Xtravision open day

Dave!

Hey folks,

a friend of mine said that he recieved a letter today about an Xtravision open day in Tallaght... I applied to Xtravision too (but only recently), but didn't get a letter. They usually send out a letter to confirm that they recieved your CV even, but I didn't get that yet, so I'm assuming it's cos I applied so recently that I didn't get any letters yet.

Do any of you know if you need to have a letter to go to the open day?

And also, what should I expect there? I'm looking for part-time work to get me through the college year... I went to one of these before but didn't stick around, and it involved them giving you a sheet with info about phones, etc., on it, and you're supposed to sell one to the interviewer.

I didn't make it that far But has anybody actually done it?

Any advice? Cheers

smemon

my GF did and interview for xtravision about a year ago..

she didn't know about phones/tech stuff and rang me at work for help They gave her a sheet of specs for a phone and she had to sell it.

i had to explain WAP/GPRS/Bluetooth, makes/models of phones etc.. plus give a summary of the different games consoles and list a few games for each - all within about a 3 minute call.

She had to sell a phone to the 3 interviewers (all at one desk), plus list a few films she likes and her favourite games. All very formal she said, she was expecting a one on one interview in backroom or something - this was a proper interview in a private hotel function room.

Needless to say, she didn't get the job but had it not been for me, she wouldn have been f**ked as she hasn't a clue about technology

If you're interested in games/phones/technology you'll stand a good chance as i'd say most people go in thinking it's just like a retail job scanning things into a computer. Thats what it is basically but it seems they want someone with a bit of tech knowledge also.

OctavarIan

DaveMcG wrote:

Hey folks,

a friend of mine said that he recieved a letter today about an Xtravision open day in Tallaght... I applied to Xtravision too (but only recently), but didn't get a letter. They usually send out a letter to confirm that they recieved your CV even, but I didn't get that yet, so I'm assuming it's cos I applied so recently that I didn't get any letters yet.

Do any of you know if you need to have a letter to go to the open day?

And also, what should I expect there? I'm looking for part-time work to get me through the college year... I went to one of these before but didn't stick around, and it involved them giving you a sheet with info about phones, etc., on it, and you're supposed to sell one to the interviewer.

I didn't make it that far But has anybody actually done it?

Any advice? Cheers

You didn't need a letter for the last open day, you just turned up with a CV.

I did one there earlier in the year, it was in some hotel (can't remember the name) near Stephen's Green. The first round was selling the product, I got through that with one mark less than the full marks (I didn't ask enough appropriate questions apparently) and from there went into a 1 on 1 interview. Don't think that went as well because I got that dreaded letter a few weeks later saying they'd keep my CV on file...

The selling the product can be tough, because you have to do it with 7-8 people totally focusing on you in a circle around you, and one guy I saw just choked completely. Just try to block everyone out bar the person you're selling to. The person you've to sell to will usually give you a helping nudge or ask a question if you start to slip up. The interviews were in booths and consisted of the usual interview questions, except you can help yourself to a glass of water or some tea/coffee/biscuits beforehand. My interview lasted about 20 mins I think it was.

Anything else you want to know just ask

mikemac

Sounds like great fun

Supposing you were looking for weekend hours, do you show up for one of these days.
Or are they only interviewing for full-time staff and junior managers?

Dave!

Jesus man, that doesn't sound too good A bit apprehensive now!

So, there's 7/8 people in the room all standing around... and what, you have to sell something to the other people looking for the job? Or is it an interviewer-type-person who you're selling it to?

Do they basically say "I want this phone, can you tell me about it?" and then you go on about it for a while? ie. Great phone, whopper camera , big storage, plays music, battery lasts for a million hours, 3G, etc. ???

Just looking to get a clearer picture of what to expect really, cos I don't understand the idea of having 7/8 people there at the same time

Can you gimme a bit of a run-down of the sequence it follows?

Cheers! And stay online all day, so I can pick your brain and try to calm myself down!

Dave!

By the way, can you have the sheet in front of you when you're trying to sell the phone, or do you have to memorise it?

OctavarIan

DaveMcG wrote:

Jesus man, that doesn't sound too good A bit apprehensive now!

So, there's 7/8 people in the room all standing around... and what, you have to sell something to the other people looking for the job? Or is it an interviewer-type-person who you're selling it to?

Yeah the room I was in had 7-8 people seated in a semi-circle, with a wall and a desk with a guy who marks you completing it. There will be a person there who you have to sell the product to, and everyone takes their turn to stand up in the middle and try sell to that person.

Do they basically say "I want this phone, can you tell me about it?" and then you go on about it for a while? ie. Great phone, whopper camera , big storage, plays music, battery lasts for a million hours, 3G, etc. ???

It'll be like a roleplay, so the 'customer' will start off with some made up story like dropping her phone and needing a new one. That's when you come in and try sell her the phone that was on your sheet. You'll have to answer any questions she has as well as ask some of your own, all the time smiling and being animated and friendly in order to get full marks. One tactic I had in mind from the get go was to analyse the people before me and take the good things they did and use them myself, but better them. Sort of like learning from other people's mistakes. You want to beat these people and come out top

Just looking to get a clearer picture of what to expect really, cos I don't understand the idea of having 7/8 people there at the same time

Can you gimme a bit of a run-down of the sequence it follows?

Pretty much you all go into a room and sit down. There will be a little explanation of what will happen, then the 'customer' will pick people at random (one at a time) to come up and do the role play. When everyone is done the 'customer' and the other guy will leave the room for a few mins, then they'll come back in and say who has made it to the next round (usually the interview).

Cheers! And stay online all day, so I can pick your brain and try to calm myself down!

Answered in the quote

[edit]You can use the sheet, but obviously it'll look much more impressive if you can do it off the top of your head. That way you won't have to break eye contact as often, and also you won't have a sheet for every product in Xtravision if you get the job!

euph

I think they did a bit of an xtra-vision open day in one of the naked camera episodes. doubt that's very helpful but might distract from the nerves, good luck!

Dave!

hmmm it seems to be different to the way smemon described it (you have to sell the phone to 3 interviewers). Don't know which way I'd prefer to be honest! Don't fancy putting on a performance or being interviewed by 3 people!

What kind of clothes were most people wearing? I'm thinking a shirt and slacks should be grand.

What kind of questions did they ask you in the interview part? Did they go through your CV basically?

Did you get any curve-balls about what is your biggest weakness, etc?

Anything else you think would be helpful?

Cheers mate

OctavarIan

DaveMcG wrote:

hmmm it seems to be different to the way smemon described it (you have to sell the phone to 3 interviewers). Don't know which way I'd prefer to be honest! Don't fancy putting on a performance or being interviewed by 3 people!

Well he said his gf did it about a year ago so maybe it was different back then.

What kind of clothes were most people wearing? I'm thinking a shirt and slacks should be grand.

The usual interview fare really. Some people way too casual, some people wearing full on suits. Most wearing shirt and slacks. I wore a black shirt and clean jeans myself.

What kind of questions did they ask you in the interview part? Did they go through your CV basically?

Yes and there were other questions like times you had to deal with abusive or disruptive customers, times you were given a difficult task and how you managed it. Also there were a couple of Xtravision questions, like name a current offer they were doing (I totally made this up on the spot as I'd no idea, and to my astonishment later on I found out I had guessed correct! ) they'll also ask why do you want to work there and what do you know about it. It could vary though as my friend who was with me on the day was finished in about 5-10 mins, while mine dragged on for a good 20 mins +

Did you get any curve-balls about what is your biggest weakness, etc?

Apart from the current offers question, no! (thank ****)

Anything else you think would be helpful?

They try to make everything as relaxed as they can, so don't be nervous or anything. It was obvious in the role play who was nervous and who wasn't, just blank out everything and focus on the customer. When you do the role play you want to make the other people think "damn he's good" Also there was a movie on in the room where everyone waits for their number to be called, so there's no nail-biting waiting for your turn :P

Cheers mate

No problem

Dave!

I'm just back! Went pretty good!

The way they were doing it here was they interviewed everyone there and the successful ones went onto the role-play. They didn't ask alot about my CV in the interview, but they had prepared questions. They asked about a difficult task, and an abusive customer, so thanks for the heads up Had prepared spiels for those.
They said that the role-play was then to see if you would be better as a customer service person or an active sales person. There was only 3 other people doing it at the same time as me, so wasn't too bad. I was up first! And there was no sheet allowed But you were allowed to bullshizzle a good bit, it was just to see if you could sell, not if you know the spec off by heart.

So within 10 days I'll get a letter to tell me how I did......... Fingers crossed!

Thanks again, really helped with the preparation!

ntlbell

sounds like one seriously long drawn out awful process for one fairly sh|t job

Sad Professor

ntlbell wrote:

sounds like one seriously long drawn out awful process for one fairly sh|t job

Agreed. I was thinking of applying to them for a part-time job but hearing this has turned me off. I assume this is all a cheap attempt to combine the interview and training process. Another company who's HR department is out of control.

Off-topic, but does anyone know what Virgin Megastore are like to work for?

Dave!

Yeah all of this for <9euro per hour!!! :eek: Bag of arse

I guess it's a popular place to work, judging by the amount of people there

Nehpets

ntlbell wrote:

sounds like one seriously long drawn out awful process for one fairly sh|t job

Exactly why I didn't even bother going

rejkin

i was going to go but turned out there was no point,all the places locally i wanted to work in where full so if i did go and got a job they would probably give me somewhere miles away from where i live and at the amount they pay you its pointless bothering