First interview for nearly a decade, what will I have forgotten?

[tommers]

My advice is that when I interview people I want somebody who is genuine. As soon as somebody starts giving prepared answers I turn off. I don't care about that. That's just testing how well they can prepare for an interview. I want them to be honest. I want to actually find out something about them. Your cv shows your experience, the interview is about finding out who you are. To be honest I hate them, I think they're artificial but you can at least test how people would respond to certain situations. I try to make them as informal and relaxed as possible, which is kind of futile cos they are still interviews, but I'll at least give up something about myself to try to get the same from the candidate.

Sorry, that probably isn't much help but I guess relax, be honest, be yourself. If it's a startup and they need help then they'll want somebody who can slot in straight away and get on with the person interviewing.

 

[tommers]

Thanks, I was trying to remember!

I definitely plan to play on 'I worked the hardest three months of my life as we transitioned to digital while suddenly at home with no support and two people on furlough, while also covering half of someone else's job and home educating two kids' thing where appropriate

That's exactly what I would want to hear about. That's a great thing to talk about.

 

[Wolveryeti]

I have a first phone interview for a job - first interview in nine years, possibly as soon as tomorrow afternoon. What sort of shit will I have totally forgotten about that I need to do/say in an interview, eg what have you kicked yourself about after going to a first interview for a while?

Also 'phone screens' have become a thing since I last interviewed, what should be my key things to get across? This is a comms role with a now fairly established startup in my field. It's kind of marketing-y, like a lot of the sort of roles I could apply for, though I am not really a marketing person. I have worked closely with marketing types on content though. I know a lot about their field and apparently their difficulty in recruiting has been finding someone who really knows the area.

Make sure you are prepped for the basics - why they should hire you, why joining them. Also obvious curveballs e.g. what are your weaknesses.

If it is a job you really want, I would advise researching their mission and target market and being prepped to come in with some concrete insights into what the company has been doiing badly/well of late.

 

[seeformiles]

I’ve had a couple of interviews in the last 3 months after a long gap and everything was pretty informal as opposed to trying to strike terror into my heart. Even though both were face to face I took along my own notes with examples of everything they stated in the job spec. In your 50s it’s silly to think you have to remember every instance from 30+ years. Best to be over prepared and not need to use it. There was none of that “strengths & weaknesses” or “where do you see yourself in 5 years time” rubbish and I got the feeling that they took my experience and skills as read and were more interested in my personality and whether I’d be a good fit for the team. I got offered the job in both instances. In the case of the second one (the one I accepted) the boss said he picked me because he liked my accent and had a good feeling about me when we actually met. I suppose there are worse reasons to get a job!
Anyway, that’s my ten bobs worth so good luck!

 

[Cloo]

Yeah, I believe in taking notes with - I did that when interviewed for current job. After all, it's not a memory test! I will be pinning notes behind screen on some key points/have some on desk. I think it'll be mainly about showing understanding of them and an overview of my skills/personality - I suspect any competence-based stuff would be on a subsequent interview.

Interview is Friday morning, so time to prepare although I'm not going to overdo it - also will check Google meets on my laptop with husband before then; I don't have a great camera or mic but can use headset for latter. Luckily quite quiet this week, so although I'm in office on Wednesday I can prep on Thursday.

 

[Teaboy]

Most of the important stuff has already been covered but I don't think the basics change. Do your research first about the company and the role. Have questions prepared for them, its a two way process and you're interviewing them just as they are you. Take notes and try to avoid being put on the spot, if you don't know tell them you need a bit more time to think about it or get back to them.

Fortunately it does seem that formulaic interviews with stupid 'off the shelf' questions are not as common these days, unless that is the interview is being led by HR in which case warning bells should already be sounding.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

My advice is that when I interview people I want somebody who is genuine. As soon as somebody starts giving prepared answers I turn off. I don't care about that. That's just testing how well they can prepare for an interview. I want them to be honest. I want to actually find out something about them. Your cv shows your experience, the interview is about finding out who you are. To be honest I hate them, I think they're artificial but you can at least test how people would respond to certain situations. I try to make them as informal and relaxed as possible, which is kind of futile cos they are still interviews, but I'll at least give up something about myself to try to get the same from the candidate.

Sorry, that probably isn't much help but I guess relax, be honest, be yourself. If it's a startup and they need help then they'll want somebody who can slot in straight away and get on with the person interviewing.

That's why I prefer to write my interview notes in bullet points, rather than write a paragraph/write myself a script, so I merely use it as a reminder/prompt instead of dry and stilted delivery of exactly what's written.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

I went for a job interview a while back, my first one for some twenty years. On the surface I was all calm and collected, but I came out with a couple of really naff replies to questions at the start. When I realised, I explained my nervousness to them and asked if we could start again. They were fine with that and all went OK from that point onwards. Still didn't get the job though. Who wants to live in Ilfracombe anyway?

 

[Cloo]

That's why I prefer to write my interview notes in bullet points, rather than write a paragraph/write myself a script, so I merely use it as a reminder/prompt instead of dry and stilted delivery of exactly what's written.

I'm all about the bullet points!

Found a webinar with their md speaking that is the sort of thing I'd watch for research anyway, so will look at that, and spend Thursday diving deeper into their online content.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

also (possibly stating the obvious) can be worth trying to find the interviewer/s on linkedin etc, to get a better idea where they are coming from, what might appeal to them and so on

 

[Riklet]

Ensure you find out about the company. Do some research so you drop stuff in casually that impresses. No one wants to interview with not a clue.

Ask politely about the benefits of working there and make clear that your return to the workplace doesn't rely upon them. Someone else will happily snap you up etc.

Doesnt hurt to mention that youre self motivated, good at organising yourself, keen to keep your SEO knowledge cutting edge via YouTube tutorials etc.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Ensure you find out about the company. Do some research so you drop stuff in casually that impresses.

or something like "i see from your website / trade press that you're starting to do this - sounds interesting - can you tell me more?"

can be a good one when they ask if you have any questions for them

 

[shakespearegirl]

Make sure you value your worth and transferable skills. My clients are all in Marketing ans E-commerce and they are struggling to recruit at all levels and said salary expectations have gone up massively over the last 18 months.

 

[Cloo]

Make sure you value your worth and transferable skills. My clients are all in Marketing ans E-commerce and they are struggling to recruit at all levels and said salary expectations have gone up massively over the last 18 months.

Interesting - I guess that's why a lot of these marketing content roles don't appear to be specifying marketing background, they really seem to want the content skills.

I've looked through their site and now I'll be having a look at their social media too.

 

[MooChild]

For questions at the end.

Why is this role now available?
How long did the last person doing this role remain in position?
What will be my first challenges in the 3 / 6 months after starting?

Curveball question if you have doubts about the Org.
If you had a suitably qualified friend, and they asked about applying, would you recommend that they do? (any hesitation here means run away as fast as you can).

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

For questions at the end.

Why is this role now available?
How long did the last person doing this role remain in position?
What will be my first challenges in the 3 / 6 months after starting?

Curveball question if you have doubts about the Org.
If you had a suitably qualified friend, and they asked about applying, would you recommend that they do? (any hesitation here means run away as fast as you can).

Re asking why is the role now available...

I'd read up on interview techniques years ago, when I was an undiagnosed Aspie and wasn't having problems getting interviews based on my CV or application forms, but I wasn't securing the job, so I started reading about interview techniques and trying to improve.

I'd read that asking about the previous incumbent was a good thing to ask the interviewers about, so that's what I did, hoping that they might tell me that the previous person had been promoted, so I'd learn about opportunities for advancement within the organisation or whatever, but their answer threw me. It turned out that the last person had died by suicide. #awkward

It hadn't occurred to me that the previous person in a relatively junior role might've died and that was the reason why there was a vacant post.

Don't want to put a dampener on anyone's interview preparation, more to flag up that there are other possibilities for the post being vacant other than got promoted, or took maternity leave and didn't come back, or left for a better job, ie promotion and payrise in new organisation, etc.

Hopefully, there will be good reasons for the vacancy, I'm just mentioning it in case of similar scenario, or person leaving due to ill health/Covid or whatever, so you're not taken by surprise and taken aback as I was.

 

[contadino]

There are two bits of advice I'd offer.

1 You're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you. Lots of people take jobs in environments that don't suit them and end up unhappy, so make sure you draw them out on working practices, company values, culture, etc.. If it's not floating your boat, don't be afraid to say so and walk away.

2 Engage with the interview. Just chat. They will want you to open up and be honest, and that's what you're likely after too. You'll get to the end and be asked "Is there anything you want to ask us?" If you just pull questions off a list written before the interview it's a bit lame, so make sure you're asking what hasn't already been answered.

Good luck.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Thanks, I was trying to remember!

I definitely plan to play on 'I worked the hardest three months of my life as we transitioned to digital while suddenly at home with no support and two people on furlough, while also covering half of someone else's job and home educating two kids' thing where appropriate

Were I ever to be recruiting, the job is yours. Anyone who can do that can soon pick up other stuff.

 

[RubyToogood]

Personally, the questions I ask in the interview are aimed at making them want to give me the job more. I'll ask the real questions if they offer it.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It turned out that the last person had died by suicide. #awkward

I did start a job a few years back where previous postholder died a few days before I started (although they had left a few months earlier and had started new job by then) which was a bit weird

 

[weltweit]

I watched a video a week or so ago about recruitment, it said that people will hire you if they like you, after all what is the question they ask their co-interviewers after the interview, "how did you like them?" And there may be some truth in it, after all they will have to work with the hire after they are in place.

 

[Cloo]

So, phone chat went well - I think I'll make it to in-person stage. Caught slightly off guard by a policy question which I think i waffled around convincingly to display my subject area knowledge. * Makes note to read Planning White Paper before interview if I get one *.

 

[friedaweed]

So, phone chat went well - I think I'll make it to in-person stage. Caught slightly off guard by a policy question which I think i waffled around convincingly to display my subject area knowledge. * Makes note to read Planning White Paper before interview if I get one *.

Fingers crossed for you

 

[Cloo]

Finally heard back - the lass who interviewed me had had a family bereavement and had to rush back to NZ. It was a no, as my content side was great, but not enough marketing experience. Something I think I'll hear rather a lot. I'll give it a few more punts before I go the whole hog for some digital marketing training, but it sounds like it'll definitely be worth it if I keep falling down on that. Also, will keep applying for senior editorial roles as well, but as I said, there are far fewer of those about.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[seeformiles]

Finally heard back - the lass who interviewed me had had a family bereavement and had to rush back to NZ. It was a no, as my content side was great, but not enough marketing experience. Something I think I'll hear rather a lot. I'll give it a few more punts before I go the whole hog for some digital marketing training, but it sounds like it'll definitely be worth it if I keep falling down on that. Also, will keep applying for senior editorial roles as well, but as I said, there are far fewer of those about.

All good experience though . I’ve had moments in my current job where I’ve thought “If I don’t make it through the probation period (unlikely - unless I monumentally fuck up…), then I can regard it as a 3 month paid training course bringing me up to speed with modern office practices that will give me more confidence and stand me in good stead for similar roles. Onward and upward

 

[Cloo]

Have been offered interview for another role I applied for - it's not as interesting a role as last one but it's potentially a good stepping stone between what I do now and the more numerous marketing content roles.

 

[Cloo]

So they've asked me to do a 5 minute presentation of a time I've exceeded client/internal stakeholder expectations, which is an interesting one. I don't get a whole lot of chance to do that in my role, but the best possibilities I can think of are:

• One article which did especially well, although I can't say that was due to doing anything especially interesting. We and the author's firm just promoted it a lot, so not probably not a very interesting example.
• The whole 'going online in 3 months in lockdown with people on furlough and home educating two kids' things, though I'm not sure we exceeded anyone's expectations other than actually getting it online it time, which no one likely expected and it was a group effort really.
• Final and possibly best one - we had an issue when our very pendantic and hardworking subeditor was basically taking on too much of the work, so there were bottlenecks but he was reluctant to find other solutions as he felt everything would just 'create more work' for him ultimately. I came up with a solution to throw more work back on the team of 5 editors instead, which I thought was fairly obviously but maybe just needed careful explaining and it solved the problem very effectively. I also learned some good things about from a colleague about problem-solving in the process. I think that may be the best one.

 

[moonsi til]

Cloo i interview people reasonably often in a very different field but the first thing I would be asking in my head is why did they manage around the problem? I could be reading your post wrong.

 

[Cloo]

Cloo i interview people reasonably often in a very different field but the first thing I would be asking in my head is why did they manage around the problem? I could be reading your post wrong.

Not quite sure what you mean by that? May be being dim....