Job interview - Please wish me luck!!

[NotUrsula]

Sticking my head in from over the water.

I don't know if this is done in the UK, but it is here; if you have been offered severance pay (redundancy money) by your current company, and the new company wants you but does not wish to wait for you; a possible tactic is to ask if they will match that amount as a hiring bonus. Here, at least, it's fairly common that they will if they want you and really need you ASAP.

Of course, in the US, being "laid off" (made redundant) usually means that they tell you that you have 20 minutes to clean out your desk and be off the premises, as they are afraid of sabotage. When it happened to me after 10 yrs. service last year, I was given a princely 39 minutes' packing time, but I was not allowed to speak to anyone from the time I left the HR office; I had an escort the entire time. We had 13 people let go that day; they had armed guards posted in the car park for a week for fear that one of us would go berserk.

 

[kev kendall]

Well done - i'm so pleased for you?
If you have some doubts, bring them up in the second interview; you have to question them and be sure they're the right firm as well as them weighing you up! It's all a dance really. Ditto about them waiting for the right person - if they want you, they'll wait - we have done before!

 

[kevin harrison]

OK - Here's the next part.....

My agency rang me today to confirm the 2nd interview for me. I was told that they really liked and were impressed by me and see a great deal of potential, but are worried that because I've only been in the 1 job for 19 years it will take me a while to adapt. They have told my agency that if all goes well on Thursday they will offer me the job and give me a 3 month training programme to incorporate me into the ways of the company. This has largely removed doubts from my mind and is fine by me - in 3 months I'm confident I'll have it all sorted in my mind and will be able to hit the ground running.

I have to do a numeracy and literacy test - what do these normally involve? I've tried a couple of these tests online that I found and was terrible at them....

 

[juliebro]

Hopefully, I can offer a bit of advice - from having been both an interviewer and an interviewee. I'm willing to bet that you're more adaptable than you (and they) may think. OK - you have been in the same job for 19 years, but things must have changed over those 19 years - computerisation, expansion/contraction, new workmates, etc. Use those experiences to describe how you've adapted to change in your current job. If you've done anything pro-active e.g. learn how to use a PC (or new applications) in your own time - tell them about it. Try to think of some other aspects of your life where things have changed or new experiences you've had, and how you've coped e.g. moving house, getting married, having children, going to US on holiday(!). I bet you can come up with loads of examples!

Good luck!

Julie

 

[kevin harrison]

I agree with everything you said, there viewpoint is silly really. In 19 years I've been promoted a few times, diversified, worked with numerous staff, we've changed premises, become computerised.

I've realised because I've been somewhere so long that it was important not to become "stuck in my ways" so to speak.

Now has anyone advice on these tests I have to endure? My mind just never works with puzzles for some reason.

 

[mushumadness]

dont rush its better to get correct answers than answer all the questions

 

[juliebro]

Try this link

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm

It has a link to some example numeracy and literacy tests. Seems to give quite good advice too.

Good luck!

Julie

 

[Dislifer]

Good Luck...just act like you are having a conversation with someone!

 

[kevin harrison]

I got the job !!!

I went for the testing on Thursday, thought I had failed it in a major way - I only got half done, and was called by my agency today to be told that they will be putting a formal offer to me on Monday.

Originally my boss wanted me to stay at work till October 14th in order to get my redundancy money, but hopefully I'll do my last day, the day before I go to Florida, have 2 great stress free weeks with a new job to look foward to....

Here's a strange thing though, the day I was made redundant after 19 years was the first time in 19 years I got a job interview....

Thanks for all your wishes and it is really appreciated.

 

[wilma-bride]

Congratulations Kevin. That's great news. You can really relax and enjoy your holiday now, knowing you've got a brand new job to come back to

 

[cazzie]

Congratulations Kevin, this is great news so now relax look forward to your holiday and then a brand new job.

 

[kristieuk]

Many congratulations. That's so exciting! Well done.

 

[Ware Bears]

Congratulations Kevin!!!

 

[Clare D]

''Here's a strange thing though, the day I was made redundant after 19 years was the first time in 19 years I got a job interview....''
Hi Kevin this is great news but how spooky is that?

 

[angel659]

Congratulations !! Enjoy your holiday!!

:thewave: :thewave: :thewave: :thewave:

 

[mark&sue]

Kevin

So pleased for you.

I was made redundant from a job I was in for 13 years and I was so devastated at the time as my job had been the only constant thing in my life at the time and could not believe it had gone and they were leaving me. I felt so empty.

I now have a great job and feel I am so lucky to have a better job than before. I can even walk to work now!!!!

Hope everything works out for you. Being the new person is hard at first but it soon flies by. I have been in my "new job" now for 8 years!!!!

We are all thinking of you. Have the best holiday too.



Susan

 

[natalielongstaff]

thats great kevin well done

 

[kevin harrison]

Thanks for all your help and advice. It's appreciated.

 

[juliebro]

Kevin,

Just got back from holiday (not Disney this time) and so have only just heard your good news. Excellent - well done!

Julie

 

[Cyrano]

Fantastic news

Reid