[Help] Job interview - advice needed

[hans kraay fan club]

Did she get the job?

Funnily enough, no.

The recruitment agency got a call though, to tell them to stop wasting everyone's time!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I have a job interview next week, however I have just been let go by my current employer and am now working out a notice period.
Should I tell the interview panel that I am now out of work, or does this shift the power of negotiation(salary etc) to the prospective employer if they know that i'm no longer employed?

The above doesn't have any bearing on a prospective start date, as this would still be 7 or 8 weeks away

Thanks in advance

Btw, good luck and let us know how you got on.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Excellent and often forgotten point.

There’s a new trend (I say new, I mean relatively new particularly since COVID) for something called a “one way interview”. They basically record you answering pre-written questions into your webcam or phone and then IF they like you, you get a proper interview.

I was “invited” to one of these after applying for something, and I said no, because I also want to talk to them about what they can offer me.

They replied back saying “You aren’t the kind of person we’re looking for”. Yeah - I have a feeling I dodged a bullet there.

I don't blame you at all - that really is a bit crap.

That said, we do often screen applicants we are less confident of, via brief skype interviews - then invite in the ones who come across well in that for a proper interview.

It is a little impersonal but it saves wasting a lot of time and expense (on their part, more than ours, tbh) in travelling, and taking time out from their existing job - for what might be an almost immediate no.

(And it highlights the people who are comfortable / uncomfortable communicating via such media - which ultimately is quite important in the role)

 

[Hamilton]

You may be asked a direct question in regard of working a notice so therefore be honest.
If it isn't relevant to the interview, then don't volunteer the information.

100% this.

The only thing I’d add is that supreme honesty is always the best policy, so if you offer up the information that your contract is coming to an end it will be seen as a positive.

Remember, they may ask anyway.

I always appreciate interviewees who are refreshingly honest with me.

 

[scooter1]

So you are being made redundant?

yes, however I was planning to leave. The company have simply sped up the exit process for me.....

 

[Oh_aye]

I'd go in stark bòllock naked and imagine them fully clothed. Standard way of developing confidence.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I've never had a proper job interview in 24 years of work, so I can't really offer any advice – especially not anything different to what has been said above.

I just wanted to wish you luck for the interview

 

[dazzer6666]

We actually got this answer last year, from some chubby, chavvy, middle-aged woman who applied for one of our admin roles.

"Why are you looking to leave your current (very, very similar) position?"

"I'm looking for an easy job. They keep asking me to do too much work"

I thought from your bellcheese thread posts that was a pre-requisite for your place ?

 

[jcdenton08]

I don't blame you at all - that really is a bit crap.

That said, we do often screen applicants we are less confident of, via brief skype interviews - then invite in the ones who come across well in that for a proper interview.

It is a little impersonal but it saves wasting a lot of time and expense (on their part, more than ours, tbh) in travelling, and taking time out from their existing job - for what might be an almost immediate no.

(And it highlights the people who are comfortable / uncomfortable communicating via such media - which ultimately is quite important in the role)

This was expected to take 35-40mins of recording to a blank screen - it sounded like an old fashioned lonely hearts dating agency video…

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Some tips from me.

- Make them like you FIRST and convince them you're the easy choice to pick.

- Ask about the role/company/prospects/culture/team structure so they see you quizzing them (they usually like this)

- ALWAYS ask about the next steps in the process. What happens next? Ask for timescales. Act like you're planning on them calling you back. Then you could bring up/answer the question about your current situation. It won't change their decision if they like you. But it could have a negative effect if it's brought up earlier in the interview.

Good luck

 

[Bry Nylon]

If they ask, just tell them it's none of their business and try to steer the conversation onto what sort of cash bonus you can expect for good time keeping , achieving most of your objectives etc.

 

[mile oak]

my top tip is....biggest mistaken most people forget at an interview is YOU are there to interview THEM too

 

[METALMICKY]

My handy interview tip from personal experience. Always check out if any of the people on the panel have a disability!

A few years back I had an interview and to the forefront of my plan was the old advice to always be polite with good eye contact and give a firm handshake. All was going well until the handshake at the end of what I thought had been quite a good interview. What I hadn't noticed was that one of chaps on the panel had a badly withered hand ( apologies not sure the correct term ) . All of a sudden his hand was thrust across to me at a bizarre angle and I was left performing gymnastics to try and grip it.

 

[Justice]

My handy interview tip from personal experience. Always check out if any of the people on the panel have a disability!

A few years back I had an interview and to the forefront of my plan was the old advice to always be polite with good eye contact and give a firm handshake. All was going well until the handshake at the end of what I thought had been quite a good interview. What I hadn't noticed was that one of chaps on the panel had a badly withered hand ( apologies not sure the correct term ) . All of a sudden his hand was thrust across to me at a bizarre angle and I was left performing gymnastics to try and grip it.

I don’t get this firm hand shake business and tbh some prick crushing my hand fecking annoys me.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I hate interviews, so much so I have stayed in my current job for 14 years now, I cannot offer any advice other than Triggaar's & Commander's advice sounds pretty solid.

I would like to say good luck for the future, during a very stressful time for you.

I’m with you ….had to interview myself for my current job…nitemare ….having said that It’s 32 years later and I’m still employed, must be doing something right ….boss is great

To the OP …seems like you’ve had some great advice already, so hope all goes well!

 

[portslade seagull]

We actually got this answer last year, from some chubby, chavvy, middle-aged woman who applied for one of our admin roles.

"Why are you looking to leave your current (very, very similar) position?"

"I'm looking for an easy job. They keep asking me to do too much work"

You should've offered her a deck chair post

 

[goldstoneseagull]

yes, however I was planning to leave. The company have simply sped up the exit process for me.....

You are still employed, if you were planning to leave then put forward the rationale behind why you were planning to leave and focus on your motivations looking forward not looking back.

I would frame it as ‘I’ve been looking for a new opportunity for reasons xyz and I am excited by the prospect of working with you for reasons abc’ versus ‘I am leaving because my employer is in financial decline and I have been let go’.

Re disclosure - your current employer is only legally allowed to disclose the dates at which you worked there - this would come out in the referencing process.

 

[Justice]

I've never had a proper job interview in 24 years of work, so I can't really offer any advice – especially not anything different to what has been said above.

I just wanted to wish you luck for the interview

What do you do out of interest?

 

[Triggaaar]

The problem with not mentioning it is that, depending on how small a world your industry is, they may well find out. I had this happen a few months ago, I interviewed someone who told me she was working for a company I used to work for years ago, and wasn't smart enough to realise that I would probably still have some contacts there. I did some digging and found out she'd left a few months earlier.

The difference there is that she lied. If instead she was still working for the company, as the OP is, there's not really a problem.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

What do you do out of interest?

Freelance journalist and magazine editor.