Interview tomorrow

Mine was in Northumberland avenue. Very intimidating! I was also surprised when I got it.

My Dad occasionally had to interview people when he worked for customs and excise. Years ago, at the time of the new legislation about gender discrimination, he found himself asking a young potential secretary what she thought about the sex act! - whoops!

My Civil Service interview was in Somerset House and it was more than a little intimidating to walk into a massive room with a very long table at one end. Four men were seated along the length and all eyes were on me as I walked to the chair placed in front of them. I can remember them asking me about the Bronte sisters - presumably because I came from Yorkshire - but little else. I must have done alright though as I got the job and had many mainly happy years working in the Inland Revenue!

Phoenix

Thought you might enjoy this

I was bemused by the bottom right hand one until I read the article!

Well, I think I may have cocked it up

I arrived in plenty of time, parked in the right place and trudged uphill in wind and rain. I went to reception (got it right first time, I have been known to be in completely the wrong place) and let them know who I was and why I was there. The reception person phoned through to let the bods know, and then handed me a questionnaire type thingy. It had several sections, each with various statements with a box next to them. I went gaily through it, ticking the ones that I identified with.

I tried to give it back to her, but she said to keep it and give it to James when I went in. I then went in. 2 jolly nice chaps, one of whom was James. I gave him the thingy. He looked at it and said I had done it wrong, I was supposed to award a total of 10 marks to each section, giving scores against the answers that I thought were most like me.

Having ably demonstrated that I was incapable of reading and following instructions, we progressed to the talking bit. I think that went ok.

It's a two stage interview. I get the feeling that I may be out of the running.

merlot

This sort of thing should not be just handed to you in reception when you are nervous. Someone should sit you at a table, explain what to do and check you are doing it correctly before they lave you to it. Sloppy. If they really liked you they might give you another go at it.

This sounds like a lazy way of getting information. I'm surprised they didn't get you draw smiley or sad faces as well, phoenix

They obviously can't be bothered to read people's comments.

I agree with JessM, that was no way to treat you. Hopefully the interview went well.

If you filled it in wrongly, maybe you were not alone.

The impression I got was that James (young, Business Degree etc) liked that sort of thing, but Rob (older, and more senior) didn't set much store by them.

But even if that was the case, failing to read and follow instructions was NOT a good first impression!

Still, I should know by COB tomorrow if I have scraped through, but I doubt it somehow.

These sort of questionnaires are complete nonsense. I have cooked one before - at uni, I did I psychometric test and deliberately made myself out to be totally neurotic just for the hell of it!

Does that mean I AM neurotic??!!

I think that was all a bit rude and unprofessional and not the way to impress potential employees. I agree with Jess. Chin up, all might yet be well.

Oh dear - what my daughter would describe as a 'schoolgirl error'. (That's what she said to me when I went swimming last week and forgot to take a spare set of underwear to wear afterwards - having changed into my cossie at home before I went.)
Still; there is still hope phoenix and perhaps they overlooked it on account of your natural charm and vivacity, not to mention your amazing skillset, wealth of experience and sheer dogged persistance. It's not all over until it's over. [determined optimism emoticon]

I think I know which questionnaire it was and it is not meant for recruitment/ selection. Designed for increasing team awareness of different roles. Humph.

Oh dear, you have made me laugh, esp. GA

Mr P is of the opinion that it matters not a jot because the pay is so low, but strictly entre nous, if I was offered it I would take it, because it is much more "me" than the present one.

JessM not sure if it was one that young James may have designed/compiled himself, being a keen young graduate sort of person!

ga.

OMG it was a scruffy thing was it.
Actually mishap they are not all nonsense. Useless ones do exist, normally the ones that are cheap or free. Those that are used by licences practitioners are a very different matter and some of them include lie detectors . So there.
But seriously, I have been using a few of them for years and they can be incredibly useful if used correctly by someone who has had the right training.

But it is usually easy to see where they are leading and to choose the most suitable answers. Or do you not agree?

Well if they have a lie detector scale you can come out as too good to be true...
Some are much better researched than others and tend to be more reliable and valid.

I did notice that one question in one of the sections was remarkably similar/almost identical to one in one of the other sections, so perhaps that was a trap? (I made sure that I allocated the same number of marks to both, so as not to appear somewhat schizophrenic!)
Well, that's what the voices told me to do.


(Quick disclaimer in case I'm accused of any sort of un PC comment there, actually I regard myself as having mental health issues, so there! (pokey out tongue emoticon!)

phoenix put your tongue away and go to bed before you get yourself into hot water! Don't you have a job to go to in the morning?

Well actually no, GA ! With thanks to whoever and all the saints, I'm not needed tomorrow! (Was only told this at 4.30 today, as in "can you come in on Friday, as it would be a good opportunity to see how we do check-ins, and we don't need you tomorrow"

Suits me, I've got plenty to do (although no guarantee that I will actually do it, i.e. housework, bit more of my course work.......

Slacker!