Placement Year Interviews...

alias7

I'm attending my first interview for a placement next week, it will only be my 2nd ever job interview, so I'd like some quick advice please .

My last interview was for my current job in an office, and that was 3 years ago when I was 16!

Some of these may sound stupid, but when they ask a question I don't want to start going on about the wrong thing. I would just like to know what should I typically respond to when ask me..

Can you tell me a bit about yourself

For example, telling them I like to watch football is *probably* a little off key, but what the hell do they want to know when they ask this?

What are your weaknesses?

Would hate to be asked this, but all of my mates have been asked in there interviews! They seem to go with the typical "pushing themselves too hard".

What do you hope to gain from a placement with us?

Erm....A years work experience? Help me out here!

Any questions?

I've been told that you should always have at least one question to ask. Typically, what do people ask here? How does "What skills will I gain from the placement" sound? I thought to myself this was a decent question, as it makes it sound as though you're interested in taking something from the placement as well as giving.


Thanks in advance for your help.

kelloggs36

A bit about yourself would be what you are doing career wise - why you are applying to work with them in terms of your long term prospects etc.

Weaknesses - can also be your strength in terms of pushing yourself to achieve but learning when to slow down in order to maximise your potential and not burn out.

What is the placement and what is the course you are doing? Are you already studying and then need to be placed for a year, or is it a placement you are arranging in order to gain a place at uni? If it is a placement which has to be arranged to progress in your existing uni course, then what you have said sounds ok to me. Develop your skills linked to the eventual career that you want which is why you are undertaking the particular course you are. To gain a real insight into the field of work that you want to do so you are more prepared once you qualify etc.

You sound like you are on the right lines - although I am not an expert! I have however, always suceeded in interview - I'm sure my luck will run out one day though!! Good luck.

alias7

I am in year 2 of my Business Informatics degree, year 3 is a placement year where I will go and work with a company for a year which relates to my degree. I will then return to uni for my 4th & final year.

Going back to the "tell us about yourself", I thought they would ask why am I applying in a seperate question to find out about that. I kinda know what to say to make them see I want to work with them, Its just the talking about who you are, what you do etc. that I'm a bit unsure of.

I suspect they just want a quick introduction like, age, college education, degree work, part time jobs and stuff like that? But I wasn't 100%.

Kilty_2

I'm interested in the replied to this thread - I have an interview for a part time job in retail on Tuesday and I guess I'll be asked similar questions

03022242

Can you tell me a bit about yourself

...well i enjoy (insert industry here) because it challenges/excites/allows me to express myself etc etc and have always enjoyed this since school, where i learnt the basics blah blah something around those lines

What are your weaknesses?

your going on your placement to learn and improve in (insert selected weaknesses or lack of information in a certain area)

What do you hope to gain from a placement with us?

allows me to put in to practice everything ive learned in the first 2 years in uni, how it all fits together or how all the processes work blah blah

Any questions?

normally i ask, what chances are there for training/development/promotion, but i asked a business related question in the last interview, e.g.

"the business has expanded since its first office in ______, i see you now have another office in _________, are you looking to stay small or expand?"

something like that?



look up your company, how are they performing? what about the industry? any legislation that will effect your work?

alias7

Some good answers there 03022242! Thanks for the advice.

whitecatcreamsofaDOH

Would your tutors advise you?
I had (and got!!!) my textiles placement recently and a couple of tutors offered to go through my portfolio with me if I felt I needed it before the interview took place> tutors want to help you get placed so im sure they would be happy to help
if any fourth or third years had a placement at the same company you could try tracking them downand ask them about their experiences

good luck x

Colxfile

alias7 wrote: »

Any questions?

I managed to get away with, "Well, I did have some. But they were answered in this morning's introductory talk."

That answer works best if you've already had an introductory talk that covers things like salary, holiday entitlements and so forth.

I must admit though, I think I struggled a bit with these open-ended "Tell us about this / that / other" interview, but my more technical interview probably made up for it.

retepetsir

I'm currently on my placement year at an engineering firm (Thales). I applied to quite a few companies last year, and got asked to quite a few interviews, some very very difficult/stressful and others challanging but also more relaxing....! (such as the Thales interview).

I guess you don't have a whole 'assessment centre' day? I had a 6hr selection process for Vauxhall, that was not very pleasant at all.

With regards to the interview, just relax. If they ask your weaknesses, dont say 'I don't have any', but say what they are, then that you have been trying to work on them, and will want to with this placement. i.e. as a example, confidence. You hope to improve your confidence by dealing with new people and customers throughout your placement year, and hopefully gain and learn from these communication skills. Things like that, just think on your feet

It might be a good idea to think up a few scenerios....

I was asked in a number of interviews about things like "When was the last time you exceeded expectations? Where was this, what was your planned method, what was your actual method and what was the final outcome?"

"When was the last time that you exceeded as part of a team? Where was this, what was your planning, your method and the final result?"

I had about 20 questions on those type of things from Vauxall and one other company, they were NOT fun but it was useful to write down a few ideas beforehand (I'd read about this type of thing before).

Jot down some ideas, and some situations that you can bring up for such a question, possibly use it to explain your pro's on your CV (dependability, hard working, meeting deadlines, all those power words).

As mentioned about, turn your weaknesses around and make them your strengths .

Yes, and find out about the company. If you don't know what they do then you are in trouble. I was asked if I knew what Thales actually did, and luckily I'd done quite a bit of reading.

Most importantly of all, good luck!

Chalky87

I have an interview next week as well. Good luck with yours Alias. Some sound advice here I think, there's also plenty of websites around with frequently asked questions and some frame works for answers so do a google.

celyn90

Hi alias,

I hate the "tell me about yourself question" too! I have always found a brief introductin to your relevant background fine, then followed that with some personal information, "other than that, I like to spend my spare time doing xyz and I have a keen interest in xyz"

I've had the weakness question several times too and I always try to turn it around. My answer is normally something along the lines of "I know I have a tendancy sometimes to focus on tiny details, which I guess may be percieved as a weakness by some. In reality, though, I know myself very well and have learnt to pull back and consider the problem as whole, whilst still understanding that the small things and the fine-tuning is important."

What do you hope to gain by working for us: I've always gone along the lines of: practical knowledge and understanding of how the industry works in real life. Develop skills that will allow you to follow a career in whatever you want to do.

Best of luck with your interviews.