Good luck!

Best of luck, hun. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you

BTW, what's the job you're applying for?

Good luck Jola!

I know at a lot of interviews I've been to and my friends have been to recently, we've tended to get a lot more questions about general skills, rather than those specific to the particular job. They're after organisational, teamwork and communication skills as much as anything these days.

good luck honey! *holding fingers crossed for you*

Oh Jola, many, many wishes of good luck to you on your foray back into job land!

Is it a particular department with the Council that the job is advertised as? It may help a little to get to know what that department is responsible for. Also it would help to show your interest if you can think of a couple of sensible questions to ask when they get to the 'do you have any questions' part, but try not to concentrate on things like how much holiday / how much money as they are very *me* oriented... perhaps 'would I be working as part of a larger team?' 'what would I have overall responsibility for' etc

Also, don't be so nervous about the interview hun, you have got bags of organisational experience with being a mum, also you have time management skills, heaps of interpersonal skills from your aromatherapy club on the net, to the S14 & Starfury e-groups & on here... Just think of all the things you do & allocate the posh businessy names that they have in job-land

*fingers are crossed for you* Good luck!

Oh good luck with the interview honey. Not that you'll need it

Oh and aromatherapy club? <looks interested>

Loads of luck hun, keeping my fingers crossed

Thanks guys

Its actually for a job I done previously but at a different Council (9 years experience) but having a gap of about 4 years approx I'm a bit behind on up to date info on it

All the best - practice some interview questions - makes it all easier

I'm sure that having done the job before will stand you in good stead! Best of luck!

/me goes off to check her wardrobe for something suitable to wear

good luck and wear something sorta sexy in a subtle way.

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by Jola
Its actually for a job I done previously but at a different Council (9 years experience) but having a gap of about 4 years approx I'm a bit behind on up to date info on it

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In that case you could ask questions like "what new systems do you have within the department?" and "has the staffing structure changed?"

I had an interview for our local council way back in October that I'd had some experience with as I originally did my YTS there many moons ago. I recalled various systems etc that I had been associated with and they seemed impressed (in fact they did offer me the job within 3 days - but I turned it down)

I tend to think you can't go wrong with a black suit with a brighter coloured shirt (white is so boring) although a lot of beige/sandy coloured suits are smart too. Doesn't tend to matter whether its a skirt or trouser suit as long as you keep comfortable.

I know there were quite a few threads on interviews on the temp boards and I seem to recall things like - "keep eye contact with the person asking questions", "smile", "if you're not sure ask". Try and run a few test questions in your head - get Len to help you

But definitely the best of luck and fingers crossed

All the best for this, Jola.

You'll probably have more experience of the job than most of the applicants, so I'm sure the four years won't be a problem. And in my experience the best thing you can do in an interview is just come over as self-assured and interested in learning new skills. Interviewers love that stuff, and tend to be just as nervous as the interviewee (mainly because most of them don't know how to hold an interview).

But that's just my usual less than modest one. Good luck.

All the best for this, Jola

As others have said, focus on the experience to have and on the skills you've developed in the time you weren't working that you could bring to the job. Transferable skills are the big buzzword these days. Being able to ask a couple of well-thought-out questions is also a good point.

As for an outfit, I agree with Pegasus, a dark suit is probably best. It's always better to dress quite conservatively but still look like you've made and effort.

Good Luck!

The one question i will advise you to think of an answer for in advance would be "What is your biggest weakness?" Its a pig of a question and they usually want you to turn it into a positive. All my recent interviews have also included the "Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?" question as well but they have been for straight out of uni graduate jobs so i don't know whether that one will be relevent for you.

Good luck sweetie and i'll keep my fingers crossed for you

Good luck!! You'll get it no probs

oooh, i'm useless at giving advice in interviews - only interview i've done is one for a scholorship at school!


Anways hun, Good Luck and i hope you get it

Ferretgirlwas your interview for a real scholarship or a pretend one?
because we practised interview technique by doing a mock scholarship interview a couple of weeks back heh
and as for dress code, i thought you couldn't go wrong with smart black and white, but apparently one girl who wore virtually the same outfit i did (black skirt white blouse) was told 'this is a formal interview, you did know that formal dress was required?'
had me biting my nails! heh