absolutely terrified

[rainbowbrite]

ok peeps, i need advice, i have a job interview this friday and i'm soooooooooooo scared, all hints and tips will be greatly appreciated

[squashysu]

whats the job for - all depends on what you going after - good luck though x

[rainbowbrite]

drugs education worker for the council. it's an interview, a presentation and a group discussion with some kids, help me squashysu, pleeeease

[squashysu]

ok, so now i know its education - easy peasy!! i take it you know about drugs (not in that way) so thats covered, next they should talk about confidentiality thats cool, you wouldnt open your mouth and would refer to a higher person if someone had concerns.

they may talk "every child matters" have a look at the DFES website, you need to talk about every child being treated in the same way, but being regarded as an individual, meeting their needs and the needs of others.

i dont know if you will have parent contact, but you could be asked about working together with parents and why this is important.

presentation - havent done this yet on my degree course, but done them before (pre-power point) so you can use either flip chart or power point, but take your time, always get people to ask you questions at the end, perhaps give a hand out of what you are presenting, with your details on it, cor lots and lots - get it timed by OH or a friend so you know what you are doing and practice in front of the mirror and always ask for a glass of water, because you may need to stop if you are nervous and they dont mind that.

discussion with kids - take notes, and listen to what they have to say, dont interrupt at all unless its about someone snogging someone else and totally irrelvant and give them good eye contact. Smile and reassure them that you are listening, value you them and tell them that, offer praise for a good question and dont ever correct them if they say something wrong, say to them "good idea, i agree, but perhaps this could help as well", then you are giving them respect, listening and acknowledging them as an individual!!!


can you tell that i work with kids??? even though its nursery, i studied with 0-18 age group! can i help anymore, please let me know and sorry if you know all of this already xx

[rainbowbrite]

that was fab thank you, wouldn't have thought about the glass of water that will be fab. with the kids i'm thinking of doing a quiz, takes the pressure off a proper discussion. sorry to keep putting this on you but you seem so wise

[sharonr]

I was told to think of your interveiwer on the toilet, it relaxes you, and apparently calms your nerves.

[squashysu]

you could do a quiz, but keep it short, they want to see you discussing with kids not asking them questions and just waiting for answers, give them questions and a choice of answers which could all be right and then you can talk about the a, b & c and see where they are with that. hope you understand what i mean, multi choice quiz, but only 3 answers, therefore none of them could get it wrong therefore they all think they are clever and their confidence will soar and good for self esteem! especially if they are connected with drugs some way or another.

does that help?? anything else i can help with, got lots of books here, so can find some answers (hopefully) to any specific questions, also dont forget your list of questions?? not just about pay, time off etc ha ha! think you know this already

i so hope you get it, it would be an interesting job x

[gardening in mind]

what age group are the kids ? good luck by the way keep us posted.

[Kristen]

Anytime I do something that makes me nervous I take three good deep breaths. Something my old man told me just before I had to play the piano in a school concert aged knee-high.

Good luck.

[HeyWayne]

Good luck with it.

I know how you feel - been in this job 6 1/2 years and a little while back I went for an interview which is the hardest I've done yet.

Had a first interview with Market Manager and HR Manager - that went fine, fairly informal.

Called back for second interview.

On arrival I was given three sheets, each with a different market scenario and some basic figures and info about each market. I was then told I would have 45 minutes to put a presentation together that I would have to give to the rest of the team (3 others), the two ladies I'd met previously and the Marketing Director!!!

During my prep time I went to the loo (my stomach rumbles like mad when I'm nervous) at this time the Market Manager came back to see how I was getting on - she thought I'd done a runner, as several people before me already had.


I made sure I had a mint to settle my stomach, glass of water to give me pause time (if you find youself waffling at 3000 words per minute, stop and take a glug of water). Make eye contact with everyone - but don't stare and stay attentive.

Make sure you have a series of questions for the end of the interview - and sound genuinely interested in the job (do some homework if you haven't already).

My downfall was not doing the latter - after the presentation I had a one-to-one interview with the Marketing Director and he tore me apart. I knew hardly anything about the company, he didn't think I was that interested in the job - he was more right than he perhaps realised, I was using the interview as practise.

Above all, try to relax - they may well be as nervous as you, they have to make sure they get the right person for the job after all.

Good luck.

[Headfry]

If you go for a quiz go for a just a few 'open' questions, not closed ones.

closed questions are ones that have a yes or no answer....sorry, guess you know that already.

GOOD LUCK RBB, just be YOU! What time is it due......I will beam you a big hug!

[Winged one]

You've already gotten a lot of good advice here. Just as a general point - relax before you go in. As in - you know yourself that you are well able for this job, so it is just a case of making sure that you let the others know this too. Not cocky - just self belief. Deep breaths, have the water in case, and when you get into the various rooms, take 30 seconds to just stop, take a breath and sit into the chair in a comfortable way - not too relaxed just comfortable and ready to take on the world.

Good luck.

[yoanbob]

Im with winged one, you know you can do the job or you wouldnt be applying, relax and be yourself, they will either see what they are after in you or not, worst case sinario is you dont get the job but will get usfull feedback for next time, if you dont get it there may be a reason and a better job may be just around the corner, so dont fret relax and be yourself.

[Polly Fouracre]

Tell yourself that the interviewers do actually WANT you to get this job.They're not there to trip you up or catch you out.
Stay calm, sit upright and the very best of luck. Bet you get it!!