Job Interview

I have a job interview on Monday with a company that makes high end cookies...basically an entry level position.

I haven't worked in several years due to health complications. So, naturally I'm very nervous and unsure of myself.

These are some of typical interview questions and/or difficulties that I need your assistance with:

1. I may need to take time off to attend medical appointments. What do I say to my boss?

2. Describe a situation where you resolved a problem at work. I have two examples: first, I had a supervisor with a hot and unpredictable temper. I ended up resigning because of her behaviour. Second, I was a classroom assistant. The teacher was away for the day and left a large amount of work to be done. I finished it in less than a day...all work was done accurately. When the teacher returned the next day we had a laugh over it because she assumed it would take me days to complete.

*So...I guess I should use the classroom assistant example? N'est pas?

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More to come as the anticipation mounts!

Personally, I would not tell them up front that I needed to take time off for medical appointments. I'd get the job first and then work that out. Good luck on your interview!

1. I may need to take time off to attend medical appointments. What do I say to my boss?

Agree with other comment. Say nothing unless it is going to disrupt work significantly. If it is going to, I'm not sure but maybe be more specific so we can help. Significant would be a full day on a regular basis or 2 hours every day. 2 hours once a week is usually ok if you combine it with lunch (this is what I do). And never use the word "medical". Personal appointment is all you need. If it did get to a point where it would be an issue with time then, if you are in the US, you can use FMLA. But never talk about that on an interview.

2. Describe a situation where you resolved a problem at work. I have two examples: first, I had a supervisor with a hot and unpredictable temper. I ended up resigning because of her behaviour. Second, I was a classroom assistant. The teacher was away for the day and left a large amount of work to be done. I finished it in less than a day...all work was done accurately. When the teacher returned the next day we had a laugh over it because she assumed it would take me days to complete.

What they want to know is whether you were able to get passed a difficult situation. Yes the second is better of the two but both could be better. If you were somehow able to get the work done or found a way to say, manage your day with the difficult supervisor it would be ok you left. If leaving was you only response then it looks like you run away. In my last interview I used a situation that DID NOT work out well but I demonstrated doing something instead of just throwing in the towel. I also showed them I am not ashamed of failure.

On the second... Why did your supervisor think it would take days to finish? What did you do differently to get it done. Iow, it isn't the fact that you got it done. It's what you did to get it done. And if you had time left what did you do with it.

You can also use an example outside of work too. It's good to have a couple in your head.

Hope that isn't too much. Just trying to walk through what the employer is looking for.



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I'm struggling a lot to come up with an interesting yet appropriate problem I've resolved. The classroom example is all that I can think of.

My problems are largely heath related and not getting along with my brother. So out of work situations are difficult to come up with.

My medical appointments would be every month to two month for an hour plus transit. And doctors don't work on weekends or after 6pm.

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Any other do's and don'ts for interviews are very much appreciated!

Good luck on your interview! Your appointments don't sound excessive, so I really would not worry about that.

I've had interviews where I couldn't come up with an answer to a question, usually because I was a bit flustered or taken aback by what they were asking. If you can't think of a problem you've had at work, maybe you can just tell them that you have been fortunate enough to not have had many problems at work.

With your second problem example, is it possible to phrase it in terms of 'I had a really tight deadline that my boss thought was unreachable, but I buckled down and got the work done-- ahead of time.'

Really, though, I would not worry too much. You never know what they will ask you. Being pleasant and friendly is usually more important than the answer to some canned question.

Good luck on the interview (if you haven't already had it -- I am late coming back to this thread!).