Hi all,

I have an interview next week for welfare workers post. I was in my last job for 4 yrs so it has been quite some time since I have had an interview, and that was in the UK. Can anyone give me any tips or pointers as to how interviews tend to be conducted here or any advice on the interview itself? Any help gratefully received! As I say, it has been quite some time and I have never had an interview here in Oz.

Cheers

S x

Definitely no nudity

Don't scratch your nuts. No not even through your pocket.

But you can scratch their nuts. And make sure you use their pockets.

What kind of interview is this?

On a more serious note: Here are some pointers

* Do your homework, research how they do things and point your interview responses in that direction

* Read[listen] between the lines. They may not ask direct questions but infer the answers they want.

* Let them know you have prepared. Take a folder/file/case with the original advert and your resume - highlight pertinent points and make reference to them

* Try not compare too much with UK - bring relevance in when it's to draw similarities, not difference.

* be relaxed, formal but not too "stiff" - elaborate on points just in case they don't "get it"

* Speak to someone & ask questions re suitability if a number has been given. Proves you are interested, shows initiative. They sometimes take names and know who's responded.

* Look on career websites to gain pointers.

* Think of the sorts of questions they are likely to ask. Be prepared with your possible answers

Good luck

A successful one

Cheif Squirrel looker afterer - of course

as a career contractor in the finance/aviation sector , I attend interviews (or bunches of interviews) on a regular basis, and I also conduct (under duress - I hate doing them) interviews.

Big Difference between Oz and UK is the "Behavioural Questionaire" which has no right or wrong answer but is simply some HR geek's idea of making candidates suffer, complete amateur stuff, but there ya go.

Only Advice I can offer is , be prepared, be early (like 5 mins) , be relaxed, smile, if you don't know something say so, and be confident, it's you interviewing them as much as them interviewing you.

There are real shortages of people in varioud sectors at the moment in Sydney, so G'luck.

If it is state or local government you may have to face a panel, which will definitely contain one HR t055er from hell, but ignore them, they're just sad people who cannot veto the candidate anyway.

Just curious why you think there is no right or wrong answer to behavioural questions? They are just as common in the UK as Australia.
Most organisations recruit for attitude, train for skill. Behavioural questions determine this.
It is quite obvious from your post that you have received no or little training in selection methods.

Um, thanks for the replies. Was going to go down the nudity route to success, but will now rethink that plan and as a girl i thankfully have no nuts to scratch.

Also some really helpfull stuff, thanks.

Anyway, am wondering if interviews here are very different to UK, am unsure what to expect to be honest. They are interviewing over 2 days so am thinking there are a number of candidates.

Being the welfare sector I am feeling at a disadvantage having newly arrived and not being up to speed on available resources, agencies, help available to people in crisis. Am researching, and would not take too long to learn whilst on the job, but obviously systems here are different to the UK. This makes me a little concerned that this will put me at disadvantage to local candidates.

cheers

S

you mean like ... "What are your weaknesses ? " and "what are your strengths ? "

I think you'll find that Most organisations recruit for skill and subsequently impose a corporate attitude.

which is close to what you said ...

No - I do not mean "what are your weaknesses" and "what are your strengths" - such questions are asinine and are asked by inexperienced interviewers. Behavioural questions are based around situational analysis:
- How do you motivate your staff?
- What would you do in this situation.........?
- How do you cope with an irrate customer? etc etc
These questions will determine how a respondent will behave in a given situation.

Those organisations that do not evaluate attitude are not aligning themselves with "cultural fit" and problems will ensue.

The three things that organisations look for are:

1. Can the subject do the job - or if not will they respond to training?
2. Will they fit in?
3. What added value will they bring to the organisation?

Organisations which try to impose a corporate attitude will fail unless they address the psychological contract.

rare in Oz, unless you can give me an example, I find most institutions in Oz give the interview to the immediate line manager who is trying to cover his middle management derrière, with no consideration given to a candidates potential, the flip side of the coin is that some HR clown gets involved and turns down a hugely skilled candidate because they ticked the wrong box in the behavioral questionnaire, the other (third side of the coin ??) is that an unassuming and modest candidate with huge potential fails because they do not come across correctly because of the STANDARD WRITTEN DOWN BULL5H!T questions that make up the embarassing questionnaire.

i have done enough interviews at medium to senior level over the last 20 years to have a 80% hit rate, in fact it's been 100% for some time now, and it's very easy to do.


Practice.

Whilst very interesting guys, this doesn't really help me with my original query and really would appreaciate some advice

You mean it's taken 20 years to get your interviews right????????

It is very brave of you to advertise that fact.