Come With Me Through My Keyhole (Interview Tips & Advice)

Member Name: Sexy Kay

Product:	Interview Tips & Advice
Date:	06/06/02 (409 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gets you employment

Disadvantages: May not get you employment

Hello, good evening and welcome (apologies for the silly voice).

Come with me through my keyhole and remember ...

The clues are there ...

I was nervous, I have to admit it. It was strange as normally I'm quite relaxed and at ease with life, but this was different. "Are you sure this suit looks okay", I asked my BoyFriend for the umpteenth time.

I knew I had to look as well as feel right. I was wearing my new charcoal suit, high neck shirt, very small studs in my ears, hardly any perfume - just a smidge, and a thin gold bracelet (there were a few other bits as well, but I'll leave those to the imagination). Simple and professional was what I was looking for. "Oh God, my heels! Are they too high?"

"You look fine, perfect for interviews", said BF and then he started to smile.

"What's wrong, what's wrong?" I shouted in a panic.

"It's just you with a brief case", he answered, "The times you've taken the pee out of me about mine - but look at you now. You'll be okay, honest", and he gave me a hug.

I knew I ought to be alright. I'd spent all of the previous evening going over every possible question. I'd learnt the company backwards and inside out. I'd obtained information on virtually every aspect of the job that had been advertised. I had gone through everything I could think of, nothing had been left to chance. I'd run it all through my head a dozen or more times and had even laid out my clothes ready, before I went to bed. Planning was everything I told myself. I felt confident I'd done as much as I could, but I still had butterflies in my tummy.

Never mind.

I kissed BF on the cheek and was gone. It wouldn't do to be late after all that preparation. I'd left plenty of time for my journey, just in case there were any delays or hold ups.

A
s expected I arrived well before I needed and went through my notes once more for luck.

9.15 a.m. Big breaths (yeth and I'm only thixteen), must keep my sense of humour. A buzzer on the phone went and I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Your 9.15, John Smith, is here Ms.Kay. Shall I send him in?"

"Please, Angie."

Yes, that's right! Can you believe it? I was doing the interviewing. Little old me. This felt so wierd, unbelievable, crazy ... strewth, what did I know? Sure I'd been on courses and 'sat in' on interviews but this little lot was down to me. Gulp!

The first interview went alright. I started out as I wanted: shook hands, big smile, looked him in the eye and commenced with the usual small talk to put him at ease. He was your Mr.Average, didn't stand out, and wasn't what 'we' were looking for. My remit - I'm even sounding like one of 'them' now - was to interview those who seemed worthwhile, following receipt of the applications and CVs, and to whittle them down to three, four or five possibles for a second interview with two big cheeses (plus me again).

Interviews can follow several formats. There can be a panel, it can be a one to one (as I was doing), a series, or sometimes even group sessions - for a lucky few! Interviewers all have their own techniques. Some pummel you with questions non stop while others start out with an 'open' question such as, "Tell me about yourself", and let you chat away - and maybe even hang yourself. Me? I decided to be somewhere between the two extremes and to follow my nose. I wanted to try and create a relaxed atmosphere edging towards the informal.

I had my plan and aimed to cover the seven main sections*, that I had been taught, during the interviews: Physique, Attainments, General Intelligence, Aptitudes, Interests, Disposition and Circumstances. I just had to pull the
right questions out of the hat to get the info I needed, simple really! I had a few stock questions written down in case I got stuck or dried up (heaven forbid!) You know the sort of thing: Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team? Where do you want to be in five years time? What are your leisure interests? What is your greatest weakness? How do you cope with pressure? I was hoping though, that I could avoid using these and get what I wanted by other means. After all, anyone worth their salt would have worked out in advance answers to such questions.

Angie knocked and popped in. "You'll love the next one", she drooled.

He came in. Wow, perfection on legs and when he sat down, his thighs! Good job I'm not writing for Literotica.com. It was the David Beckham syndrome unfortunately. He was a nice guy but had an odd voice and appeared none too bright. He also fell into my trap. I kept switching the conversation back to the subject of his last employer and I caught him off guard. Before he realised what he was saying, he was criticising and running them down. This is a definite 'no no' according to what I've been informed.

If there is a weakness or a problem area it's up to the the interviewer to dig this out. "You've got to get beyond the stock answers", I was instructed, "and find out what makes them tick". I generally like people, so I found this all very interesting, and I was on the look out for any problems or negative aspects to delve into.

One of the things I found strange was that people came in for interviews without any prepared questions, knew nothing about the company and didn't give any indication that they actually wanted the position, unless they were directly asked. Perhaps my inexperience partly contributed to some of this - but I'm not so sure. I always debriefed myself after each interview - well it helps relieve the stress
- and tried to see where I could improve my techniques (for interviewing that is).

The classic was one lovely lady who rolled up in jeans and a sweat shirt (dear, oh dear). I followed my instinct - okay it was pretty obvious - and after a few minutes asked her what her ideal job would be and she replied, "A landscape gardener". She had no real interest in the position at all and admitted that she had only applied because the Job Centre had told her she should. We had a bit of a chat, as I quite liked her, but it was really a waste of time - for her and me.

Pity because she looked good 'on paper', almost a perfect application. Not like the bloke who, where it said 'Sex', wrote 'I do OK'.

I found I could get a good feel about (not of) someone within four or five minutes, and also tended to remember the last few minutes of an interview as well. So to win me over a good start and finish was pretty important. Some tried to tell me (yawn) about how they liked the 'challenge of the job' or that they were 'good with people' but then didn't have anything much else to say to back up their statements, none too convincing therefore. I mean, anyone who is good with people, for example, won't have to tell you they are, it'll be obvious.

For me it was fascinating observing reactions, body language, stock phrases and trying to cover my seven main sections mentioned earlier. Mostly I didn't have to ask specifically about those areas and got the information through general conversation. I did, however, always cover questions on experience, previous jobs (and how they differed to the one applied for) and asked about qualifications.

I was puzzled, amused, and found it difficult to believe how some 'candidates' actually seemed nervous of me just because I sat behind a desk in an office. It was only me, for heaven's sake! If they met me in a pub they
'd chat away quite happily without a second thought. It's strange how we imagine things are at times. One of my friends reckons she does that old trick of imagining the interviewer to be naked when she applies for jobs. She probably doesn't really, but it does get things in perspective. You've have to find a way to give the impression of confidence, but without being arrogant. People, whoever they are, are only ... well, people. Just like you and me.

When I got home after my first day of interviewing my head was buzzing and I slumped in a chair surprisingly exhausted. BF came in after me and I watched him place his brief case next to mine, slightly touching - ahhhhh. It made me wonder about life. Was this what I 'really' wanted? Goodness knows how I arrived here, so far removed from where I once was.

And anyway, who has a job like this ...

;-> Kay

*Very briefly, here is a little more on the seven main sections often covered by interviewers:

1.Physique
Such things as health, appearance, manner, clothes, voice, grooming etc.

2.Attainments
Work experience, educational achievements etc.

3.General Intelligence
As it says, plus quickness of mind, following what is being said etc.

4.Aptitudes
Things relevant to the job, can be verbal, mechanical and other skills such as computers etc.

5.Interests
Hobbies etc. They may effect your work or show a balance or otherwise to life.

6.Disposition
Personality, motivation, introverted or extroverted, aggression etc.

7.Circumstances
Your present life, location, family etc.

When put together they create a picture of the individual and can highlight any strengths or weaknesses relevant to the job description.

I would suggest that you give these areas some thought prior to attending an interview.

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