Interview advice please

[Ed209]

aaargh i have a job interview today! it's just for a wee part time job at a hotel near my house.

i've had a few phone calls today about jobs but got really flustered and nervous because i just hate the way people from recruitment agencies are so aggresive

i was offered a job at this hotel a few years ago but turned it down because i had just taken another job in a restuarant and it was closer to my house.

should i mention that? i was thinking it could go in my favour, they've offered me a job once so maybe could make them more likely to offer me a job again?

i just get all worried that people think it's strange i'm leaving a full time office job for a part time job in a hotel... i would genuinley prefer that sort of work though and just hope that they will believe me.

[rachbon]

I wouldn't mention it, it will have no bearing. The interviewer is going to want to make their own mind up on you. You're either the best person for the job, or not. Irrespective of whether they've offered you a job before. If anything it might have a negative impact (although it shouldn't)

Why worry what other people think? Its not strange. There's a lot to get out of working in catering and hospitality.

Edited November 23, 2010 by _rachelbon

[jump]

I wouldn't have mentioned it as there's always the chance of them seeing it as you not being serious about hotel work and may up and leave at any moment.

Edited November 23, 2010 by jump

[rachbon]

I wouldn't have mentioned it as there's always the chance of them seeing it as you not being serious about hotel work and may up and leave at any moment.

[rachbon]

double post

Edited November 23, 2010 by _rachelbon

[Steve P]

Got my first interview in 11 years next week. Bricking it!

[llcoolphil]

Got my first interview in 11 years next week. Bricking it!

[bunique]

Good luck Steve!

[Gre]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but it seemed like the best place. Go gentle with me, I'm very new to this!

Basically its time to move on from my current job - I went there for 2 weeks work experience just after uni, and 6 years later I'm still there and qualified with good experience. My life has kinda stagnated in general in the last year or two, so I'm looking nationally to generally change things - probably looking mostly at London.

I'm looking for a big jump in salary - realistically 50% or more, so I know I'm aiming high. But I'm prepared to wait for the right opportunity to come along.

So... this may seem like a silly question; what do I do about taking time off for interviews? I work in a small firm, so its going to be noticed straight away if I start taking random days off, and I can't exactly explain multiple trips down south as doctors appointments etc. My current bosses have been good to me, and I know I'm going to be leaving them a bit in the lurch when I go, so I just want to go about it the right way

Also, are there any experts on employment contracts about? I'm really not sure on how much notice I need to give;

- my main contract says nothing about time

- my statement of particulars of employment says 'see training contract'

- my training contract (which has ended) says "a period equal to the period of notice required by the Training Organisation to terminate any contract of employment between the Student and Training Organisation"

Any ideas? I don't see it being an issue because of the relationship I have with my bosses, but better safe than sorry before I start putting stupid things on application forms.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Why tell them anything about why you are having the day off? I wouldn't necessarily tell my employer the reason for my having leave. I don't know what you do or how much demand there is in that market but is it realistically going to create an interview every week for the following three months say? Your looking for 50% higher. That in itself may reduce the number of jobs you can apply for anyway.

I'd just take the days off as and when, and if asked innocently what you are doing with the day off then you might want to have a little white lie up your sleeve as you'll hardly want to tell them the truth (at that stage). If they are very clever they'll suss you out anyway whatever you come up with. Might even lead to a pay rise in itself. I worked for a small company years ago, told them I was unhappy, next thing I know it they are giving me a pay rise. The economy was healthy then though.

I don't know about contract law but I personally would give a months notice. No sensible new employer wants to see someone whose prepared to drop their old employer in the sh*t by giving hardly any notice.

I would also wait until you get more replies to your question and see what the common ground is amongst them.

Good luck.

[diddly-dee]

You say that your current employers have been good to you and, as such, i'm assuming that you've been fair with them too (for example, not taking the piss with sick days, staying late if something needed to be done etc. etc.) and, as such, if they are decent they'll understand if you say you feel the need for a change and to move on. I'd be honest with them - it doesn't sound like you hate working for them or there's any animosity so just tell them that you're thinking of moving on as it's best for you. Moreover, that way, you won't feel guilty when you do leave as it's not something you'll be springing on them and i imagine you'll be asking your current employer to provide a reference for you - in which case being honest is the best way IMO. And, you never know, if they don't want you to leave, they may offer you a raise to stay!

The usual notice periods (where it's not specified in a contract) usually depends on how often you get paid - if you're paid weekly then a weeks notice is standard, monthly or 4 weeks or whatever, then the notice is that. Although, if you say to any prospective employer at interview that you don't want to leave your current employer in the lurch and can start in a month then, i think, that would only count in your favour with all parties.

Anyway, best of luck in your attempts.

[Gre]

Thanks for the responses , I'll try and go through in order;

Its not a case of saying 'I want the day off so I can do this', its just very likely that someone will ask what I'm doing - especially if its at short notice. That's just how our office is. I assume big companies don't give you all that much notice before interviews?

I'm an accountant, at the moment in a very small firm in a low-wages part of the country, looking to jump to a big firm/Company in London - so there are a lot of options and opportunities & the money increase is realistic. And I'm generally comfortable at the moment (part of the problem), so I can wait for something that suits me.

Tbh I'm not sure there would be much problem about telling my bosses direct that I'm looking to leave - I don't think it would come as a great surprise, and I'm sure we could work through it for however long it takes. But you're right in that I should probably make up something plausible at least to start. I had my eyes lasered about a year ago, that's one cover.

A month's notice sounds about right from both a contract/ethical point of view, I kinda guessed that but always good to have a second & third opinion.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I have just started sending applications off for jobs in line with what I am studying and aiming to do. However I do casual work to pay the bills for a major company and I was asked if I would be interested in applying for a permanent job. However it would mean doing an apprenticeship and is miles away from my present goals, but it does offer job security which in my 40's would be nice. I would still be able to do my voluntary work as well. Think I may bung an application in and see how far it goes.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Rufus Gwertigan

[feral chile]

I have just started sending applications off for jobs in line with what I am studying and aiming to do. However I do casual work to pay the bills for a major company and I was asked if I would be interested in applying for a permanent job. However it would mean doing an apprenticeship and is miles away from my present goals, but it does offer job security which in my 40's would be nice. I would still be able to do my voluntary work as well. Think I may bung an application in and see how far it goes.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

yeah keep your options open. There's nothing stopping you taking the job for job security while you're still looking for one that suits you in the long term anyway.

Good luck!

[feral chile]

Thanks. I have started to panic a little as I really need to do a specific MSc in Psychology to do what I really really want and many Unis have doubled their fees for post grad courses (I was quoted 6 and a half k at one). When I started my present course I had foolishly made all my calculations on what was available then. The permanent job is a 3 year apprenticeship and the first year is mainly residential. Would then commit properly to that. Its in engineering but I would be able to keep counselling voluntary but as the apprenticeship is aimed at 16 year olds we will see how far I get. I do get a little bitter about the present situation. I made plans that would lead to a role that would have a real benefit to someones life but all the cuts and changes are going to probably halt that. I have never been worried about money in life as long as I have a roof, heat and food. I keep the roof but at the moment I have the weekly debate of heat or food. Sorry just feeling sorry for myself at the moment.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I feel for you - I'd love to get back into psychology myself. Keep finding time for your voluntary work, you never know where it might lead.

[feral chile]

I would say give it a go but money is an issue. To get on the masters I need I BPS recognised degree. As I have a degree I dont get tuition fee help for my Bsc but I get the full maintenance loan of just over 4k which I say my fees with and then work to cover the bills. I have looked at maybe going with the OU and they are looking at charging 5k themselves. Now I dont know about you but I enjoy learning and especially seminars and debates. I think it gives great score for personal development, and I have no problem with a price tag been put on that but now that tag is prohibitive.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

yes same here, I work full time so it's hard to fit in any voluntary work to gain experience, but I have to work full time to pay the bills - it's starting to feel like you have to be affluent if you want to be a counsellor.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Anorexia or a child on drugs is a real life experience. It doesn't matter what their class is - they are staring at the possibility of their child prematurely dying. Privilege, wealth, education etc will be of no comfort whatsoever. However a lot of middle class counsellors actually wont experience these issues and so, although their intent is admirable, they will indeed not know what it actually feels like. Therefore their advice might be somewhat twee.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Anorexia or a child on drugs is a real life experience. It doesn't matter what their class is - they are staring at the possibility of their child prematurely dying. Privilege, wealth, education etc will be of no comfort whatsoever. However a lot of middle class counsellors actually wont experience these issues and so, although their intent is admirable, they will indeed not know what it actually feels like. Therefore their advice might be somewhat twee.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Apologies Rufus, I didn't mean to raise your heckles (is that the right phrase I wonder). I saw a chink of the sarcasm but not the full monty, so to speak. So basically I went off on a different tangent because I felt it was important to state that suffering isn't confined to the working class.

However that leads on to me wondering that if you don't need to have experienced something to be a counsellor then the middle class women (whose daughters wont eat their greens) will be as good as any. Surely their empathy is as valid as the next persons. And if not, why not?

I also understand the t shirt you have. Got one of them myself which I'm not too proud about. I don't think of myself as a hypocrite though. I see myself as a changed person. I'll not crucify myself for an aberration in my life where I got it wrong. I understand that you say your t shirt experience gives you an insight into things which others may not grasp. I'd actually agree with it on numerous levels. However it semi contradicts your statement that you only need empathy to be a counsellor.

I apologise if the above is a bit disjointed. So am I right now. Regards

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Empathy is a thing not many people can get a grasp of in the counselling situation. I work on it akin to how a doctor "measures" pain. They squeeze your bits and ask you to gauge on a scale of 1 to 10. No one person will be the same for the same injury but the doctor treats their level of pain to them. Many people that try to be counsellors put their own experiences and feelings over that of a client. Put really simply you have a client whos pet cat has died. Now this is a fact of life and does not devastate some people. You may have had a cat and was just a little upset by its passing. To you getting so upset as to lose sleep and need to see someone is stupid. But that is your experience of things and that will reflect with the client. Empathy is sitting and listening and encouraging to say more, and then literally sitting in their shoes to understand their pain. You shove your shit out the window. Sometimes your own experience can blinker how is feels for someone else. Off topic but my ex had 5 kids. Now she would be a terrible midwife as she only had gas and air during delivery and 4 where born at home and the smallest was 9 and a half pound and the biggest 12. Through her experience she used to take the piss of mums needing loads of pain relief. That is essentially the same reason why experience does not necessarily qualify you for counselling if you get what I mean.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Your last example does indeed speak volumes as to why experience doesn't necessarily qualify you for counselling. I understand it takes a specially skilled person to be a good counsellor. And by that I don't just refer to academically skilled. It must be hard to throw your own shit out of the window while listening (and empathising) with someone opposite you. I'll admit it, to me they'd just be droning on. I couldn't do it to save my life. I guess I'm missing the payback angle whereby the reward is helping someone to get to a 'better place'.

[feral chile]

Your last example does indeed speak volumes as to why experience doesn't necessarily qualify you for counselling. I understand it takes a specially skilled person to be a good counsellor. And by that I don't just refer to academically skilled. It must be hard to throw your own shit out of the window while listening (and empathising) with someone opposite you. I'll admit it, to me they'd just be droning on. I couldn't do it to save my life. I guess I'm missing the payback angle whereby the reward is helping someone to get to a 'better place'.