Going for a job interview - EEK!

[Nadine216]

:goodluck2:

Hope you get hired!!!!

[Lulu]

OOhh OOhh I'm good at this - can you tell me what field you are getting into?

[Nai]

What sort of company/job is it for as they will have different questions/procedures depending on what it is? Example government jobs have very rigid procedures and ask a lot of behavioural based questions (the ones where they say "Give me an example of a time when you have done xxxx")

They are not allowed to ask you any questions about your carer status or how you are going to look after your children etc. However, it is probably a good idea to explain on your resume why there is a gap in your employment ie. that you have been on Maternity Leave for the last 9 months. There is definitely a fine line between being honest and upfront and providing too much information that isn't required.

[Ngala]

Sushee - thanks

Lulu and Nai - Its a Personal Assistant job for a Property Developement company that is home based, so it could just be one or two people in the company, not too sure about that one. My previous position was an office administrator. So I dont really have experience as being a personal assistant, but in my office administrator role, I worked very closely with regional managers and did consider myself a personal assistant but didnt have that title.

Nadine - haha thanks!! Not sure if I want to be hired by this place or not as it is 40km away from home, but its the career I want to get in to and its only 3 days a week and its in an upper class suburb, so it'll be a tough decision if I do get hired!!

[Nai]

Ok so they may not have a lot of experience in interviewing and probably won't be overly structured in the interview. They will probably ask you things about your skills and experience ie. what you have done in previous roles and how you can apply these skills to this role.

Is the role a new position that they have created or is it one that someone has been doing previously?

[sushee]

Not previously having that job title does not mean you don't have the required skills to get the job. You need to the think in the mindset of someone who has lots to offer, and that they should hire you because you can exceed their expectations (and you can!) and whatever you can't do, it will take no time at all for your to learn. Passion for what you want to do plays a big part too.

[Ngala]

Nai, I am not too sure if its a new position or not. But I guess the not having much experience in an interview could be an advantage, or maybe a complete mess! LOL

Should I bring a copy of my resume to the interview even tho I emailed it to the company? And when giving referees, do I just give name and number or what position they what in the company I worked with them? Cause the referees I am using have all moved out of my current company

[Lulu]

They will probably be as nervous about presentation as you.

"Have you worked in a small company before?" Betcha get that one. They might ask about your flexibility, so have anwers ready for that one too. I didn't like to appear "too" flexible as I have found in the past employers can take that as - we can call you in whenever we like...

I wouldn't worry about being out of the workforce for awhile, I bet they are expecting lots of mums interested in the hours anyway.

[Nai]

Take a copy with you even if it's just for yourself. If you are nervous it is often good to have it there with you to refer to if you need to. Also go prepared with a number of questions about the role - you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you!

With referees, don't give them until they ask for them and also check with your referees before letting anyone call them to make sure that they are happy to be a referee and that they are available (ie. not overseas etc). Give the name, number, previous working relationship and current role.