Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[sparkysmum]

In common with many women I gave up my "proper job" to have my kids & never returned to it. Instead I retrained about 10 years ago as a nursery nurse and have worked in different primary schools as a learning support assistant ever since. I have always had 1/2 year contracts and have had to move from one school to another as the schools have had their support hours cut. Since there is no likliehood at all that I will return to my "before children job" I have applied for a permanent learning support post in a reasonably local school. This would be so fantastic as I think I could be there until I retired. I have an interview in 2 weeks

 

I think I'm OK on the job spec elements but I'm completely rubbish at the " importance of being a member of a team" type questions and "what personal qualities do you have..........." questions

 

So my big ask to the Omlet community is ..........can anyone point me in the right direction. Are there any agencies. websites or whatever where I can obtain help for my dreadful interview skills. I have to point out in my defense that I haven't actually had an interview for many, many years.

 

Sorry for the longish post & thanks for reading. Alli x

[snowberry]

When I did my law course we had to take a Deloitte course; it probably totalled about 10 hours. It focussed on interview techniques & the best way to present yourself & your attributes when having an interview. I should think there's more about it on Google. Otherwise I would Google things like 'best personal qualities at interview' & see how the answers are phrased & which apply to you!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Alli, I have no advice to offer at all (not having had an interview myself for many years ) but want to wish you the very best of luck .

[Cinnamon]

I got a job last year after a whole 18 years off having children, & found the interview fun, frightening & interesting too.

I went in blind - had the interview 2 days after applying & a second interview very shortly after that,so I didn't have a long time to think things through really.

 

I would say to be yourself as much as possible.

You have a family,which is amazing experience for the job you want...& they want to hire YOU, not some person mechanically spurting out set answers to their set questions.

Be happy,smiley,confident (yes,I know...) & practical.

Bring the fact that you keep hens into the interview too, as I am sure that is a lucky charm

Surely keeping hens is a marvellous personal quality - it shows compassion,practicality & reason.

 

Good luck - let us know how it goes.

[Chortle Chook]

I'd like to say 'Very best of luck sparkysmum'

Many years ago I had some professional adivce on interview skills from someone who just took pity on my rubbish skills and waved the payment. The piece of advice that has really helped me is that when they ask all those nasty negative hunting questions like 'What makes you angry?' or 'Who do you not get on with?' or 'What's your main failing' say something inocuous and turn the question to a discussion of you plus points e.g. "I don't tend to get angry. Because patience is something I really value in others I have done my best to cultivate it in myself" type thing - then give an example. Its the kind of thing that makes me feel a bit puky but it seems to work.

 

I've also given quite a few interviews and you'd be amazed how hard it is to remember people after a day of interviewing. The people I've remembered have been those who were just nice people rather than those who were crazy good. And it is right that first impressions really do count - unfortunately.

[sparkysmum]

Thanks for your great advice everyone. Cinnamon, well done you for getting a job after 18yrs, thats fantastic. I'm not sure that I will mention the hens just in case they keep ferrets

Simon brought a couple of useful looking books home from uni tonight so I'll do a bit of pre interview reading. It is really worrying that first impressions are so persuasive, no time for a face lift/ make over

Keep your fingers crossed for me please. I'll let you know how I do. Alli x

[Chortle Chook]

No need to worry about a face lift/ make over. First impressions are not necessarily based on things like clothes, make up etc. but more likely on things like whether you smile at the interviewer as you walk in - do you come across as a warm person? You'd be surprised how few people do

[sparkysmum]

Gosh, thanks for that Cheeky, I was wondering how to get some cosmetic dentistry done before the 16th I'm really hoping for this one but if not it'll be good experience for the next time. Cheers, Alli x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Well, I can confirm that you definitely come across as a lovely, warm, friendly person, Alli, so you have nothing to worry about on that score .

 

You also have a lovely smile .

[Plum]

Good luck tomorrow.

 

Team answer could include sharing responsibilities, learning from eachother, giving recieving constructive criticism, working together - takes all types (planners, doers, finishers, motivators etc.,) working with others to raise standards...........

 

What qualities you have ............friendly, personable, caring, helpful, motivating, good at communicating, optimistic and that's just from this forum.

 

We'll be rooting for you

[Chortle Chook]

We certainly will. All the very very best.

[bigmommasally]

Good Luck for tomorrow.

 

Remember to have some examples for all your prepared answers, so if the questions is about your strengths/good qualities and you say you are well organised be prepared to talk about examples of how you can prove you are well organised. So I would guess for a LSA you would need to be organised about the lesson plans & having resources in place & talk how you have organised the children during an activity. They might not ask what your good qualities but instead ask "what qualities does a good LSA need", make sure then the qualities you list are your good qualities. This sounds obvious but I am always amazed that when I ask that question candidates will list all manner of qualities they think I want to hear but then when I follow it up with "so can you tell me how you meet those qualities" they are stumped!

 

Smile and relax, try to concentrate on the question but don't be afraid to ask them to repeat it, take sips of water to buy time while you formulate your answer. If you want to ask a question at the end, asking about training (if it hasn't already been discussed) shows a willingness to learn and a commitment to the job.

 

Best of Luck, fingers will be crossed for you.

[sparkysmum]

Oh my goodness how fab it is to have such gorgeous omleteers around Thank you all for your advice. You had me worried for a moment - my interview is next week. Oh and I'm colouring my hair tonight just to make me feel better

[sparkysmum]

Interview tomorrow & due to bad planning having carpets fitted at the same time I'll just ignore the carpet fitters while I get ready & hope they are ok while I go to interview. Keep everything crossed for me pleeeeeeeease. Alli xx

[Plum]

Good luck, we'll be there behind you

[Sam]

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine

[Chucky Mama]

Good luck Alli I am sure that you will be just fine. Believe that you are worthy because you are. My children have been called upon a number of times to 'interview' potential staff members including their old primary school Head so it might be worth bearing that in mind. Mine asked for favourite authors, books, films and if they could be a super hero, which one would they be Try to think of a couple of questions to ask qt the end of the interview as it will avoid that awful awkward silence when they spring that on you and your mind goes blank.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Best of luck, Alli .

 

We've got all fingers, toes, paws and wings crossed for you .

[patsylabrador]

This might be rubbish but I think a certain amount of chutzpah is good. For example, MS who is a gentle person never gets the job, however ES gets work within a couple of days of being back in the country. He emails companies and if he hasn't heard back after a couple of hours he phones them and asks them why they haven't replied. It goes against all advice but he gets work. I don't know how this helps but I hope that on some level it does.

[sparkysmum]

Thanks peeps. Chucky, Simon brought an interview skills book home which suggested that at the end of the interview you should just thank everyone for seeing you & leave with a 30 word statement as to why they should choose you I was thinking of trying this & in fact bI'm going to prepare that 30 word statement right now Will let you know how it goes. Alli x

[Chortle Chook]

I do hope all is over now and you can relax. No matter how it went I feel sure you need a glass of wine

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How did you get on ?

[Plum]

Been thinking of you. Are you ok?

[LolaLayla]

I was wondering how it went too.

[sparkysmum]

Didn't get it Misinterpreted a fairly basic scenario type question about child protection. Answered it really badly. Got feedback a couple of hours later & one of the interviewers said that she couldn't understand how someone with 10yrs experience could get it so wrong Can't believe it. At least I've got a job, so shouldn't moan & it was experience.

Thanks for all your kind wishes, I'm sure it would have been much worse without them. Alli x