Interview Help

Stepping Stone

I applied for a job in a large, multinational and now I have an interview. The role is a technical one.

The job description and advertisement were quite difficult to understand in a way because they were filled with references to the company values and it was very difficult at times to understand exactly what they wanted (as an outsider). The competencies were not given as detailed descriptions but were almost masked by jargon and company values, if that makes sense.

It took an awful lot of work, but I worked it out and applied. Since I have an interview, I assume that I correctly distilled the meaning from the ad.

Anyway, I have received a list of questions that I need to prepare answers for the interview but again, these are so swamped in company values and business speak that I am struggling to understand what they are asking (ironically, they are described as questions but are in fact a series of statements).

Now I am panicking. If the interview questions are as obscure as the ones that I have to answer, I know that I will struggle to understand the question and I will make a mess of it. Can anyone offer any advice? I know that I should have expected it, but I cannot get my head around how they are phrasing everything.

To give a little context, every question contains at least five company values that need to be incorporated and there are company specific phrases used, so the meaning is not immediately clear.

Mr. Loverman

Relax. I can assure you 100% the technical guys interviewing you think those company values are complete arse. (The HR person probably won't admit she feels the same).

I see nothing wrong with saying the questions were a bit hard to understand due to the company values languages used heavily throughout, but this was how I interpreted them.

Just try your best...

Mr. Loverman

Btw, are two of the values simplicity and trust?

Stepping Stone

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Btw, are two of the values simplicity and trust?

Thanks. I am so nervous about it now. Yes, now you mention it...

Mr. Loverman

I know the company. Literally no one takes that stuff seriously. I would even say the tech guys have a very cynical attitude towards it. Don't worry...

Stepping Stone

Thanks. I was just so thrown by it. I have never worked so hard at an application before. Fingers crossed, my knowledge and experience will show.

Mr. Loverman

The person writing the job spec was told to put that stuff in it. Believe me it's as bizarre to him/her too.