help re job interview

whatanidiot

I got a call this morning asking me to attend an interview Wednesday. I'm soooo nervous as I'm never very good at them and just seem to clam up. What kind of questions should I be expecting? Its for a new shop opening up so it's sales assistant work. For example if they ask my weaknesses and strengths what would be the typical answers? I messed up in my last interview as I couldn't "sell myself" when they asked me to, even though I know I'm a good worker I just can't get past my nerves. Any help is really appreciated :D

mikemac1

A stiff drink before the interview calms the nerves

Ok, think about what they want

Timekeeping & reliability: If you don't have this you'll be sacked inside a month. Crucial for the job, have some examples

Teamwork: Give some example of working well in a team as you definitly will be

Accuracy: Have you ever dealt with cash/credit card/ a till before? If not it's grand but show you are sharp and have attention to detail. Treasurer in a youth club maybe?

Confidence: Not realy a question but of course dress smart and be upbeat and friendly.
Think Marks & Spensers, their staff are fantastic always

Weakness: The most stupid question ever :rolleyes:. Something about high standards and not appreciating lax teammates who create pressure on the rest of ye. Whatever you think yourself

Future plans: You want to be a supervisor one day as you enjoy working with a team and training new staff bla bla

Any questions: Have a question prepared. New shop? Expanding? Any plans? New to Ireland? Google a business story, shows you are sharp and up to date :cool:

Now head for another drink

whatanidiot

mikemac1 wrote: »

A stiff drink before the interview calms the nerves

Ok, think about what they want

Timekeeping & reliability: If you don't have this you'll be sacked inside a month. Crucial for the job, have some examples

Teamwork: Give some example of working well in a team as you definitly will be

Accuracy: Have you ever dealt with cash/credit card/ a till before? If not it's grand but show you are sharp and have attention to detail. Treasurer in a youth club maybe?

Confidence: Not realy a question but of course dress smart and be upbeat and friendly.
Think Marks & Spensers, their staff are fantastic always

Weakness: The most stupid question ever :rolleyes:. Something about high standards and not appreciating lax teammates who create pressure on the rest of ye. Whatever you think yourself

Future plans: You want to be a supervisor one day as you enjoy working with a team and training new staff bla bla

Any questions: Have a question prepared. New shop? Expanding? Any plans? New to Ireland? Google a business story, shows you are sharp and up to date :cool:

Now head for another drink

Thanks a million for your reply. Funnily enough the interview is actually in a pub so your first suggestion is definitely something I may have to consider

Enright

DO NOT take a drink in advance! If they smell it you are a goner. Use a natural relaxant if necessary - call to your local chemist rescue remedy does the trick

other than that study the company, talk to someone who works there

Best of luck with it

mikemac1

Enright wrote: »

DO NOT take a drink in advance!

Did you think I was serious?

Missed my smilie

whatanidiot

haha no, I was joking, also had a smile I'm drunk if I even sniff a drink so I'll leave it off :)

Qualitymark

You don't have to be nervous. It's a friendly talk about what you can bring to the job. The person you're interviewing is looking for the best person he or she can hire, and hopefully that's you. Good luck!

bs1907

Always remember to smile. Be confident because you know what yo are capable of. Self confidence is everything.

wylo

Some things that may help for nerves:

1. It never looks as bad on the other side

2. Even if you do look nervous, they wont mind, they expect nervousness, what they dont appreciate is someone who seems to have no interest. So if you are well dressed, smiling, but look awkward and seem nervous you will still be very likeable compare to a cocky confident half well dressed unprepared interviewee.

3. Mini silent pauses due to nerves (ie you clamming up) do not look the same from their point of view. Dont beat yourself up for experiencing the pauses.

4. If you can, try call a friend or a family member for a chat right before the interview, it may put you somewhat in a more relaxed mood.

5. DO NOT FIGHT THE NERVES, as soon as you begin to resist it, it gets worse. Every time your mind says "Oh no im getting nervous here","this will happen..." or "this will be awkward" etc etc it adds to the problem. Honestly, I cant emphasise this enough, as someone who had problems with nerves in these situations for years thats all I ever did. If I had to take one bit of advice from this post and leave out the rest, it would be this point as it really really makes a difference between fearing nerves and experiencing nerves but carrying on anyway.

6. Preparation, preparation , preparation. Just write out all the possible questions you'll be asked, based on suggestions here or wherever else, and have an answer. Try and make the answer as honest and real as possible, that way when you are telling the answer in the interview you wont be trying to recollect a made up story, you will be just recalling a real story so even if you are stumbling it will naturally flow out moreso than a made up story.,

7. Finally, one last suggestion, in hand writing, the night before the interview, and the morning of the interview, write out all the different possibilities that will happen in the interview, be it you not knowing answers, you looking nervous, you answering the questions well, etc etc. And for the negative stuff, write out the worst possible result of that, when you put it in handwriting you will begin to see its not the end of the world no matter what happens. Whether you get the job or not. Its good to write it out.

You may even feel a little strange doing this as it brings out those feelings a bit, but thats the point. Its a sort of clear out that puts it all in perceptive.

In your mind its the huge deal that makes the nerves, when its written out you look at it after and kind of see that its not really that big a deal.

Best of luck.

wylo

Oops, just looked at the dates, the interview was yesterday, sorry op

whatanidiot

Thanks for all the replies guys. Apparently babbling like a fool can get you somewhere....just got the call that I got the job :)