Informal job interviews ?

Claire_MUFC

My Work Programme advisor has put me forward for a job with a catering company, different to anything I've done before but if they see anything they like in my CV, interviews could be on Monday with the start date as soon as 2nd Jan.


With an informal job interview, or an informal chat about a job role what kind of things would they be likely to ask ? Would there still be any interview type questions ?


I was interviewed for a job at Sports Direct and in a coffee shop, both of them seemed kind of informal to me. The coffee shop went nowhere, the Sports Direct one I got the job but they only gave me the job because of one of my qualifications, not because I interviewed well

AP007

What is the job?

Claire_MUFC

AP007 wrote: »

What is the job?

Catering company, help making sandwiches and stuff. All I've really been told to be honest

GothicStirling

They're probably going to ask the generic 'tell me about yourself' type questions. As you've worked in retail, I would focus on customer service skills and a cash handling that kind of thing. So they may ask 'tell me about a time when you gave great customer service.' Try not to focus on your lack of catering skills, concentrate on customer service, communication, team-work, and time-management.

Do you cook/bake at home? If so let them know. Maybe even Google 'principals of good food hygiene.' If they ask something about this, talk about 'clean as you go'; good personal hygiene, and ensuring food safety (core temperatures/fridge and freezer temps/checking food isn't out of date etc.)

Claire_MUFC

Close as I get to cooking or baking at home is cheese, jam or spaghetti on toast haha. Cooking is not my forte really

So even though its an informal chat you would still suggest preparing for some interview type questions and examples ? Interviews is my weakness and always what lets me down. Advisor has said I can get practice off them so even though she said its just an informal chat is some interview practice still helpful ?

Would you still think researching the company is a good idea ? Don't know who the company even is, just been told a catering company near here. So is it worth seeing if my advisor has got anymore information about them ?

I am going in my work programme tomorrow for job search so can try and ask then

DCFC79

Yes no harm in asking if your advisor has more information on them or he tells you the name and you google them.

Claire_MUFC

DCFC79 wrote: »

Yes no harm in asking if your advisor has more information on them or he tells you the name and you google them.

Thanks. What would you suggest regarding how to prepare for it, like questions ? Would they still ask interview style questions in an informal interview ?

If its tell me about yourself or talk me through your CV I hate them questions

Is It still worth doing practice even for an informal job interview ?

Claire_MUFC

Is an informal chat harder as you have to drop your skills in anywhere ?

agrinnall

I would have thought that it's unlikely that they'd ask anything too probing for a job making sandwiches. What I would suggest is that you do a bit of googling for food hygiene, just in case they ask you how familiar you are with the basic rules. Here's a starting point.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/homehygiene/Pages/Foodhygiene.aspx

PS Good luck!

Claire_MUFC

Would it be similar to a job interview for a coffee shop ? I had one for that and that was kind of horrible

Claire_MUFC

Would it be similar to a job interview for a coffee shop ? I had one for that and that was kind of horrible