So it's my interview today. I wondered if I could run by some points with you all?

Strengths - I generally say I'm a natural planner, so very good organisational skills, hard working, and confident.

Weanesses - I'm pro active which can be seen as a weakness due to managers preferring things run by them. I say yes so in turn take too much on at times. This can then lead tome putting extra pressure on myself however I always ensure the work is done. And lastly I'm meticulous, so ensure I'm 100% happy with my work which means I may take slightly longer than another person.

What do you think?

A question they may ask is give an example of a time where you have struggled & how you overcame it.

At my last interview I said when I returned to work from ML, not only was it a struggle to leave my 9months old son, but I returned to new work practices put in place by the new CEO. It was difficult so I made a point of sitting with the new CEO and going through her new work practices, what she expected of me and discuss how we can work together going forward.

However, I'm wondering if something along the lines of this would be better?

Last year the chairman was travelling with some friends on his private jet. One of the group forgot her passport and ID card and wasn't allowed entry to the country. I had to liaise with her non-english speaking PA to try and gain access to her property, to look for the documents and have them flown over to her at the private airport. This individual is a celebrity and couldn't understand the need to show documentation when travelling. It was a struggle explaining the rules of air travel to a demanding individual, liaising with the non english speaker, and working at super speed to get everything to them before the trip became as waste of time.

Or shall I talk about when some directors were stuck abroad due to the ash cloud?

Or are they all shite?

Those strength/weakness answers sound great to me but don't take anything on board that I say about interviews because I'm shocking.

I think the Ash Cloud scenario could be a good one.

I'm looking at this thread with interest as I'm hoping to get an interview for the job I've just applied for, although I'm a bit put off as I've been told someone totally over qualified has applied.

Over qualified is probably giong to be their downfall SW.

All sounds good to me. Try to make your weaknesses positive though - so where you've said being meticulous means you're slower say, I would rather spend an extra few moments ensuring my work is meticulous first time and every time, than having to waste time at a later date correcting mistakes overlooked in a rush.

Good call changing from an answer where you mention maternity leave, don't let them identify you as a mother or a woman of childbearing age. However far we've come in terms of equality this is still a sticking point for *some* employers whether they care to admit to it or not.

You should have more strengths than weaknesses, so 3/4 strengths then 1 weakness but you tell them how you overcome that weakness.

The area you struggled, I'm not sure tbh I think I'd say that returning to work after mat leave was very difficult however with support from your manager and colleagues you settled again (IMO you shouldn't use an example of working with clients iyswim but I might be wrong) x

Over qualified is not always a good thing SW, I would be worried they would get bored quickly and question why they would want the role.

Belle-  answers sound good to me,  I think either the scenerio you have spoken about or the ash cloud would be a good example for the role you are going for

That's what I'm hoping.  The job is for an Occupational Therapist Assistant and the person who has applied qualified as an actual OT over 5yrs ago but has never done the job.  I deal with OT's/OTA's and what they do every single day and have done for over 9yrs.  I know one of the people on the Interview panel and know other people who work in that role who can give me advice etc but still worried about it as I really want this job.

The strenghths/weaknesses sound good to me. I like the return from ML example for the last question.

nina, the person who will be on the interview panel said to not let that put me off as she has had no experience in that field since she qualified and my work colleague said that it might be a negative because she wouldn't want to be in that role for long, she's obviously just trying to get a foot in the door.

I personally wouldn't use the returning from maternity leave example. You could kind of amalgamate the difficult individual/ ash cloud examples as examples of how you have overcome unexpected situations/ been proactive i.e. using tact, organisation etc. You have said before that your biggest struggle at the moment is being bored at work - could you use that at all? I.e. have you used the opportunity to improve things internally (it also shows the reason you want a new challenge in this new job?). I guess the issue of "struggling" dealing with big personalities could be seen as a problem because you'll no doubt be surrounded by them in your (fingers crossed) new job.

Thanks everyone.

Good point raised RS, I certainly don't want them thinking I struggle dealing with difficult people, I've dealt with 5 difficult & demanding people for the past 10years.

I love the point you've raised about struggling because I'm bored at work. I have improved all areas where I possibly can - I can say I'm working on updating my Microsoft Office skills set, but I am stuggling with the lack of workload. I thrive on being busy and I'm trying to overcome that by looking for a new challenge?

In not too much use I'm afraid, I agree with cp though I'd make sure you have more strengths than weaknesses. Also with Shhh and how she has worded the weaknesses.

Good luck, knock em dead!

Sorry should have added of course I'll pro point the weaknesses, it's just hard getting that across on text. I'd be here all day waffling lol

So more stregnths are : adaptable, a great gate keeper and a strong team player.

I personally wouldnt say about how you are bored at work - theymight assume you have been sitting skiving instead of asking for more work?

An eg I gave of weakness is how I havnt worked in this sector before however my skillset is transferable ie microsoft office package, customer service, PA to MD etc and can be applied successfully within a new environment.  Try and make it a positive

Ref computer skills - I did a fast track OCR word processing course end of last year. Bored the life out of me because Ive been using computers fine since Uni but I didnt have a qualification so was hindering me for applying for some jobs. Could you say you are looking into doing something like that? I said about how I felt it was important to enhance my skills, keep up to date with modern technologhy and keep my CV up to date.