First Interview in 22 years - HELP

quietheart

Looking forward to hearing how you got on Liz.
Keeping everything crossed for you!

Eliza_2

Morning QH

Success! They rang last night so have to start yet another CRB etc rolling again -that will make 4 current ones, such a waste of money.

The interview covered the ground I had prepared, and I'm so glad I did. Thinking up questions (and answers!!!) that might arise around all of the points on the jd/person spec is def the way to go, there is no way I could have answered without all that work on Thursday. I still managed to go off at a bit of a tangent though, and had to be pulled back. Nerves play such silly tricks.

The only thing I wasn't prepared for was questions and comments about politics, so once I realised that was important I brought it in a few times. Part of their role is campaigning and they make no bones about sending letters to the press, lobbying MPs, and corporate organisations etc. as well as grass roots action.They obviously wanted me to be aware of and to share their views, which I do or would never have applied. Don't know if your charity is like that but if so, it might be worth finding ways of including your views - just a bit. They were also a bit 'good cop, bad cop' - I doubt it was deliberate but one was really smiley and said things like 'good' and 'a comprehensive answer' and the other was very straight and formal. The third didn't say much apart from when I asked questions at the end.

They took copious notes and yes, they had a score sheet which I think they filled in after the interviews, I just saw it amongst one of their papers. List of questions (and weighting) on top and list of candidates down the side. But that's pretty standard and you'd expect that really, it's good so they don't get you all muddled up.

Anyway, after an hour I came out feeling pretty frazzled and a friend bought me a big bar of choc - very needed!!! Can't wait to start now!

...and I can't believe they didn't ask the equal opps question, I've never not been asked that one!!

Your turn now, good luck and please let me know how you get on - what time is yours on Mon?

quietheart

WOW - huge congratulations! You must be so chuffed.
Would you mind giving me examples of the questions asked?
Also how many ??? were asked.
I feel sick today at the thought. I was out with fab friends last night who have all been on interview panels and I even froze with their questions. I really deserve a slap.
I'm really, really pleased for you. Hope you had a G&T at the ready to celebrate!
:j
(3pm for me :-0
have also d.m.ed you!)

Eliza_2

Thank you!

All the questions related to things on the person spec/ job desc. So as that said something about needing experience working with volunteers/young people, they asked me what experience I had had with those groups for example.

They started with the 'tell us about yourself' question which I hadn't even thought about but I said a bit about work experience and hobbies (personal stuff). Doesn't really matter as it's only an ice-breaker and doesn't usually carry much weight. One of the essential criteria was planning, monitoring and managing budgets (they've got some lottery funding) but that question was asked in rather obscure terms, after I'd waffled for a bit the penny dropped and I pulled myself back into what they wanted. Umm, can't think what else!

Oh yes, they asked a lot about keeping information about service users and volunteers secure, and also about data protection. Think those questions were weighted quite highly as they probed quite a bit. Luckily I do know that stuff (but had swotted up on Thursday)

I really would recommend going through the stuff they sent and trying to formulate questions from each point as charities, like the public sector, stick strictly to the formula because of equal opps. Interestingly enough I wasn't asked one single 'what would you do if....' type question after all that.

Good luck anyway, it really wasn't fun and interviews never are! Just get through it, prepare and do the best you can.

Liz

quietheart

I think I'd be ok in more of a conversation based interview like yours. I think knowing mine is competency based and has stated I have to give examples is giving me the collywobbles!
I've got my stories but when I start to recite them I'm getting brain freeze and that's when I'm at home with notes!
At the very least I think I'll give them something to talk about.:o