h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Best of luck in the interview, VV.

Let us know how it goes

Icy

Yes, lots of VV.

VV is just getting ready for her interview, and has asked me to thank you all for your advice and good luck messages...


lil xx

the answer to the question is

so that in 5 years time when i have some seniority and some numb nuts of a temp screws things up i can ask in a loud dispairing voice

"Why do i work here"

I have been told lots of conflicting advice about interviews, one be your self but not be yourself. Always relax be outgoing but if you are not outgoing then you are not being yourself. Remember to look at the interviewer but not too much, do not use negative body language, smile, and have a good handshake, always have an answer to every question and always have something to ask when they ask do you have any questions to ask, remember all this and act natural is very difficult.

The reasons that I want to work for others is to use my skills to my best ability, to help others and be of service to the company.

The interview seemed to go quite well. Refer to journal for added info.

I have a stinking cold at the moment and just before the lady who was interviewing me came through the door, I had a coughing fit. I used a tissue, but as she entended her hand to shake mine (and I have a very forceful handshake) I had to decline and explain that I had in fact got a terrible cold and had coughed into a tissue that was in my right hand.

She smiled and I thought, "oh pooh".

What she did compliment me on was the fact that I attended the interview even though I was ill. I did explain that it took a lot for me "not" to turn up for work. The usual, death bed, death in the family, right leg falling off, and she laughed rather loudly at that.

She went on to explain that one of the people she had up for interview had telephoned yesterday explaining that she had a cold and could she rearrange the interview for next week (something I was considering doing myself). She was told no outright and told that if she couldn't attend the interview at the time specified then she would not be considered for the job.

I'm so glad I went for the interview, tissue in hand, snuffling away like a badger!

Last time I had an interview with a stinking cold, I made a joke of it and gave little Japanese bows to all the panel instead of handshakes (explaining why...)

Didn't get the job, though.

I was talking about interviews with our MD just before Christmas. He reckons he's made up his mind about a candidate by the time they've sat down.

Mind you, we don't have an HR dept and panel interviews.

<>

I think that's true a lot of the time. You give so much away through body language 'n' stuff just by walking in and saying hello.

Good luck VV

So I have a sort of related question. On an application form for a large technology company, there is a 'job function preferences' section where you can add items from a drop-down list. By default there is one item: 'operations'.

Any ideas what this means?

If I want to do things with computers, should I add 'technical'?

umm, operations is often the people who operate and maintain the network and computer systems, or 'god' as they like to be known

"Why do you want to work here?"
I don't but it looks better than anywhere else in walking distance!