Job interviews today!

Haych

So I have the afternoon off work and have two job interviews!

The first is at 1:00PM, and is a second stage interview for a specialist manufacturing company, the second is at 4:00PM but is only fist stage and is for a financial services provider.

I want the first job the most purely for the location as it's far easier to get to (it's also a good job) but the second is also a good opportunity to which I'm probably better suited, but a bit more difficult to get to and would tip my work life balance the wrong way if I'm honest.

Wish me the best and should anything happen I'll update you in the coming days!

For the second interview I've been told to prepare a few questions to ask the hiring managers, if anyone has any good suggestions as to what's a good question to use then by all means comment below  I have a couple of standard questions that I like to ask but can't hurt to have new ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Paul7926

If it's financial services you could go all topical and ask how brexit effects them and any plans they have put in place for different outcomes.  Not exciting tho.....

Anyway Good Luck with both.

Sporky

Preparing questions always feels a bit odd to me - it's more reactive, because they might answer everything you thought of, leaving you looking like an unimaginative chump!

The trick is probably to make them quite "open", so questions about management style, typical day, what do they think makes them a good bunch to work for. Basically take all the horrible open questions they'll probably ask you and turn them around - it's not an unreasonably bet that that sort of place loves that sort of thing.

BRISTOL86

One question that I ask which always seems to go down well is something along the lines of ‘if you were to appoint me, what would you be looking for in the next 6-12 months as evidence that you made the right appointment’. 

Haych

Paul7926 said:

If it's financial services you could go all topical and ask how brexit effects them and any plans they have put in place for different outcomes.  Not exciting tho.....

Anyway Good Luck with both.

Oh, that's quite a good one, I hadn't thought of anything associated with Brexit but I'll take that one along with me, thank you!

Sporky said:

Preparing questions always feels a bit odd to me - it's more reactive, because they might answer everything you thought of, leaving you looking like an unimaginative chump!

The trick is probably to make them quite "open", so questions about management style, typical day, what do they think makes them a good bunch to work for. Basically take all the horrible open questions they'll probably ask you and turn them around - it's not an unreasonably bet that that sort of place loves that sort of thing.

Likewise, any questions I usually and naturally have are usually answered within the course of the interview anyway so I normally have very little to add.

My stock questions are; what would you expect from the successful candidate within the first three to six months of employment?  and.... How would you describe the culture of the business?  which is deliberately vague as to make them think and, not so much catch them off guard, but prompt them to interpret "culture" as they wish.

I try to play an active part in any interview, I don't just see it as a question and answer session, so I try to respond with my own questions ad hoc depending on the topic of conversation at that point.  I don't try to take over but I do try to be as much in control as the persons hosting the interview.

Haych

BRISTOL86 said:

One question that I ask which always seems to go down well is something along the lines of ‘if you were to appoint me, what would you be looking for in the next 6-12 months as evidence that you made the right appointment’. 

Haha, I think we must have hit the 'post comment' button at exactly the same time dude.  I've just mentioned a similar question that I usually ask up there ^ lol

Jimbro66

Haych said:

I want the first job the most purely for the location as it's far easier to get to (it's also a good job) but the second is also a good opportunity to which I'm probably better suited, but a bit more difficult to get to and would tip my work life balance the wrong way if I'm honest.

Bearing in mind your thread in BCD a couple of weeks ago @Haych do you really want a job that 'tips your work life balance the wrong way'? It sounded to me like you already had a fairly stressful situation. Just sayin'....

Anyway, all the best. I hope the interviews go well for you.

Haych

Jimbro66 said:

Haych said:

I want the first job the most purely for the location as it's far easier to get to (it's also a good job) but the second is also a good opportunity to which I'm probably better suited, but a bit more difficult to get to and would tip my work life balance the wrong way if I'm honest.

Bearing in mind your thread in BCD a couple of weeks ago @Haych do you really want a job that 'tips your work life balance the wrong way'? It sounded to me like you already had a fairly stressful situation. Just sayin'....

Anyway, all the best. I hope the interviews go well for you.

Fair comment but as my father used to drum into me, I have nothing to lose by finding out more information, which is how I tend to view interviews.  If the role is offered I'm not obliged to accept and it's all an information gathering thing at the moment, after which I'm better able to make an informed decision, should I need to.

Thanks for your input though, always appreciated.

jellyroll

Whether or not you have questions, that winding down part of the interview is a great time to say how much you like the sound of the job and that you are very enthusiastic to take it on. Good luck! 

quarky

Something like:

"Based on the interview and what you know about me so far, do you need any additional information or claification before offering me the role"

That will give you a good indication of how they feel, and hopefully help them see you working for them.

Haych

Interview #1 went very well, I thought. Fairly relaxed meeting, could easily have that conversation over a pint. 

I’m less enthused about it now though but maybe it’s just an overload of information to digest. 

I’m in the cafe next door to interview #2 taking in my first calories of the day. I have half hour to compose myself and relax a bit. It’s not a terrible location as I thought but still a bit is-it-feasible. 

mbe

Ask about scope for career progression. Good luck.

Haych

........ aaaaaaand that’s interview #2 done. This one was a bit more structured with two guys asking a set of scenario based and technical questions. 

It didnt go badly but I did flounder on a couple of technical questions, I’m a bit annoyed about that - I knew the answers but couldn’t make my brain work at the time. Overall it was still a good interview though, I’ve had far worse. 

Now it’s just a case of waiting. 

Phil_aka_Pip

Good luck.

I usually ask if there's a subject about which they're thinking: "why hasn't he asked about that?"

Iamnobody

Haych said:

So I have the afternoon off work and have two job interviews!

The first is at 1:00PM, and is a second stage interview for a specialist manufacturing company, the second is at 4:00PM but is only fist stage and is for a financial services provider.

They do ask so much of candidates these days don’t they...

Glad to hear they went well - they second one sounded painful.

Foster

I tend to ask "what's the turnaround rate of staff for the past year?". No point in joining a company if people are leaving like rats on a sinking ship

jdgm

I'm a bit late but I hope it turns out good.

Best wishes to you.

ESBlonde

I have asked 'what is the question you're hoping I won't ask'?  That puts them in an uncomfortable position and makes you feel assertive. Not appropriate in all scenarios so choose your moment.

TheMarlin

I’m my last interview, I asked ‘why wouldn’t you give me the job?’.  That put them in the back foot, they then admitted they were going to offer it too me anyway. Was the fourth floor interview.

it’s a great question to ask, it uncovers your perceived weaknesses, and gives you one last opportunity to address weaknesses one last time, and strengthen your position.  

thermionic

Foster said:

I tend to ask "what's the turnaround rate of staff for the past year?". No point in joining a company if people are leaving like rats on a sinking ship

I once asked in an interview, how many people worked there - it was a massive site but very few cars in a vast expanse of car park out front. The answer they gave was "well, we've had to let a lot of people go* recently." I didn't get the job and probably glad I didn't. The site closed shortly after, although I think the company is still going on a tiny scale.

(* I don't think the people wanted to be let go)

Haych

I’ve not heard anything regarding interview #1 yet, but that was quite surreal anyway - not sure whether I expect to or not. 

However, interview #2 seems to have gone well as I’ve been informed they want to see me for a second stage interview. 

Happy days!