Wish me luck please.........

[officepa]

Have an interview with a HE College for a nine month (minimum) materntiy cover on Wednesday afternoon.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Interview and tests are booked to last 3 hours - eek!

Would be a good move if I am successful.  Where I am currently, position is via an agency and on a low hourly rate - the College position will be on an employed basis and is approx £5k more than what my hourly rate works out to now.

Apart from usual questions to ask at an interview, can anyone (have Cathy S, Gee and Jess in mind here as you are experienced in HE positions) suggest any in particular that I should cover to make a good impression in this environment? Thanks in advance.

[gee4]

Well apart from the usual interview preparation, I would check out their website.  Sometimes even though we know what a college/university is, an answer with a bit more info can swing it....

Eg. The College not only provides courses for both part-time and full-time study but was recently awarded bla, bla, bla....

Try and find out more about the College in case the panel ask.  Be prepared to explain your current daily duties and don't forget to demonstrate how keen you are to work in a challenging yet stable environment.

Good luck!

[officepa]

Thanks Gee - I have printed off all their blurb and am now memorising bits and pieces.  Wish I was younger and able to be a student - what they have to offer is great!

Just noticed you are now classed as a hero member - I'm only a junior!!  I'd better get posting!!!

[geminigirl]

Cathy - tons and tons of luck winging its way to you.  I really hope it works out.  I know you'll enjoy working in HE - I adore my job here at a College.

Good advice from Gee (as ever!) learning as much as you can about what the institution does or particularly specialises in. 

My own advice, on top of that, is to be yourself.  I recently saw the notes that were scribbled on a copy of my CV by the person who employed me "sense of humour - made me laugh" and "not afraid to speak her mind".

Three years + later, still here and still loving it.

Let us know how you get on.

[officepa]

Thanks geminigirl - much appreciated.  Uni/College life is growing on me so would quite like to secure a role in such an environment. 

I'll report back as soon as I can. Thanks again.

[Cathy S]

Hi Cathy

Is this an academic department office role or a central services role you are applying for?

If it is for a Department/Faculty get yourself some background on their specific subject area(s) eg an Arts Faculty may have a number of exhibitions running - try and see some and think about organising an event like that; whereas a central service team dealing with students might be more process orientated (eg enrolment; SITS; timetabling) so try and find out about those things.

Even if you wouldn't be directly involved it will help you prepare questions and for the interview and when you get the job it can help you fit into the team more easily.

Other than that as you have already heard, be yourself, don't be tempted to exaggerate anything but don't undersell your transferable skills ...

Finally the best of luck and do please let us know hoe you get on - we will all be nervous for you I am sure ...

Cathy

[officepa]

Hi - update - did not get the job.  To be honest, I am not too disappointed as I was not impressed at the interview.

In short - I turned up at the correct time (along with another lady for the same position) and we sat in reception for over 20 mins until someone turned up.  She arrived, no apologies for keeping us waiting.  Took us to interview room and we sat for another 10 minutes to give two other invited for interview time to arrive - they did not.

So, as there was only two of us, they decided to have us both in together and give us background to college, what the position entails etc.  They gave us the opportunity to ask questions but of course we both felt a little awkward.  They then separated us and one had the actual interview while the other sat tests outside in the office - we then swapped over. 

The tests, I now believe, were set up to make us fail.  They gave us half an hour to do 10 items of work including mail merging from scratch, setting up Excel spreadsheets and inputting about 30 lines of data including formulas, typing memos from info they had supplied, and lots more that I never got through in the time allowed.

The actual interview went well I felt.

As I was leaving, the other lady was still in her car in the car park as she was hoping to catch me and we both decided it was a set up (sounds over the top but that is how it felt and it was strange we both felt like this).  There was no way we could have got throught the tests in the time allowed.  We exchanged phone numbers.

At 5pm I was called and told that although I interviewed very well and they were impressed the results of the tests let me down and therefore they could not offer me the position.  Then went on to say they have decided to fill the vacancy with an internal applicant.  I did say I felt there was too much to complete in the time allowed but this sounded lame and their response was they have had others in the past who have completed it - this I find hard to beleive.

I rang the other interviewee and she was told word for word the same reason for not offering her the position.  I believe all along they wanted the itnernal applicant and had no intention of employing me nor the other lady.  Why did they waste my time??

Sorry to rant for so long - feel better now

[IDB]

What a complete WASTE of your time and preparation for such an establishment.  Glad to hear that you are not too disappointed in getting the role but at least you know the other candidate felt exactly the same.  Good luck in your search for a new role.

[Jackie G]

I have done those kinds of tests in the past and believe they are not designed to allow you finish them, but it's to show what you start with and how you go about them rather than the actual doing...

I've been in an interview situation for a job that sounded good but was not impressed at interview and didn't get the job but was, like you, not disappointed.

Interesting way to treat the pair of you.  As for allowing (late) candidates to appear - no way!  The very outcome that you both had in terms of results and thoughts immediately post-interview show it wasn't to be.

Better luck next time, both in the way you're dealt and outcome.

[gee4]

I would have been so mad    but have experienced similar before.

Why didn't they just trawl the advert internally?  A higher education establishment usually does that first and only advertises outside if doing a huge recruitment drive.

I agree though, 10 items of work in half an hour, nonsense!

[Cathy S]

Hello Cathy

I am sorry to hear about the way you were both treated.  It is not uncommon within HE for Internal candidates to get jobs and the employer goes out of their way to hold fair assessments; but you may well find that the internal applicant could complete the tests more quickly/effectively because they do similar tasks already.

It is good to see you being as positive as you are - VERY IMPORTANT - please don't see this as a waste of time; it is part of your learning curve in the sector and if you want to work in the Education Sector it is valuable experience so you have a better idea for future interviews.  Can you remember sufficient of the tests to replicate and practice at home? because you can be certain that other interviews will include similar tasks even if the background is different.

One final thing - it can work the other way - I completed exemplary tests when I interviewed here, but I had already interviewed and knew after the first question I wouldn't be offered the post because the questions didn't quite fit the role (it was a PA role and the questions were not those that would be directed at a PA).  However on the strength of my tests plus my conversation with the Adinistrator hosting me, I was invited for an interview for my current post and got it.

Keep heart there is the right job for you round one of the next corners.

Cathy

[officepa]

Thank you all - onwards and upwards.  I have learnt a lot from this experience so not all was lost.

This is (I believe) my 100th post - yipee - cakes all round!!!!  [/color]

[gee4]

Ooh yes please....something with lots of gooey chocolate!