help with job interview please.

[dimafleck: the living legend.]

hello,

at my last job, i was promoted to ASSISTANT MANAGER at a small, specialised , high end grocery store.

i have an interview for ASSISTANT MANGER at BOMBAY COMPANY.

this is my first interview for a position having to do with management...what can i expecT? what questions should i look out for?

thanks.

[StoneMtn]

The worst question ever, and be ready:

"What do you believe is your greatest weakness?"

[AD]

"What do you believe is your greatest weakness?"

Always answer this with "I'm a workaholic."

AD

[d_rawk]

Haha, good call StoneMtn. I'd love to hear some people's preferred answers to that one.

Back in the day, me and my buddy used to do tandem interviews good-cop/bad-cop style (I was good-cop). Bad-cop used to like to slip that one in now and again. (The hiree was often treated to a night at the strip club as a "welcome aboard", so that sort of made up for the instant squirm that the question produces ...)

[gentlemonkey]

The worst question ever, and be ready:

"What do you believe is your greatest weakness?"

Definitley be ready for that one, Dima!! And if your greatest weakness is that you swore early in your working-life that you would masturbate (at least once) at every place you ever held employment- keep that to yourself. Most employers dont want to hear it.

Myself excluded.

I dont mind my employees 'rubbin one out' midday.. it lowers stress and increases productivity.

good luck dude.

[d_rawk]

And if your greatest weakness is that you swore early in your working-life that you would masturbate (at least once) at every place you ever held employment- keep that to yourself.

I've got a story about that one, too! :shudder:

[StoneMtn]

Funny enough, I know someone who just fired an employee for the same type of situation described by GM.

Another answer to my ugly question above, "I'm too much of a perfectionist."

[bradm]

I dont mind my employees 'rubbin one out' midday.. it lowers stress and increases productivity.

The time: several years into the future

The place: a Tim Horton's in an alternate reality

The characters: gentlemonkey, behind the counter, and bradm, a customer

bradm enters and walks up the counter

gentlemonkey: bradm! How goes!

bradm: g-monkey! Wow, it's been a while. I didn't know you worked here.

gentlemonkey: Yup, I'm the manager here now.

bradm: Congratulations!

gentlemonkey: It's great. It's rewarding, and my employees dig it immensely.

random employee, smirking: You got that right...

gentlemonkey: Ha-ha. So what can I get for you?

bradm, remembering: Black coffee. Plain cake donut.

gentlemonkey: You sure you don't want glazed? How about cream-filled? They're fresh, we just made them over lunch.

bradm: Actually, just the coffee. No donut.

gentlemonkey: Cream?

bradm: No.

gentlemonkey: Okey-dokey. Here you go.

bradm: Thanks. (Turns around and leaves.)

Aloha,

Brad

[Del]

Take a page from Trainspotting:

SPUD: No, actually I went to Craignewton but I was worried that you wouldn't have heard of it so I put the Royal Edinburgh College instead, because they're both schools, right, and we're all in this together, and I wanted to put across the general idea rather than the details, yeah? People get all hung up on details, but what's the point? Like which school? Does it matter? Why? When? Where? Or how many O grades did I get? Could be six, could be one, but that's not important. What's important is that I am, right? That I am.

MAN 1: Mr. Murphy, do you mean that you lied on your application?

SPUD: Only to get my foot in the door. Showing initiative, right?

MAN 1: You were referred here by the Department of Employment. There's no need for you to get you "foot in the door", as you put it.

SPUD: Hey. Right. No problem. Whatever you say, man. You're the man, the governor, the dude in the chair, like. I'm merely here. But obviously I am. Here, that is. I hope I'm not talking too much. I don't usually. I think it's all important though, isn't it?

MAN 2: Mr. Murphy, what attracts you to the leisure industry?

SPUD: In a word, pleasure. My pleasure in other people's leisure.

WOMAN: What do you see as your main strengths?

SPUD: I love people. All people. Even people that no one else loves, I think they're OK, you know. Like Beggars.

WOMAN: Homeless people?

SPUD: No, not homeless people. Beggars, Francis Begbie -- one of my mates. I wouldn't say my best mate, I mean, sometimes the boy goes over the score, like one time when we -- me and him -- were having a laugh and all of a sudden he's fucking gubbed me in the face, right --

WOMAN: Mr. Murphy, {leaving your friend aside,} do you see yourself as having any weaknesses?

SPUD: No. Well, yes. I have to admit it: I'm a perfectionist. For me, it's the best or nothing at all. If things go badly, I can't be bothered, but I have a good feeling about this interview. Seems to me like it's gone pretty well. We've touched on a lot of subjects, a lot of things to think about, for all of us.

MAN 1: Thank you, Mr. Murphy. We'll let you know.

SPUD: The pleasure was mine. Best interview I've ever been to. Thanks.

Spud crosses the room to shake everyone by the hand and kiss them.

[guigsy]

Haha, good call StoneMtn. I'd love to hear some people's preferred answers to that one.

the last time i was asked that question was when i interviewed for my current store manager position - i told them i tend to take on too much work and not delegate enough, but it's something i know i need to work on a lot more.

i got the job, and now i delegate like crazy!

[d_rawk]

That's a helluva good answer dude!

[StoneMtn]

Ya, it is.

It definitely beats:

"I tend to take on too much work, but don't worry, because I'm really good at delegating all of it to other people."

[timouse]

"What do you believe is your greatest weakness?"

Always answer this with "I'm a workaholic."

AD

workahlolic?

dammit. i keep saying alcoholic.

where can i get me some workahol?

[Douglas]

hahaha!!! Timouse - that's fantasticly hilarious!!!

As for the interview...try not to think of it as any different that any other interview. If you get asked questions related to management styles, think about you like to managed.

If you're not sure how to answer a certain question, ask to come back to that question. Avoid saying "I'm not sure, but..." If you're not sure, don't answer it yet. And if they forget to come back to it, remind them at the end (super bonus points!).

Don't figit (ie: don't drink too much coffee before you go in).

Smile when appropriate.

Be 7 minutes early for the interview. Actually, be 10 minutes early and take 3 minutes in the bathroom to make sure that you don't have bird poop on your coat, or a booger in your nose, or something in your teeth...make sure your clothes are straight and your fly is done up.

Interviews are mostly for getting to know you. If you are easy to talk to, then they will remember you and like you....even if you don't answer the questions "properly" they'll consider you. Just go in feeling good and wanting the job.

But if you're really only concerned with the management part of the interview, what would your responsibilities be as a manager there? How many levels of management are there? What would be expected of you?

[bokonon]

where can i get me some workahol?

bloody brilliant!!!

i'd say have a couple beers before the interview to losen you up, but smoke a little pot too so you don't talk too much. oh, and brush your teeth.

[StoneMtn]

I thought of one other thing employers tend to like.

Be prepared with a question or two to ask them at the end of the interview; questions which display your knowledge of the business they do, and specifically their company.

This is far better than when they say, "And do you have any questions for us?"

"Nope. Bye."

Oh! One more thing, and I find most prospective employees don't do it ... After the interview, go home and send them a very short letter explaining how you enjoyed meeting them, and look forward to hearing from them with respect to the position.

Good luck, my friend.

[dimafleck: the living legend.]

genius...thanks alot everyone.

[arcane]

Be prepared with a question or two to ask them at the end of the interview; questions which display your knowledge of the business they do, and specifically their company.

Be cautious with this one. The problem is, if you're being interviewed by an HR monkey, you might just intimidate him with specific questions that he can't possibly answer.

Or you might impress the bejeebus out of him.

As for the "perfectionist" thing, that's a nice idea but it's something that would keep me from being hired. "Perfection" delays the deliverables.

[Booche]

Dima, do NOT tell them you are a 'perfectionist' or a 'workaholic' as a bad trait.

Say something like:

"If things get very stressful for me, I may get confused but I have found its best to take a 10 minute walk to clear my head..........this doesnt happen very often but will from time to time."

Something along those lines. Its easier to run with that ball than it is for the follow-up question:

"How do you handle your weakness?"

Unless you actually are a workaholic or perfectionist.

[Asparagus]

The worst question ever' date=' and be ready:

"What do you believe is your greatest weakness?"[/quote']

Definitley be ready for that one, Dima!! And if your greatest weakness is that you swore early in your working-life that you would masturbate (at least once) at every place you ever held employment- keep that to yourself. Most employers dont want to hear it.

Myself excluded.

I dont mind my employees 'rubbin one out' midday.. it lowers stress and increases productivity.

good luck dude.

I could never put my finger on why you sounded so happy after lunch.....

[bradm]

I dont mind my employees 'rubbin one out' midday.. it lowers stress and increases productivity.

good luck dude.

I could never put my finger on why you sounded so happy after lunch.....

Just think what you could have put your finger on during lunch...

Aloha,

Brad

[Asparagus]

Touché!

[ollie]

Dima, do NOT tell them you are a 'perfectionist' or a 'workaholic' as a bad trait.

Say something like:

"If things get very stressful for me, I may get confused but I have found its best to take a 10 minute walk to clear my head..........this doesnt happen very often but will from time to time."

Something along those lines. Its easier to run with that ball than it is for the follow-up question:

"How do you handle your weakness?"

Unless you actually are a workaholic or perfectionist.

Andre's right. I took a 2-day job interview course and when this topic came up the instructor said that most interviewers don't want to hear the "perfectionist" cliche. His advice was to identify about two weaknesses and then explain how you recognize them and what you've done to overcome them.

I am thankful that I haven't had to answer this question in the last few interviews I've had. It's a cruel question and an abuse of power, IMO.

[Dr_Evil_Mouse]

Very true - it behooves us to avoid cliches like the plague ( ). I think the same applies for CVs as well - the last thing employers who are going through big stacks of those want to see yet another one claiming that they are a hard worker or a team player and leaving it at that - it gives yet another excuse to toss another one into the trash and make the pile a little bit smaller. It is good, though, to have a bunch of good work-related anecdotes (viz. success stories) at the front of the mind to pull out when need be.

And ollie's right, I think - those sorts of questions are kinds of abuse of power - but then what kind of people often enough end up in positions of power except those who enjoy it?

[StoneMtn]

When I suggested "perfectionist" as an answer, I thought it was impliedly in purple.

Of course they don't want to hear that. It's like saying, "I think your question is silly, so here's a sarcastic answer."

(I have also never actually been asked that question, either. My job interviews tend to be more of a conversation than an interview, whether I'm the employer or potential employee.)