Interview advice

[Ranald]

Hi everyone, I will be having an interview for a job late next week and am wondering whether anyone had any advice.
I will soon come to the end of my first year at Oxford Brookes University and the job is of a practical nature i.e. attending races and being a bit of an 'oddjob', just to get the experience and get my foot in the door.
I would greatly appreciate any advice you may have regarding interview preperation, interview teqhnique or even what you think I should wear or ask. If you need any more information regarding me or the job by all means ask.
Thankyou.

Ranald

[jaslfc]

1) be prepared. do some background research of the company & industry
2) dress smart.
3) talk slowly and dont jump topics.. (alot of ppl tend to just talk fast and jump from one topic to another.

GOOD LUCK

[Ted68]

Jasflc is right, be prepared.

Things I look for when interviewing a potential new employee;

1. Did not bring friends to the interview.

2. Cell phone is turned off.

3. Is prepared--does not need to borrow a pen to fill in the application. Has all the required info written down or commited to memory for the job application. Has a copy of resume even if I have seen it in advance.

4. Is polite to my office staff. Yes, I check that before I talk to you. Realize that you are being watched and that they already work here, you don't. Linda and Lisa, my office manager and receptionist, call this the "Asshole Test."

5. Listens to my questions, does not answer something they thought I was going to ask.

6. Answers are to the point, not drawn out. Same with your questions.

7. Ask any question they have about the job or company. That is what interviews are for. It may turn out that you don't like the job offered. Saves us both time later.

8. Don't ask about salary or vacation time until I actually offer you the job. The interview is for finding if I like you for the job or if you like the job offered.

9. Don't hang about afterward. Be polite, thankful and leave.

Now, if you are offered the job make the company tell you what the position pays. They will often with entry level positions try to get you to throw out a low figure and hire you for that. And do not be afraid to negotiate for more. You can usually get another 10-15% this way. Just be smooth and confident about it. It shows strength.

Good luck.

[Ranald]

Thanks guys. Some excellent advice there.

[West]

Bring copies of your resume and any articles you can show the employer. My friend almost didn't hire somebody because she forgot to bring a copy of a resume.

[SystemsWiz]

Good Advice guys. I have a question though,I am going to an interview in Rotterdam in May and i will be visiting two different locations, a shop in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. My question is how i should approach the interview? should i still approach this like a sit down interview or is this a special case?

[SystemsWiz]

I will be touring there manufactoring facilities, there testing and design facilities and meeting the design team, as well as checking out there location at TUDelft.

[Ranald]

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. The interview has been put back by a fortnight to the 10th of May so any more advice would be appreciated.

[Carlos]

Congratulations on your interviews Ranald and SystemsWiz - There was another similar thread - with a heading like -" Interviewing for a position in F1" - I spent some time looking for it - but could not find it

Ahhh... Found it! - 6 Pages.

viewtopic.php?t=3941&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Also interviews are not just sitting in an office - but often include lunch and dinner - learn the social niceties and etiquette - remembering of course, to follow the example of others at table.

[Ranald]

Thanks Carlos I have followed the thread you talk of. I thought I would start a fresh thread because my potential position is significantly lower than that discussed in the other thread. Having said that all of the info the thread is still of use.

[West]

Good Advice guys. I have a question though,I am going to an interview in Rotterdam in May and i will be visiting two different locations, a shop in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. My question is how i should approach the interview? should i still approach this like a sit down interview or is this a special case?

If the shops operate differently, you should learn by which methods - what products they make, their approach process, etc. Ask questions about what role you would be playing, training methods, whatever - act interested. Be prepared to take notes, as maybe later on in the interview you may ask the company to reiterate things you may have missed. Make sure that the interviewer knows you have researched the company and the job position.

Aside from the other tips in this forum, treat each interview on a case-by-case basis, With each interview you should have more confidence and experience with the next.

One more thing - if you're in Amsterdam, don't let anybody from the company see you, before or after the interview, partying in the red light district.

[Ranald]

Hi guys I had the interview today and it went very well. I will join the team at events initially as an unpaid 'gophor' for the engineering team. Without naming names (although I will in the future), it is a British sportscar team who will be at Le Mans (and so will I!) and finished very well last year.
So thankyou all for your advice and I hope to update you with all my exciting adventures.

Thanks.

Ranald

[Tom]

Well done Ranald, congrats, if you get on TV give us a wave.

[West]

Here's some other advice Ranald.

Make sure you have a sign that says "Hi F1technical!" whenever you have the chance. Most of us will be watching for 20 hours.

[Ranald]

I'll have to get a banner made up then.