General Interview, Questions, Hints & Tips.

TallGlass

Just gonna start this off, not sure if it's been done before. Went to an interview earlier. Didn't go the best, I knew it wouldn't but was doing it out of experience anyway. What I found from it some questions that stuck.

Tell me about your CV?

Me sitting there with no copy of my CV had to go over it in my head, thankfully I had a good idea what was on it. But have a good idea what this means, I gave a brief overlay of my employment history. Unsure if it's allowed but bring a copy of your CV.

Have you ever visited our stores?

I had not, but I could tell them where they had stores. Bit of a pit fall for me here, should have got some intelligence on history. Where, when and who started it would have been a good way to answer this question.

If we had a position available in another store would you be willing to travel?

I live about 45/60min away from the other store and made an utter hash of answering this question. Said it would depend on the salary and if it would be worth my while leaving my position now if I got less with regards fuel traveling.

Any questions you would like to ask me/us?

Asked about salary, turnover. Was told he would discuss salary should I get an offer and wouldn't disclose turnover, so I just asked would the store be busy and would there be targets for staff. Could have handled this much better.

The multi-choice question.

Your at the desk, customer in front of you, sale rep beside you, telephone starts ringing and a courier comes with a delivery. What order would you do this in?

I went with; Customer, Telephone, Courier and then Rep.

Feel free to add any of your own in.

Also if you work for a large company, don't expect that too be a good thing. I got a good grilling over workers from my company been utterly useless in there company, as they couldn't handle anything without calling for someone else.

T-K-O

1. You should really know your CV like the back of your hand.

2. That is basic researching of the company.

3. You need to be more creative in dodging such questions, discussing salary here shows a lack of interest (from the employers perspective). I would have said yes and discussed further once you received an offer.

4. Never ask about salary at this stage. Ask about training, promotions etc.

5. I would have gone with telephone first, put them on hold and deal with the customer, I guess it depends on the business

TallGlass

T-K-O wrote: »

1. You should really know your CV like the back of your hand.

2. That is basic researching of the company.

3. You need to be more creative in dodging such questions, discussing salary here shows a lack of interest (from the employers perspective). I would have said yes and discussed further once you received an offer.

4. Never ask about salary at this stage. Ask about training, promotions etc.

5. I would have gone with telephone first, put them on hold and deal with the customer, I guess it depends on the business

All learning I guess and experience for me. I don't get why employers keep salary such a secret. I rather it be out there. I want to know, I am not working in a company for the good of my health. I wanted to know it because I won't be leaving my current role if it's less or not worth leaving. So I don't want to waste there time. I wouldn't be applying if I wasn't interested either.

T-K-O

TallGlass wrote: »

All learning I guess and experience for me. I don't get why employers keep salary such a secret. I rather it be out there. I want to know, I am not working in a company for the good of my health. I wanted to know it because I won't be leaving my current role if it's less or not worth leaving. So I don't want to waste there time. I wouldn't be applying if I wasn't interested either.

That makes perfect sense chatting on here or with friends but that's not how it works. There is a certain protocol, like it or not.

Speaking from my own experience, it took 3 or 4 interviews before I was comfortable with the process.

To be honest, the above are bread and butter type questions, you need to nail those questions and focus on the technical aspects of the jobs / selling yourself.

TallGlass

T-K-O wrote: »

That makes perfect sense chatting on here or with friends but that's not how it works. There is a certain protocol, like it or not.

Speaking from my own experience, it took 3 or 4 interviews before I was comfortable with the process.

To be honest, the above are bread and butter type questions, you need to nail those questions and focus on the technical aspects of the jobs / selling yourself.

No, I understand it's a protocol but I think it's mental to think it's bad to ask about salary.

I will have them nailed, could count on one hand the amount of interviews I have done. I won't let myself get shot in the foot again like that, two nice fellas in fairness. But I be naive to think it went anywhere.

Was a new venture too forgot on the way out to wish them best of luck suppose you could add that in too !