First ever job interview! Advice!

Discussion in 'General' started by olv, 30 Oct 2003.

  1. olv

    olv he's so bright

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    I'm young and poor so applied for a Christmas position at the Dixons in town. Seems like it may be an easy-ish job, selling people electrical stuff. Anyway, seeing as though they advertised the position to start this coming saturday, i'd lost hope and thought they didn't like me due to my complete lack of any previous 'proper' work experience. How surprised was i when they rang my up this afternoon asking when i was available for an interview. wahoo i thought. So i've got my first ever job interview on Saturday morning but I dont really know what to expect! I dont look like a tramp, I'm polite and friendly so i think i've got a good start.

    What tips and advice can you give me to further my chances of impressing them?
     
  2. penski

    penski BodMod

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    Give each one of them an orange.

    ....

    ...Seriously, you should just try and be friendly, not over-eager, don't put yourself across as having a 'i know more than you' attitude.

    *n
     
  3. olv

    olv he's so bright

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    I like the orange idea :D

    i think there may be strong competition for the place. she said it has taken so long to get to this stage because there were so many applicants. which is kind of a good thing because i managed to get to this stage. Just dont want to be beaten by a drooling, hunch back of a geek :p
     
  4. Arthur2Sheds

    Arthur2Sheds Jackson

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    I used to manage a retail store and did a lot hiring. I was never as worried about the person's knowledge level (most people at least know something about what they're applying for) as I was about their attitude. Penski's right; don't come off as a know-it-all. You do want to seem confident, though. Don't fidget or look at the ground. If you're going to have to sell to people, you have to come across as a people person who doesn't mind approaching strangers. You already have two major things going for you if you're polite and friendly. Give them a smile and firm handshake, be yourself, answer honestly, and you should be fine. Good luck!

    :thumb:
     
  5. olv

    olv he's so bright

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    Anyone know what i should be expecting pay wise? I would hope for more then minimum wage, isn't it around £3.20 for under 18's? Hmmmm that'd suck lol.
     
  6. penski

    penski BodMod

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    Over a fiver for over 18s ;)

    *n
     
  7. olv

    olv he's so bright

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    but i'm still 17 :p
     
  8. penski

    penski BodMod

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    New starter, under 18....£4 ish?

    *n
     
  9. acron^

    acron^ ePeen++;

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    I don't know many 18s that earn that much mate. I am on one of the highest wages out of my friends on £4.72.

    This may be a bit stupid, but every time I go for a job interview I wear their colours - for WHSmith I wore blue and M&G I wore grey and red. Apparently it's a sort of psychological thing, but placebo or not, I got both jobs :)
     
  10. penski

    penski BodMod

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    I was on £5.72/hour at Safeway before I left.

    *n

    Edit - I started at age 16 and was on £3.16, after 6 months it went to £3.50....
     
  11. TheoGeo

    TheoGeo What are these goddamn animals?!

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    then i feel sorry for ya m8, wen im 18 (tommorow) ill be on over £5 an hour
     
  12. da-moose

    da-moose What's a Dremel?

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    i get £3.76 at makro but £4.26 on sundays. im 16 and consider this ok, at 17 this rises to around £4.50 basic and +50p on sundays
     
  13. olv

    olv he's so bright

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    Is there an average number of working hours for part-time staff or is it just completely flexible?
     
  14. Highland3r

    Highland3r Minimodder

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    flexible, work as many as you can get :D
    Will only get £4.54 when i go back to halfords at christmas :waah: double pay if i can work boxing day/new years day :D
     
  15. Mr. Roboto

    Mr. Roboto xBurningMikex

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    ask for about .5 more than you expect.
     
  16. djrusty

    djrusty What's a Dremel?

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    Be yourself (unless you are a cocky f*cker, then you should pretend to be someone else), don't be cocky, look them in the eye when they talk to you (not in an evil way though) and most of all, ask plenty of questions about the job, it makes it look as though you are interested. I've always taken this approach and always got the job (but that may be because I am really great).

    Good luck anyway dude (get that job and you'll get discount on electrical gadgetry, can't be bad).

    :hip: Be cool.
     
  17. chartley

    chartley What's a Dremel?

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    What did you do at safeway to get that rate?

    I'm only on £4.72 basic.

    As for the interview, I was just honest, open and used my razor sharp wit to win them over :)
     
  18. penski

    penski BodMod

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    Acting supervisor of plant bread.

    Acting because nobody had actually done the job for over a year and nobody realised that the three members of staff on the dept were doing all the work.

    *n
     
  19. chartley

    chartley What's a Dremel?

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    Ah supervisor, that's ok then... a quid an hour extra for all the extra hassle?
    For what I've seen deli dept. superisors suffer and go through (we had about 4 in a year) it cant be worth the money :)

    One lasted 2 weeks before he moved back to the customer service desk - he couldn't handle having to work!
     
  20. Ryuujin

    Ryuujin What's a Dremel?

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    We learned something about how to have a good interview go well, and one of the things is to write a Thank You letter to the person after the interview. It might seem lame but it could work :D
     

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