Recruitment day, confidence needed - any advice appreciated

Jul 22, 2016, 01:00 PM

A quick backstory to explain where I'm coming from:

I left my last job over 6 months ago, it was a pretty steep jump up in responsibilities from volunteering in the same sector, I was working with a very vulnerable client group. Basically I liked the client work but much of the time I was office based which is not at all me, add in we were a new service and my manager chopped and changed what she wanted frequently contradicting herself, switching between being supportive and blowing up in temper at me. I had one colleague who was on long term sick leave most of the time I was in the job and I covered for her, she was the more experienced of us two but I didn't receive any mentoring or guidance because she was not there much. It sounds like I'm making excuses, I do think there were failings on my part, but it was not a good environment for me and I ended up stressed to the eyeballs, worked my notice and went on SSRIs.

Where I am now:

I am doing well on the SSRIs, feeling well and have been applying for very low responsibility basic/minimum wage jobs, not getting interviews or anything promising until today. I got invited to a recruitment day at a supermarket following my application and online tests, so I've read up on how they do these and it seems quite informal, team games, aptitude tests. From what I read the main thing they are looking for are good communicators and a 'light touch', so it's a case of rubbing along well with everyone and being relaxed. It's a stock job so customer interaction will be important.

I'm going to try to be as relaxed as I can, I usually tense up in interview situations, although in my every day persona I'm a smiley kind of person (and get told so), I need that person to come through. I just tense up when I know I'm being assessed.

Any tips on these kind of events?

Any tips on keeping calm and confident?

Also, any thoughts on what I should say if asked about my previous job? So far I'm thinking about saying it was more office based than in the field and this did not suit me (both true) and not mentioning anything about the negative stuff regarding lack of support from my colleague and craziness from my manager.

Ty

Skeezyks · Jul 22, 2016, 03:35 PM

Hello prefabsprout: Good luck with this! I guess I don't have any particular suggestions as far as keeping calm & confident goes.

One of the most important things, I think is to plan ahead with regard to how you will answer the various types of questions you're likely to get. Most interviewers ask similar types of questions. So the questions you've been asked in previous interview situations are likely to be similar to what you'll encounter interviewing for this new job. One thing that is typically suggested is to learn as much as you can about the company prior to your interview so that you can come across as being as interested & knowledgeable as possible.

As far as what to say about your old job goes, yes, you're absolutely on target. Say it was more office than you prefer. There's still likely to be a question as to why you left without first finding another job & why you've been unemployed for 6 months. So you'll need to be ready with answers to these questions. But it is very important to keep it positive. If you go negative, with regard to your former employment situation, this new employer may conclude that you're likely to be negative working for them as well in which case they may be unlikely to hire you.

It's also important not to dwell on what's in the past. Try not to go into too much detail. A good way to handle this is to give a brief answer to the interviewer's question & then ask a question of your own perhaps with regard to opportunities for advancement or training... something like that... in an effort to redirect the conversation away from things about you that might be likely to cost you the job offer. By the way, depending on how this employment opportunity goes, you might consider taking a job seeking skills class at some point if these are offered where you live. Employment Services offices sometimes offer these. Another source can sometimes be community colleges. There are many effective skills one can learn in a job seeking skills class.

04:00 PM

That's really helpful Skeez - thanks so much, I'm definitely going to work on those points.

Instead of saying "I left before I had another job because I was about to have a full blown breakdown", I'm planning on saying "I left as soon as I knew this job was not right for me so a more suitable person could join the team soon as possible causing least disruption, this was after discussions with my manager" which is also true but sounds more positive. I will explain I have spent the last 6 months concentrating on my volunteer work, also true.

Job seeking skills would be great if I had the opportunity but alas these are only available to those on unemployment benefit here, I fall through the cracks every time because I am not eligible for benefits (my partner earns way too much). I'll keep my eye out though and once again thank you for your valuable input.

Frankbtl · Jul 24, 2016, 05:31 PM

Hi prefabsprout (and love the name!!)

Congratulations on the opportunity, you've obviously impressed!!!!

And yes, tell the positve truth about your last job

e.g. the job transformed into something you hadn't initially applied for and you felt that you weren't given the opportunity to truely utilise your skills, such as "people skills" whereas the job you're now applying for you feel you can contribute so much more to..............

And SELL YOURSELF!!!!!

I'm sure you can be using lots from when you started at your last job which will apply e.g. conflict resolution, organisational skills, communication skills, team working skills, working on your initiative, responding to difficult/diverse situations..............

And read up as much as possible on the company and job requirements so you're prepared to wow them with you're insight and capabilities in what you're applying for!!!

Of course some things you might not know but if you "wing it" by saying things like "I'm know I'm lacking the knowledge in that area but I'm very motivated in both learning the companies policies and procedures and learning while I'm working. I am a very quick learner"
So keep selling yourself even when you're not sure

As for keeping calm...........maybe see this minimally as a practise in interviewing.........a learning experience for any further interviews (if it weren't to work out)............whatever the outcome it will be a good opportunity.............rather than "you're being put on the spot"............so just try to be yourself. And if during the interview they aren't looking impressed, don't let that faze you/put you off...........it doesn't need to mean that they aren't!!!
Even take a breath and imagine someone you're comfortable with is asking the question and how you might respond to them............
Just take questions, tests, games, "one at a time" instead of worrying about how you may have responded or acted and whether it's good enough..........one at a time............
And if you need to.............between each, silently say in your head something like "I can do this" or "It's alright".............some positive affirmation to yourself................

Just some thoughts.....................

And again..........CONGRATS on the opportunity

It's going to be their loss if it weren't to work out...........but at least you're going to give them the chance to snap you up

Alison

Jul 29, 2016, 07:42 AM

Thanks so much Skeez & Alison, your replies helped me plan and keep calm in the run up to my recruitment day.

It actually turned out to be a straight up one to one interview rather than the group event the website described, I think because it's a smaller store.

Interview went well, no nasty surprise questions, just went with the flow and felt surprisingly relaxed. This interview was so much more straight forward than the higher level roles I've previously interviewed for, I was positive but also honest and I think that was appreciated by the interviewer. Lots of positive body language from her.

I didn't even get asked why I left my last job (maybe because that was answered on my application), I did get asked about sickness as they have a very strict absence policy - thankfully I was able to truthfully answer I had no sickness in my last job.

All I have to do now is wait for a response one way or the other.

Frankbtl · Jul 29, 2016, 12:44 PM

Hey prefabsprout

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Really pleased for you that it went well!!!

And no excuses

..........as in no nasty questions...........the interview was straight forward..........fact is...........that you obviously handled it really well!!!
For some other people some of those questions might well have been nasty and the interview far from straight forward.............but..............you obviously handled it really well!!!

So, wishing you all the very best!!!

Alison