Interviews - how soon would you expect to hear after putting in an application

[shreddies]

Just that really - how soon after you had put in an application would you expect to be called for an interview if they were interested in you?

Does a week sound about right? (it's been 4 days) - nail biting as I really want this job

[flowerybeanbag]

shreddies really depends. If through an agency, you'd expect to hear quickly, if it's a response to an advert, might well be quite a while. Also depends on what kind of organisation it is, what kind/level of job it is and how many people will be doing the shortlisting, has the closing date passed, etc etc

Can you give any more information?

[shreddies]

Yes - it's a response to an advert, closing date was on Tuesday, it's a big independent research organisation - middling grade...

I feel like I'm waiting for the phone to ring after a first date!

[flowerybeanbag]

It's good you're so excited but frustrating waiting isn't it?

If it's a response to an advert, if deadline was Tuesday they won't have started getting applications together until Wednesday, might have been lots of photocopying etc then depending on their shortlisting process, either different people will have to look at them or they might have a meeting altogether, either of which could conceivably take a few days. Or if they were getting loads of applicants there might be an initial 'sifting' where completely unsuitable people are taken out, then proper shortlisting.
I don't think panic just yet..

[shreddies]

Oh I know.....that's just what I needed to hear - some rational thoughts!

[shreddies]

Woo hoo - I got an interview - a week today. Am rather panicked as it will require a lot of preparation and my talkative MiL is coming to stay for the weekend...what do people think are the predictable questions of the strengths/weaknesses type that I should prepare answers for?

[flowerybeanbag]

shreddies hi and congratulations!

This is a different job to the one we emailed about yes?

Am cutting and pasting below from a previous thread so apologise for not tailoring it -



Do you have a job description? If so you should be able to work out a lot of the questions. Have a look at the person spec, where it says what skills/abilities/experience etc the person needs.
You can almost guarantee there will be at least one question related to each of the things listed. Those things are listed because the successful candidate must have them, so the purpose of the questions really is to give the candidate a chance to demonstrate that. Other questions may pop up as well obviously, but it gives you a good framework to start with.

So look at all the things you need to have from the list on the person spec, and think of an example of when in the past you have used x skill or demonstrated x ability. Including background, why the situation was successful, what you learnt from it, whether you would do anything differently etc.

If you've got those examples ready in your head to cover all the things on the person spec, you ought to be able to handle most questions. Talking about a past example rather than a hypothetical 'I would do x, y z' is more convincing and reassuring for an employer and is easier for you as well, you will feel more confident talking about stuff that's happened than you would trying to imagine what you would do in x circumstance.

Even if the questions asked are hypothetical 'what would you do' ones, make sure you answer with examples anyway. Also if you have some examples worked up in your head you will feel more confident as you won't go in completely blank about what you are going to say for the next hour.

Make sure you have some intelligent, relevant questions to ask at the end, a list in case they answer some of them during the interview. It's fine to look at the list to remind yourself. Think of the interview as your chance to work out whether you want the job as well - try and come away having the answers to all the questions you will need to enable you to make a decision should you need to.

Other than that, hold head high, relax your shoulders and neck and keep relaxing them - that's where you find yourself automatically tensing up. Just every so often make yourself aware of your shoulders and neck and consciously relax them - it makes a lot of difference. Wear a smart suit, one you feel comfortable in so you are not worrying about what you are wearing.

_


Good luck!

[mellowma]

Message withdrawn

[flowerybeanbag]

Oh, and to answer your actual question

If they ask you about weaknesses that's a really rubbish question, however they might, so prepare in your head an example of an area for development you had in a previous job. Not a weakness, but an aspect of your job where you felt deeper knowledge or more experience would be beneficial. Explain how you addressed it and how addressing it improved your work. Don't say you are not good at something, say something you needed to further develop and make sure it's something you did something about proactively and can demonstrate how it improved you.

Strengths - you should be able to identify these, look at your last appraisal for some, but make any examples you give relevant to the job - don't say you are wonderful at something which isn't on the job description/person spec, that's all very lovely but is a wasted opportunity to emphasise how you would be best for this role.

[mellowma]

Message withdrawn

[Squiffy]

Re: strengths/weaknesses this always comes up because it is a good question to floor unprepared people with, but I find myself growing very weary when candidates come out with trite answers. I think the best way to answer this in an interesting way is to say something along the limes of "I think that people all have different attributes which one person will see as a great strength wheras another will see it as a weakness... for example..."

you can then fill in with something like the following (obviously will depend on what your own attributes are):-

1. I am a very detailed person so am always really conscientious, but sometimes this can infurriate peope who prefer quick & dirty fixes to their problems
   
2. I am a really great listener and very empathetic, but I think that sometimes people might interpret this as being hesitant to make fast decisions on my own
   
3. I am very highly motivated and career-minded and take a lot of pride in my work, but that also means that I become frustrated if I am unable to see the direct results of my work.
   
   And so on... think of what your strengths are and what the job entails and construct stuff similar to the above which matches your strengths to their needs (eg attention to detail for an admin-type role, ability to mulit-task in a fast-moving role etc). That way the interviewer gets a more interesting answer and you are demonstrating exactly why they need you in the role. You also show that yes, you are a real person with faults, but those faults aren't relavent to the role in question. It turns potentially negative stuff into positive attributes.

[shreddies]

Hallo, thanks all, yes flowery it is a different job and a really good one. That's good advice to go through all the criteria and come up with an example - thanks - and Squiffy, no 2 is EXACTLY what I am like at work so that's helpful too

[flowerybeanbag]

Is it for a similar organisation? In which case email me which one!


[nosey emoticon]

[shreddies]

will do

[shreddies]

Had the interview yesterday -I cameout thinking it had gone really well - and now I keep remembering allthe things I did/didn't do and that I messed up. But I do know that I absolutely did my best and preparing for it in a week during DS's naps was v tough.

Do you think they would have double checked my phone no at teh end of i/v if they weren't interested? I applied for a job at this organisation before and when I didn't get it they notified me by post

Am going to drive myself mad with it all weekend