, for your immediate access.

marybelle01

It seems they are actually not quite what they seem - a serach for their website seems to indicate they are part of WHSmiths group. Not bad news, but perhaps this might throw some light on them? And actually their head office is Swindon, not Norwich, as state in the job advert, so they are clearly a subsidiary.

Frankly, looking at the JD described on the site and what you have said about youself - I can't see why they are even considering you for interview. Sorry, but "proven customer service experience" does not seem to match " two years unemployed, no customer service experience". Sales account management is certainly not a basic job.

I do wish you well, but please don't get you hopes up too much - I have a horrible feeling that you've matched some computer based key search with an agency that didn't once stop to put a human in between to consider whether you were really qualified or experienced for the job.

getmore4less

Its an admin job in a sales environment

you say you have IT but don't know what as AS400 ok you are young but search skills are not ageist,

What qualifications do you have?

I suspect the description is over describing/selling the job so good inteligent admin basic computer literate person could pick this up faitrly quickly with a supportive team.

gohan2091

Here are my customer service experiences:

- Working briefly at an IT help desk, I logged calls and emails on a computer system and provided assistance if I knew the answers
- Directed internal and external customers to the correct people at my first County Council job.
- Selling
- Provided an IT repair service to my local community
- A few photography jobs
- Graphic design jobs

If this job is out of my league, this is fine but I will try. If this is a sales account job then I probably would be no good, but if this is an administrative job dressed up in a sales environment, then maybe I have a chance. I have no idea what an AS400 is but it does sound like a computer system or database of some sort. I have a number of qualifications but my best is a BSc in Business Computing.

marybelle01 wrote: »

It seems they are actually not quite what they seem - a serach for their website seems to indicate they are part of WHSmiths group. Not bad news, but perhaps this might throw some light on them? And actually their head office is Swindon, not Norwich, as state in the job advert, so they are clearly a subsidiary.

Should I ask about this at the interview?