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Tales of Job interviews

Written by poshspice from the blog POSH SPICE on 01 Mar 2008
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You've landed that job interview you've been fasting,praying or even abtained for. it's a chance you've been waiting for after sending hundreds of CV's without response.

one friend walked out of an interview another once told the company they were unprofessional for making them wait for hours, they were shocked (she did not get that job).

I've seen some candidates cleavage hanging out, too sexy or dressed like baya eMarket , arrogance and disasters.

having been part of the panel of interviews, I've heard hilarious answers from candidates and I think almost all of us have made blunders, I've made blunders

let's share: your first few job interviews how did you answer the following and any tales to tell....

* tell us about yorself

* what are your weaknesses

* what are your strengths

* where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years

* how do you deal with conflict

*any questions you want to ask the panel

and how do you feel about the 'Aprentice' style of interviewing, where all candidates sit in the same room and take turns in front of others to convince the panel why they are best suited for the position....

45 Comments

poshspice
03 Mar 2008 01:04

I was hoping for Mzansi awards recap this mornign, while waiting tfor he low-down, umfundisi ulindwa ngeculo...let's deliberate on the above...do tell

sponono
03 Mar 2008 01:24

In my last interview I was asked to tell about myself.....I actually spent more than ten minutes talking about all sorts of things from my job to the situation in South africa and about the youth..and what not.....by the time I finished I wanted to go jump in a lake ...coz of embarrassment and the poor ladies just sat there and took all of it......(needless to say i didnt get the job)..(i was too desperate thats why i babled all the way

lesson for that day...less is more

i'll be back with more embarrasing interview moments

Toxic
03 Mar 2008 01:36

LOL posh!!!

Nonny
03 Mar 2008 01:38

Nice one posh, this one interview I had, when they asked me the tell us about urself question, they were shocked when I answered: "This tell us about urself is TOO open ended, plz ask me exactly what u would like like to know about me and I will elaborate, and this is to avoid me going on and on about something that disinterests you".............I think one of the men almost fell out of their chair in disbelief of how I was able to challenge them into rephrazing their stupid questions..........needless to say, that same confidence landed me the job, becoz that gave me an X-factor to them!!!!

felfel
03 Mar 2008 01:59

Good one Nonny, think i should use that line in ma journey to find the perfect job neh....lol

myname
03 Mar 2008 02:03

Yho dont know where to start but there is this question which i hate it so much " where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?" I remember this other time i was tired of this question again & again and really i dont have a view what i wil be doing so i told them Im not God & im not a fortune teller & maybe i wil b working at a new company. The thing is, i knew they were not going to hire mi bcoz i didnt know how to praat.

felfel
03 Mar 2008 02:12

@myname...i knew they were not going to hire mi bcoz i didnt know how to praat. hahahaha, this is funny man wena...lol, uthi you don't know how to praat , neither do I mtshana...heheeehehehehe

Fluffy Head
03 Mar 2008 02:16

The worst I've heard - interview a # of people myself...is someone telling us about their personal life from the moment they were born to now. I mean we don't wanna know if you were abused as a child...
But my worst interview was at this company, you know those based in office parks so there are a number of companies in the same park...I was there on time and could not find the entrance to where I was supposed to go. I panniced and was sweating like shait - but none the less I got the job cause I made a joke out of my being late and sweating like a pig.

myname
03 Mar 2008 02:23

I remember she called mi & asked mi this q. So you never worked before? And I answered Yes but whats up with this question, where do you think Im going to find your 3 years experience. I just finish my Diploma & the only experience I have is a part-time waitress during school holidays & I was trying to make some more cash for lunch. and I was harsh man. The woman just laugh & she called me for interview & I got the job.

Renegade
03 Mar 2008 02:24

Never been on a job interview, but I've heard some funny stories. I've always believed that if u are well spoken u can get away with a lot, but there is obviously so much u can get a way with.

Tweet
03 Mar 2008 02:39

I went to this other interview after a very long session they asked at the end any questions from your side maam, and I was like when am I starting. They laughed they culd not believe I said that....good thing abt it I got the job...........

sponono
03 Mar 2008 02:42

ok so the interview was supposed to be on wednesday..and I only showed up on thursday..because I took the wrong date....when i got to the HR office and asked about the "interview"...the assistant just showed me to the HR officer..who took her time telling me how good my cv looked and how i threw away a good chance for a good grade and how she loooked high and low for me trying my cell phone and how evrione was waiiting for me even postposing the itnerviw time....and how disapointed she is....yoh...and this woman was loud and in-your-face..VMash type..twanging and shouting and shaking her wieve and long nails and I could nt add one word..(of course she had a point BUT dang !!!.afta that perfomance..the only thing I said..was thanks for your time and left.....basically I had an interview about the interview..and it was enough to kill my hopes for another job..phew

Vutmi
03 Mar 2008 02:45

Once applied for this CEO job @ a big company immediately after completing my diploma. I thougfht i was just joking around cause they needed about 15yrs experience in the management position. They called me for the interview and when i got there (remember im just an outofschool sort) i found this big guys with expencive suits and big mkhavas. I sat there and they all looked at me, i looked @ each on of them straight in the eye. The chairperson finally asked me why i applied for the job and i told him i thought i could do all those things they explained in the job description. he explained to me that I was not qualified for the CEO job but because of my ethusiasim (which i had none), he will give me a junior position. it was quite funny the way all those guys looked @ me like i was a lunny.

felfel
03 Mar 2008 03:02

Fluufyhead - do pigs sweat?

felfel
03 Mar 2008 03:04

Wow Vutmi, and, did you take the Junior position? that was brave of you, there are some very senior posts out there that when you look at them you really feel like i can crack this one neh....

Vutmi
03 Mar 2008 03:08

@ felfel... no didnt take the job, i couldnt settle for less(kidding), took the job but only worked for 2 months, got something better elsewhere.

myname
03 Mar 2008 03:17

Remember that coffee ad on TV well it happened to me. The interview was in Johannesburg in Parktown at 08:30. Oh let me remind you it was the first time going to interview & I didnt know where Parktown in JHB is & Im desperate looking for job. So I called the lady that I will be late nge10-20minutes & she said its okay. But guess what???????? I arrived there at 11:20 carrying my high heels by hands because I couldnt walk & my new shoes were eating me. And the driver got lost so he dropped me in the middle of nowhere. And during my way out of the taxi my top hanged in that skoroskoro old taxi & it ripped & I didnt have jacket to cover it. The moment I arrived there I said Afternoon instead of Morning & I told them Im tired & Im hungry. They gave me biscuits & coffee & after I left.. Im sure it was a Moemish of the Year. And I went home & my aunty asked mi so how was the interview I told her I didnt find the place so I came back home

mazemnyama
03 Mar 2008 03:32

jong guys my very first interview was like a dream the guy was very friendly, i was offered biscuits before the interview and we sat and he said something that led me to blieve he was my friend.... and then like the friends we "were" we chatted about my weaknesses and i told him all of them, not in so many words but i sort of told him i had a fear of heights which i could overcome at anytime once i got the job and jah i didnt get that one. so less is definately more i tell you
it seems all interviews are the same, inoba kufuneka uthini when they ask you to predict the future????? well in 5 years time ndizibona ndiphangela/ndisenza imali , should there b more than that

myname
03 Mar 2008 03:48

This one I was tired of loosing so one of my crazy friends recommended a glass of wine will do magic and I wont fear and after I took a chewing gum. So since Im weak that is why I abstain from alcohol LOL so the only thing I remember was saying Please pass until the last question. The woman asked Are you okay? I told her I have a terrible headache shame she asked one of the drivers from her company to drove me home & she thought I will collapse but she never hired me

poshspice
03 Mar 2008 03:51

while on job interviews, Blacks diamonds have been accused of job hopping like there is no tomorrow, remember Ivin Khoza's outburst that he'll stick with boer's, at least they are loyal and He trains muntuz and they live him high and dry, come to think of it, I've had several job interviews, turned down job offers while there is high rate of unemployment! mhh mhh

felfel
03 Mar 2008 04:11

myname , you are too funny, are you for reall...heheheheheheeeee

sponono
03 Mar 2008 04:12

Vutmi & felfel....I feel you on those Top Jobs being advertised.....(i was once tempted to apply for a CEO position at work....BUt now that you've mentioned your experience I think I'll do it next time..just to see what happens

myname.....ROTFLOL..hilarious

Best-Achiever
03 Mar 2008 04:17

Nice one Posh .... this is how i always answer those questions

* tell us about yorself
My background to date has been centered around preparing myself to become the very best _____ I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I've prepared myself . . . (and i tell them my educational background and involvements and experience that i got), i dont tell them my name and wara wara because they already know

* what are your weaknesses
I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper planning in the past. I would overcommit myself with too many variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would like. However, since I've come to recognize that weakness, I've taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning calendar in my hand so that I can plan all of my appointments and "to do" items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned out . . . (i always carry my diary when goig to an interview and for this question it always come to my rescue.)

* what are your strengths
The ability to do the job(and having you shortlisted me, means that you also saw that) also have that ability. I also bring an additional quality that makes me the very best person for the job--my attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip service to excellence, but putting every part of myself into achieving it, so to sum everything im the hard worker who believe in achieving the best and that's what i always do(i then highlight my previous achievements).

* where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years
Although it's certainly difficult to predict things far into the future, I know what direction I want to develop toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very best _____ your company has. In fact, my personal career mission statement is to become a world-class _____ in the _____ industry. I will work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be presented in the long term.

* how do you deal with conflict
I've found that when conflict occurs, it's because of a failure to see both sides of the situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end, you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your superior, whether you're in full agreement or not

*any questions you want to ask the panel
I always ask them about the career growth in their company, how they keep track of the skills growth for their employees and how their dertemine individual's perfomance.

i got these guidelines long time ago and ever since then they have been my winning stratergy.

sponono
03 Mar 2008 04:24

wow @Best-Achiever......I'm printing your response for future use..

mseu
03 Mar 2008 04:27

Can somebody just tell me what is the correct answer when they as about your weaknesses and strength, I always wonder if I'm correct whenever I answer that question.

Addictv
03 Mar 2008 04:27

My first wasnt bad all, twas a one on one & short & sweet....and I got da job.

My worst was on da 1st week of Jan 2007, boy did I fumble....think I was still a bit tipsy and tired from partying hard over da wkend and having driven 8 hrs dat same morning....to get to da interview.

Was asked wat my current job entailed and for da life of me I cudnt think, didnt even know what my job title was, so I referred them to my CV..and it was downhill after dat. ....I remember at some point one the Interviewers asked me a question & I retorted by saying "If I were to ask u dat same question, what wud yo answer be"

And to add salt to injury, there was a fire drill going during da interview & we werent allowed to leave da boadroom for 30 min after da interview was over, so I was stuck with all those 7 people making small talk after being so rude.

Best-Achiever
03 Mar 2008 04:36

@Spo .... do print and use them, they real come i handy in those days, like i said they have been my winning stratergy.

@Mseu ... what i know about the weakness question is that, as much as yo are tellig them your weakness but you must always twist it to be positive, show them that you have realized and working on it. and for yoour strength, they are looking for things that will get your job done, so dedication and hard work is always good bt you must also tell them your experience/achievement and how you got them so they will see forthemelves.

at least that how i tackle those

mseu
03 Mar 2008 04:47

Thank you Best-Achiever your first reply has also helped I will definately use it next time, I did not see it earlier when i posted reply.

mayandie
03 Mar 2008 04:57

Ukuthula ebandleni....
Best Archiever are u a sangoma or something like that??????
I'm going for an interview on Wednsday to this big company and Iam praying to get the job but with this i'm hpoping to get a call back....
Ndithandazeleni bantu benkosi ndifuna ukuphuma kobubugxwayiba beMotor Industry.....

sponono
03 Mar 2008 04:58

LOL@ addictiv.....

yeah mseu..those "weaknesses & strengths " question can catch you off guard...but the way BestA..puts it I also try to elaborate about how I've managed to work on my negetives....instead of just saying "I hate working overtime especially on fridays....and I hate authority.and I cant wake up UNTIL 8.30AM ....no matter what.."...IMAGINE THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES...HI HI HI PRICELESS

poshspice
03 Mar 2008 05:08

@ addictiv..... "If I were to ask u dat same question, what wud yo answer be"

hi hi hi hi...poor interviewers....

Sam2say
03 Mar 2008 05:12

Hai My name wa mpolaya .... LMFAO..n..ROTF, hai e e

Addictv
03 Mar 2008 05:31

eish,.....more like poor me posh. must say, Iyk yo responses BA....absolute winner.

mseu
03 Mar 2008 05:37

Mayandie Good Luck ungaworry man, uzo uthola lomsenzi just tell yourself that.

Porsch
03 Mar 2008 05:49

my 1st interview guys, shoo i'll never forget it.

so i'm shown which office to go to for my interview and the other interviewer was late so had to wait in the other managers office, ohh guyz as i walk in i see this tall chocolate brown skin man with a body to want to lie next to the whole day( emphasis on the whole day), and it didnt help when he opned his mouth and said hello( i went weak on my knees).

guys this man one ankga monate, his lips (all i can say is his parents were definitely inlove when he was conceived.

anyway i got the job and worked with him for 3 years( torture, torture, torture)

Pooky
03 Mar 2008 05:50

Mayandie...Goodluck my dear, hope you get it...

Pooky
03 Mar 2008 05:53

@Porsche...hawu torturing yourself like that, why didnt you approach him.......

Porsch
03 Mar 2008 05:57

@Pooky .............mmmmmhhh he was already taken and so inlove with his girl, didnt even stand a chance. all i needed/need is one night with him!!!!!!!!!!

Best-Achiever
03 Mar 2008 07:02

@Mayandie ... go there and show them the winner that you are, let them know that they need you more than you need them and thaat yo can offer them more than what they can ever ask or expect. You are aborn winner

J-Girl
03 Mar 2008 07:03

doing what i do means that i am in most cases on the other side of the interviewing table, interviewees can really make me crack sometimes...
rule no. 1 ever ever lie on your cv, there is nothing worse irritating than listening to somebody babbling abt something they know fokol about...its highly highly irritating

2. look the part, as an interviewer sometime during the interview you try and visualise this person as part of your team or organisation so if they are not dressed the part, it counts against them

3. be confident, this is the only chance you have of actually convincing your potential employer that you are the right person for the job, confidence in the right doses is also very important, it doesnt help being pampous

4. research abt the position and the company, as an interviewer it helps to actually see the person making practical examples and situations related to the establishment even if you have never worked there before, it shows proactivity and interest in the company

5. be punctual - if you must be late, explain the reason why you are confidently otherwise we already foresee a situation of a badtime keeper when you arrive late and really have no valid excuse - yes it happens

6. ask for repetition and clarification when not sure abt a q. there is nothing more irritating and time wasting than a person who wanders off abt something that is not related to what you want to hear and factors that you need

7. switch off your cellphone, donot put it on vibrate - SWITCH IT OFF, it displays disrespect and its irritating in the same manner

8. smile and enjoy the interview, this is not easy to pull off esp. when being interviewed by a panel but it helps; rather look at your interviewers as people that you have chosen in order to let them know more abt. you, that way you are in a position to give more info. abt yourself and what it is that you really want to do.

ENJOY!!! interviews arent meant to be daunting situations, dont let them be!

LM
03 Mar 2008 07:58

Thanks Posh...B-A you are God-sent (sp). I hate interviews and am actually scared of them. I'm not much of a 'talker' but a 'doer' and believe you me guys, I'm in a dilemma now....I must go for an interview for my former boss's position and I'm having sleepless nights. Most people are saying the position is practically mine but they don't realise what's going in my mind right now...I even thought of pulling out my application as a result.

I will print your responses and go through your experiences and the way you tackle those nasty questions.

@ J-Girl: ENJOY!!! interviews arent meant to be daunting situations, dont let them be! wish I can say this.

poshspice
03 Mar 2008 08:09

yehh Best-Achiever thanks girl

TheLady
03 Mar 2008 08:17

I went to my last interview wearing black casual pants, a tshirt and takkies, I sat there and made jokes with the interviewers. I am starting there on Wednesday the 5th.

Everytime am asked what if I have any question, when they ask me that at the beginning, I ask why is the position available and what the responsibilities are. I learnet that the hard way, i said am leaving my present co because i want to work with automation tools, and later when she was telling me about the responsibilities she said it's manual testing...I felt sooo dumb

If am asked at the end, I ask: " Is there anything that I have said that would make you believe that am not the right candidate for this position?" This usually gives me a chance to 'undo' any wrongs.

Khuselwa
03 Mar 2008 08:29

This couldn't have come at a better time! Thanks Posh for writing this article. I've printed some of the replies for my students, shame they're so nervous!

sponono
07 Mar 2008 06:10

What do you do when someone is going for an interview to a position that you'v been dying for and you know you're more deserving.than the person but you didnt get the chance to aply..and the person ASKS you what they shud say during the interview...my cousin (sbhomboloz) went thru this yesterday at an advertising firm..

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