26 years old, first job interview

bird-brain_2

hi everyone
on friday i have my first real job interview. i am almost 27. i have been self employed and unemployed on-and-off for years; for part of the time i was unemployed i was actually a musician and went travelling a lot as a result. the job is a web design post and i have experience in the area from self employment/ hobby projects which i can easily talk about. i've got a full and active social life with lots of interests and various volunteer/ creative hobby projects which have been really successful.

i wonder if anyone can give me some real bare-bones interview advice... e.g. 'standard' questions i am likely to be asked, how long it will be, whether it is likely to be a panel or an individual.. etc. i'm not really nervous about answering questions; i just don't know generally what to expect because i've not done a real interview before.

after being unemployed for so long, i can't believe how much i want this job and i know the competition is fierce. i don't have a degree but applied anyway and have still been offered an interview, so i feel i will perhaps have something to prove over the others.

HelzBelz

questions i am likely to be asked
You'll probably be asked what you've been doing any why you think you're the person for the job

how long it will be
Very much depends on the company and whether they show you round the premises or just do a straight interview

is likely to be a panel or an individual
demends very much on the company again, but probably an individual

Just remember to relax and be yourself, if that's not the type of person they want you wouldn't be happy in the company anyway.

If through your musician time you have facial piercings or LOTS of earings try to minimise the ones you have to wear and if you've got tattoos on your arms try to wear a long sleaved shirt so they don't show.

Don't talk too much about your "full and active social life" might make you sound like a p**s head thats going to roll in with a hangover every morning.

They might ask you if seeing as you've been self employed and traveling as a musician whether you think you can work as part of a team, you need to give a sort of answer like the travelling has meant you've had to work in various situations with a wide variety of people and you do believe yourself to be a team player, but that you can also use your initiative and be left to complete projects without supervision.

Try to do some research about the company and it's clients via the web, it shows an interest in the company and it'll give you something to talk about if they show you round the premises.

GOOD LUCK:beer:

But just in case, have you seen this
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=492894

bird-brain_2

thanks helzbelz.

i think i can come across quite well in slightly more formal situations; i almost prefer this to informal! so hopefully if i can get some key responses in my head first, i will be OK.

i will hide my piercings and tat, yes. i do have a flash of red in my hair (one side and fringe) but my worker friends said not to bother getting rid of it. what's the general opinion? i can do my hair in such a way as to hide the bit on the side and dye the fringe a bit darker.

HelzBelz wrote: »

Don't talk too much about your "full and active social life" might make you sound like a p**s head thats going to roll in with a hangover every morning.

good point, thanks. i guess i just meant i make music and films and am involved in other volunteer projects (as well as, er, boozing) so i should be able to draw on that for the trickier questions that relate to team work.

luckily i know someone who works in the same place so i can probe her for some info. any ideas as to what i should ask?

HelzBelz

If it's web design the hair should be OK, they tend to expect slight idiosyncracies from arty types:T , good job really as when the sun shines it really shows the up purple tints:A .

shoeaddict

Hi bird-brain (oooh that sounds really rude!). Just wondering how the interview went? I've got one on Friday and I am very nervous. Any tips you can share?

HelzBelz

Well, how did it go, on aa scale of :eek: to ?

cazziebo

Maybe she's at work designing websites? Hope so!

Shoe addict - I've got an interview schedule for competency based interviews if you want me to send it. PM me your email address if you do.

good luck!

bird-brain_2

hard to say. it went well, in that i think i established a good rapport with the interviewers after i got over my nerves. had one good question planned and dropped in more technical detail than i really needed to. i was very nervous at the start though, forgot to breathe and the wrong words came out of my mouth several times.

it really depends what they are looking for, as i don't have a degree but am obviously capable of doing the job.

i should hear in the next two hours.

cazziebo

Fingers crossed for you!

bird-brain_2

called at 4.30, still no news. i was supposed to be called at 5 but still waiting. now wondering how long my nerves can hold out but i'm not feeling good about it.