Chickpea Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 After this morning's sadness I was cheered up when I received a phonecall from the head gardener at Worcester College, Oxford - they want to interview me next week for the trainee gardener position I applied for! Now I'm all of a cuffuffle, what could they possibly ask me!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Have you ever contracted or suspected you were infected with Dutch Elm disease? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Oooooh Lucy, have no idea what they might ask you but good luck anyway, what a fantastic opportunity. Any idea when the interview is? Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 yaaaaay! good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Oh good luck! Just be dead honest, and enthusiastic and keen to learn and talk about chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Brilliant just be yourself and believe you can do it BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seagullukuk Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Congratulations on the interview I am sure I and others wish you luck just think of all the questions we can ask you about our veg patches!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Best of luck! Hope all goes well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickpea Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 I am sure I and others wish you luck just think of all the questions we can ask you about our veg patches!! Ooo eck, I hadn't thought of that! Interview looks like it's next wednesday, they're gonna phone and confirm tomorrow! I'm jusy gonna do a bit of research on the place (26 acres ) and just be myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Lucy you will be fine im sure Just be you, sell yourself, your interests and enthusiasm, and you'll be sure to impress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Good luck. I had lots of good advice from folks on here when i went to an interview. Be yourself, be confident, smile and try to get some background knowledge of the position/company before you attend the interview. let us know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Congratulations....it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Think of as few questions to ask them.....they usually ask that and people don't normally have questions ready.....so be ready to astound and impress! Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Oh dear, as I work in central Oxford I feel that I should be able to help. If you want me to go and check out the garden I can easily do that. I expect you know that it has a magnificent lake, so I would mention ducks rather than chickens. (I wouldn't mention chickens. I regret to say that everyone thinks that people who keep chickens are mad.) I would read up on diseases of grass: colleges love their lawns. St John's College has something horrible happening to its grass, but I've forgotten what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Research is the best idea and having questions ready, been enthusiastic. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Good Luck!! Chickpea, Have plenty of questions ready! I have found this invaluable at interviews, If you get asked a tough one, and you're stuck, rather than waffling, ask one back! Interviewers aren't always good at it and some haven't done it before (I Had to do one once! didn't have a clue what to say, I recommended the one i liked most) and by the time they have answered your question they have forgotten what theirs was! Just be yourself, maintain eye contact, don't pretend to know things you don't and don't be afraid to tell about things you do! Again Good Luck! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Did they provide you with a job description and person specification when you applied? If so, then they will have shortlisted against this so you have already shown that you meet the basic criteria of what they're looking for. What they're likely to do at interview is ask you questions that allow you to give answers that show in more detail how you meet the specification for the job. For example, if they have asked for someone who is a team player then they are likely to ask something like "Can you give us an example of when you worked well as part of a team?" If you look at all of the points in the person specification and then try and think of real life examples that show how you meet that particular point then you are likely to be quite well prepared. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 I was recently successful 1. Take a feather with you for good luck. 2. I mentioned my chickens, so they made me a tutor at their agricultural college rather than the main campus. Mentioning that you are used to poultry might go down well isf they have ducks. 3. The interviews I had did link very closely with the person specification. Check it out if you can. Then think about questions they may ask linked to that. 4. When they asked me if I had any questions I was cheeky and said "Can I have the job?" They said that they liked the fact that I was keen. 5. Salary and holiday can be talked about later. I would leave that out of the interview. Lastly, Leave yourself plenty of time to get there. If you are driving give yourself extra parking time on your ticket. Don't feel rushed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Clean shoes! Him Indoors does a lot of interviewing and he always looks at the candidates shoes. They don't have to be Manolo Blahniks, or even new....just clean. He reckons if the candidate doesn't bother with small details like that for an important event such as an interview, they are unlikely to pay attention to detail in the job. Also.....don't call the interviewer "mate"!! This happened to him recently, and even though the candidate had a strong CV and decent references, he ruled himself out! Best of luck. I like the idea of taking a feather with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Plenty of research so when they ask what you know about the university you are able to say a bit about maybe how old it is etc And be yourself you will be nervous they are expecting it remember to smile and have a firm handshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 These are probably really obvious, but smile - obviously not like a crazed maniac say please and thank you - (see, I said obvious) if you dont know something that they are asking you, tell them that you will find out at the first opportunity, or ask someone that does know, makes it look like you are eager to learn. I agree with couperman about the Interviewer being nervous - my mum always said imagine that they are on the loo - or something that makes them look very vulnerable, then you realise that they are only human too anyway dont worry about it, enjoy the day out, and best of luck (fingers crossed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 I wouldn't worry about the history of the University of Oxford: just find out a bit about Worcester College, especially its garden. Unfortunately Worcester College has a rather poor website. This is the most useful page on that site. The Oxford Town Trail leaflet "Gardens and Meadows" might be helpful. Also Mavis Batey, "Oxford Gardens The University's Influence on Garden History" (Scolar Press, 1986 reissue). I have both of these if you want to grab them off me in central Oxford just before your interview. But I wouldn't worry: you just have to be enthusiastic about gardening, and particularly keen on beautiful grass. And you may need to know about how to remove duckweed from lakes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 I remember that Worcester has beautiful gardens, I think they are supposed to be the best at any Oxford College. Just be yourself, show enthusiasm and interest. Demonstrate that you've done some research. I'm sure that you'll be fine. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Good luck! Plenty of fab advice from people already My advice usually is: don't fart, don't belch, don't swear! But hey, I think that's a bit obvious One that tends to stump people - and it really shouldn't - is "why do you want this post?" It's worth thinking about in advance and having a clear response prepared in your head. Hope all goes well. P.S. I have the possibility of an interview in the next month so if I get it I will be revisiting this post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Did they provide you with a job description and person specification when you applied? If so, then they will have shortlisted against this so you have already shown that you meet the basic criteria of what they're looking for. What they're likely to do at interview is ask you questions that allow you to give answers that show in more detail how you meet the specification for the job. For example, if they have asked for someone who is a team player then they are likely to ask something like "Can you give us an example of when you worked well as part of a team?" If you look at all of the points in the person specification and then try and think of real life examples that show how you meet that particular point then you are likely to be quite well prepared. Rob this is spot on stuff. Decide on three things that you want to tell them - stuff that makes you right for the job. Whatever they ask you, try to turn the answer round to telling them the things that you want them to know. As other people have already said, they really just want to give you the platform to tell them why you should have the job. Mind you, its easy to give advice - I've had some horrendous interviews! Allo the very best - I'm sure it will go well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickpea Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 Thanks everyone for all that usefull info! I've just got back from a rather wet and muddy wales (we had to get towed out by a tractor!!) where I've been working at a festival. They rang me this morning, really keen to see me tomorrow! They're gonna ring back and confirm a time -eek! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
