Hard to answer questions

noelphobic

I recently had a horrendous interview and I'm kicking myself because I really wanted the job. However, I think that some of the questions were really difficult to answer unless you already worked for the organisation or in a very similar role elsewhere. They related to what you would do in certain situations but I think the organisation would have set procedures to follow for these situations. How do you answer that? I couldn't exactly say 'I'd expect you to tell me how to handle those situations as part of my training/induction'.

Any ideas anyone? I haven't been officially told that I haven't got the job yet but I'll be amazed if I do get it. Not just because of that. I made a mess of other questions that I did know the answer to, and can't blame anyone else for that!

London50

Hi

Firstly I do hope that you are lucky enough to get the job but in answer to your main question they are just trying to find out how YOU would handle a situation. Yes they will have a training system in places for these things but it is a good test out to see how you approach things.
When I worked it was one thing our MD did to any new people applying for a job as he was then able to gauge if the person would fit in. Many companies do understand that in todays' work climate people are nervous in an interview so do not "write yourself off" just yet and good luck :0)

London50

noelphobic

London50 wrote: »

Hi

Firstly I do hope that you are lucky enough to get the job but in answer to your main question they are just trying to find out how YOU would handle a situation. Yes they will have a training system in places for these things but it is a good test out to see how you approach things.
When I worked it was one thing our MD did to any new people applying for a job as he was then able to gauge if the person would fit in. Many companies do understand that in todays' work climate people are nervous in an interview so do not "write yourself off" just yetand good luck :0)

London50

One of the questions was 'how would you keep in touch with your colleagues if you were working remotely'. I answered that I would keep in touch by telephone or email. I was then asked the same question about how I would keep in touch with my manager and I gave the same answer. Most of them were harder than that but I did wonder whether I was missing something on that one. It seemed too easy but I couldn't think of what else to say. Any ideas on that one?

London50

IMO you answered correctly to both of those, once again it is just to see if a] you are listening to the question and b] being able to give a straight answer.
I do remember many years back a friend was asked om his driving test "what would you do if you saw an aircraft in your wing mirror? he replied "I would get off the runway $%&ing fast" needless to say he failed his test.
The questions as I said are not to trick you be to see how you act to a given situation

noelphobic

London50 wrote: »

IMO you answered correctly to both of those, once again it is just to see if a] you are listening to the question and b] being able to give a straight answer.
I do remember many years back a friend was asked om his driving test "what would you do if you saw an aircraft in your wing mirror? he replied "I would get off the runway $%&ing fast" needless to say he failed his test.
The questions as I said are not to trick you be to see how you act to a given situation

They weren't all as straightforward or answered as well (hopefully), sadly! I was asked a question about Data Protection and made a total mess of the answer. I worked for a bank for over 20 years and should have aced that question.

I had to do a presentation on a subject that wasn't disclosed until I arrived. I thought I knew what the subject would be but I was totally wrong and wasn't sure how to approach the subject I was given. The topic I had thought/hoped would be the subject of the presentation was one of the questions in the interview and I think I at least did well on that one!

J_i_m

I sympathise with you.

I find it hardest when asked some very stock questions... like "Describe yourself" or "Why do you want this job?", "What attracted you to apply for this job?" "Describe a time when you handled a stressful situation"

And so on.

I find it particularly difficult when they ask you for an example of when you handled certain type of situation. I'm not someone who writes a book about how've I handled things in the past... and so invariably I end up having to make up a scenario on the spur of the moment and then answer it.

I'd much rather they'd ask a direct question "What would you do if" or "how do you manage stress or a difficult customer". Being invited to recall a past example really throws me.

elsien

We use competency based questions but we say to people that it's ok to use situations outside of work if they can't think of any work related questions.
To be honest, we don't actually care if you know our procedures or not as we can teach you those. It's more about sussing out if you have the underlying skills and problem solving abilities.
So as it's a care role where we need to persuade people to do things they might not understand/be keen on doing, one of our questions might be around influencing someone to get him/her to co-operate.
So you could come up with answers around care if you already work in the field, you could use children or elderly relatives in a family context, you could use voluntary work, you could use examples from another type of work if you had supervisory experience or just a bolshie team mate.
And what we'd be looking for in the answer would be whether you can communicate clearly, don't overload people with info, change your communication style as needed etc. Also the negatives - if you don't spot when your communication isn't working or you ignore/talk over people, for example.
Competency based questions are less about the mechanics of the job / set answers and more about your skills and how you deal with situations.
Hope that helps.


Edit - the theory behind the past example, not what would you do, is that what people say they'd do and what they actually do can be quite separate things. And it's ok to acknowledge past errors if they're not deal breakers, as it shows you can reflect, learn and move on.

London50

Do not give up hope, as you have said they have not said that you have not got the job, try to keep positive and who knows, the call/letter could come offering you the position. If not keep trying, there is something out there for you and I hope that with your attitude you will get just what you want in the end :0)

Lndon50

noelphobic

J_i_m wrote: »

I sympathise with you.

I find it hardest when asked some very stock questions... like "Describe yourself" or "Why do you want this job?", "What attracted you to apply for this job?" "Describe a time when you handled a stressful situation"

And so on.

I find it particularly difficult when they ask you for an example of when you handled certain type of situation. I'm not someone who writes a book about how've I handled things in the past... and so invariably I end up having to make up a scenario on the spur of the moment and then answer it.

I'd much rather they'd ask a direct question "What would you do if" or "how do you manage stress or a difficult customer". Being invited to recall a past example really throws me.

We seem to have very similar problems with regard to getting jobs! I actually think it would be helpful to write a book or keep some kind of record about situations and how you've handled them. I was asked in this interview to describe a time when I've handled a difficult situation and I had thought of one where I'd had a very abusive and trying customer. It was an OK answer but I think it would have been better if I could have thought of one that had a more obvious relevance to the job I was applying for.

I'd already answered quite a few of the questions on my application form so found myself regurgitating the same answers. I was worried that they would think I'd learned them off by heart but my memory isn't good enough for that unfortunately!

elsien

noelphobic wrote: »

I was asked in this interview to describe a time when I've handled a difficult situation and I had thought of one where I'd had a very abusive and trying customer. It was an OK answer but I think it would have been better if I could have thought of one that had a more obvious relevance to the job I was applying for.

Not necessarily - if your answer showed, for example, that you were able to keep calm and problem solve under pressure, you followed procedures, you did any necessary recording, that you knew the limits of your job role and were able to ask for help/refer upwards as needed, then you've covered a lot of the bases regardless of the specifics of the situation.

noelphobic

elsien wrote: »

We use competency based questions but we say to people that it's ok to use situations outside of work if they can't think of any work related questions.
To be honest, we don't actually care if you know our procedures or not as we can teach you those. It's more about sussing out if you have the underlying skills and problem solving abilities.
So as it's a care role where we need to persuade people to do things they might not understand/be keen on doing, one of our questions might be around influencing someone to get him/her to co-operate.
So you could come up with answers around care if you already work in the field, you could use children or elderly relatives in a family context, you could use voluntary work, you could use examples from another type of work if you had supervisory experience or just a bolshie team mate.
And what we'd be looking for in the answer would be whether you can communicate clearly, don't overload people with info, change your communication style as needed etc. Also the negatives - if you don't spot when your communication isn't working or you ignore/talk over people, for example.
Competency based questions are less about the mechanics of the job / set answers and more about your skills and how you deal with situations.
Hope that helps.


Edit - the theory behind the past example, not what would you do, is that what people say they'd do and what they actually do can be quite separate things. And it's ok to acknowledge past errors if they're not deal breakers, as it shows you can reflect, learn and move on.

Your answer is very relevant to me as I am presently looking for a third sector job, having previously worked in a bank, so completely different. I am not looking to get into a very hands on role (as in personal care), more in the way of practical advice and support.

I have only applied for jobs with 2 charities so far and hopefully my interview techniques will improve. I am generally a very good communicator as far as meetings/telephone calls/emails/conference calls/presentations go. I just seem to morph into another person when I go into interviews and turn into a gibbering wreck!

Although I am aware that trying to make a complete career change won't be easy, especially as I'm not in the first flush of youth, I do think I have a lot going for me (I just wish I could persuade interviewers of that!) I have recently completed a degree in Health and Social Care, have a son with type 1 diabetes, have mental health issues myself (although fortunately not so severe that I can't work) and also my mum had dementia for many years. I've also been doing voluntary work for the last 6 months.

I'd give me a job - although not on the strength of my interviews!