General Chat

I think some of you are aware that i work in a homeless hostel? I put a thread up it must be a year ago about my senior and how i was treated?Lots of people said get out of the job,but easier said than done.Yesterday she took morning off and swanned in about 12.45.I had wrote a letter to housing benefit and was on my way of taking it to council.She took it out of my hand and said she would take it and put it in her calendar, that she had done it as she had got no work to put in.I had already put in for another job and they have rung me today and going to give me a interview on Wednesday.Its still for homeless but for homeless on the streets.They have asked me to give them a 5 minute talk on my own personal problem solving?In the hostel we dont do problem solving.I listen and give advice.I am really not sure what they are asking?Any help would be welcome as i need to get away from the current job.I Had a op on the 11thJuly.It took her a week to phone to see when i was coming back to work.Tuesday i told her i had,had my hospital results and she did not even ask if it was cancer or not.Thankfully the tumours were benign.
Annie

Grannie, I am not too sure about these things, but perhaps you could start by saying that you were not sure whether they meant the way you solve your own problems, or the way you solve problems for other people. However, you are trying to solve your own personal problem of an awkward boss by looking for a new position. Then go on to explain that you are very good at listening to other people with problems and suggesting ways in which they could fix them. I dont know if that would help at all.

Huia.

Eck Annie not a good one, I agree with Huia that you have to find out if they want your take on solving your problems or your take on solving those of others.

If it's on the solving of others then yes you do already do that (even if you don't realise it)
You listen to the problem
decide what is the problem
and then give advice.

A five min talk to say all that mmm well you have to evaluate what the problem really is as many use a lesser reason and you also have to evaluate the advise you will give to the person you are giving it too.
Give examples if possible about why some advise would be good for 1 and not others ....
...sorry I'm throwing thoughts about here

You also will evaluate the person involved some young people you can advise to return home others not.

I am trying to think when I was "on the streets" who and why kept me focused or more to the point what did they do that others didn't.

Add words of compassion without condesending ..the need for the person to actually help themselves rather than have it all handed on a plate.

I wish you luck Annie in getting this new job instead of the one you are in and if you need references send them to GR.

Sorry I can't be of more help but do pm me if you think I might be of use

xx

I would look at the whole package.

Make sure you present yourself in a tidy but comfortable outfit, just enough to show that some effort has been made.

I agree with Huia by telling them if you aren't sure about what has been asked but at that point get out your notebook and give a few examples of how you have dealt with other peoples problems by listening and giving options. I wouldn't mention the present difficulty about your boss but would suggest an enthusiasm for helping other people, after all that is what they are wanting.

Explain if you have done extra to what has been asked of you or have you done something where you were proud of your imput,even if your boss wasn't. If you are a Grannie I am sure you have resolved some difficulties with your grandchildren, have you spoken on their behalf to your offspring. All things like this are to do with problem solving.

Go into the interview knowing that you have done your homework, and asking for everyone's imput is one way of doing that. Be sure of what you are going to say and above all give a friendly, reassuring manner because the homeless or anyone who is a bit down need that when their life isn't too good.
Good Luck....you can do it- jl

ps if it's your personal problem they are asking tell them you sit down with a cup of tea and evaluate the problem

Do NOT tell them you run around like a headless chicken screaming like a banshee !!!!!! :-D :-D :-D

Good luck do let us know how you get on please.

having carried out lots of interviews for a large company, I would say do not mention personal problems they're not interested. They want to know how you going to help people on the streets. Do you know of schemes like shelter and council or other local organisations. Also not all homeless people want to come off the streets but they may need other help such as medical.I know you have had problems with your boss but do not say anything about it as it shows disloyalty, you just fancy a different direction. Talk about giving advice and more importantly listening to people. I wish you all the luck ,but if your passionate about this subject I'm sure it will show through

I have no intention on saying anything about my present employer.I am very passionate about homeless.it all started with my first boyfriend that lived rough for a short while.
Annie

As a home manager and an area manager I agree with the comments made about not mentioning personal problems or difficulties with previous manager. If directly asked just be honest and say that you always tried to give your best to the residents and that you worked with your manager as well as you could depending on what happened each day.

Be honest re your experience, explain that you are looking for a post which will enable you to develop and will be a permanent post.
Never put your previous employer ,as the intervene may well think that you could critisis them!

Write a list of questions you would like answered,, ask if you can meet another member of staff and one or two of the people you may be helping.

I agree with all that crafting cockney has said.

Good luck

Bridget
23.08 Spain

I'm a bit tired to think much tonight Annie, but I see several helpful suggestions already and I am sure you will strike the right impression.

Best of luck with the interview. It's such a shame your manager is so awful as I know how much you care about your clients and she seems determined to sabotage any work you do or take the kudos for herself. It's disgraceful that she took credit for your letter cos she had been too lazy to do anything.

She's going to be up the creek without a paddle if/when you leave, see if she stays in the job long then, I bet she will be found out as a fraud when you aren't there to cover her back.

Best of luck,

Lizx

Yes, I can see now that it would not be a good idea to mention your current boss. I was tired and not thinking straight when I wrote that. I was just throwing something in so that your thread did not drop down too far before other better minds saw it.

Huia.

Hi Huia, hope you are ok except for being tired.

Lizxxx

Good morning
I had another few thoughts this morning which may help, I leave you to decide.

1. Make sure that you have plenty of time to get to the place where you are being interviewed.
2. The night before make sure that you have everything ready. Clothes you are wearing,comfortable shoes, (and that they have been polished), paperwork, handbag Etc.
3. Do not wear an over powerful perfume. As someone who has interviewed hundreds of people there is nothing more of putting than male or female turning up with a very strong aroma from perfume or aftershave.
4. Make some headings in a book which will help you to remember what you want to say.
5. Leave a moment or two between being asked a question and answering it.
If you have not understood the question say so
6. take any evidence of training, development etc that you have undertaken, think of one or two areas you would like to have further training on.
7. REALLY do NOT make your first question what the pay rate and terms and Conditions of working are...there is nothing in my mind worse than this!
8. References. Given your difficult relationship with your exuding manager just remember that these days most organisations are only prepared to confirm
a) the name and address of the place of work
B) the date the Interviewee commenced their employment.
C) the full address of the interviewee
D) any training undertaken during their time of employment.

Sometimes someone will telephone the employer and ask for further details BUT it is very unwise for them to state anything that they have not mentioned before. ( I have known people to loose their job for not sticking to these points)

Finally try to relax, give the info requested as simply as you can, smile, and remember you can do this.

GOOD LUCK

Bridget
07.30 hrs Spain

:-)

I’m afraid this sounds like one of those “Buzz words” that companies are so fond of in these times “problem solving” “thinking out of the box” “skills management” etc.

They have standard questions like “Why should I give you/ why do you want this job” or “what are your weaknesses”.

I suspect they ask them because they have been on a training course as an interviewer and frankly can’t think up a sensible question on their own!

I would Google something like problem solving or problem solving examples. And have a read through the hits. I imagine it’s down to coming up with a “to do” list like.

Evaluate situation
Break them down into their key factors
Consider the options for approaching and resolving them
Decide on the most appropriate solution
 
Then perhaps give an example of where you have done this, if you can’t think of one in particular maybe use a little poetic licence!

Good luck, and remember you have experience and have proved you can do the job.

Mayfield

Mayfield, how true your comments are about Training and the "in buzz words.
It used to really bug me that each year so much training was required in my field of work which very basically was providing the highest standard of care for people who required long term care in !Nursing Homes, Residential Homes, Mental Health Homes. Some were fully funded by the NHS and some were eithere fully private or partially funded. My aim was always that each person was treated equally as well whatever there condition.
Over the 30 plus years that I worked in this environment I saw many changes some of which where needed and are still in place and others that have fallen by the road side.
Some examples

1) all staff must have a supervision ever two months and one Appraisal during this time, in total this equals six times a year each member of staff must have this in place.
2). Every member of staff must attended a given number of training sessions every year. The numbers of areas was constantly changing and the cost is very expensive.
3) all managers must have a Management Qualification with some having this at degree level!
4) cleaners, domestic staff etc also have to have specialist training etc

I will not go on as I feel most people will know what I am trying to say..

Common sense supported by a decent manager who should know the strength and weaknesses of their staff seems to have been ignored.

Any half decent manager should within the first five or ten minutes if the person they are interviewing is at ease and beginnig to give the info required. I am not saying that is the length of the interview but is a guideline.

Ah Mayfield maybe we should write a guide for people who need to interpret what the questions being asked actually mean and how to provide clear answers....

What line of employment are /where you in??

Day care, health care, elderly care, care for people who are homeless, childrens care etc etc have a commonality CARE let us not forget this

Granny you care, you can hold your head high an go for it with confidence,

Bridget
08.58 Spain

you seem to have taken offence at what I said there was no malice intended, but everyone is right there is a set interview pattern which was set up by an American consultancy. First let me say from your letter it is obvious you are passionate about your work, I merely meant let that shine through,secondly regarding your manager, she has succeeded in undermining your confidence but remember she comes in late because she knows someone will have done the work already and she takes credit for others work because she can't do it herself and this will be evident once you've gone.As for interview, if they are trained interviewers the so called buzz words they need to hear are- You work well in a team but can also work on your own using your own initiative. You're leaving your present job because you wish to extend yourself in another direction. As for not being able to solve problems thats rubbish, if you're a wife, mother and grandmother then you have been solving problems all your life and make sure you say if you can't solve a problem then you will find someone who can.Finally I agree with Spanish Eyes do not wear heavy perfume or jangly jewellry.The best of luck you can do it

Granny, also as somebody ex HR who has held and attended many interviews. You have been given excellent advice from Spanish eyes, Carfting Cockney and Mayfield so I do not need to add more except, be yourself, try and relax, and when you enter the room for the interview, smile at the board of interviewers and say 'good morning/afternoon. And when you leave, say 'thank you'.

Another tip we were given. If you have a handbag with you, place it by your chair and do not wear jangly bracelets so that you don't fidget with anything. Hold a notebook open on your lap with any questions you want to ask.

Granny, one more tip-
if there is a job description and/or a 'the ideal candidate should' list make sure you read them carefully and try to relate them to what you do already or even areas you would like to develop further.

Good luck

Hi Bridget,
I don’t want to hijack Grannie of 12’s thread, but in answer to your question.

I was a Technician in the gas industry and although I did a fair bit of supervision as well as training and assessment of engineers and apprentices I’m basically a hands on nuts and bolts sort of bloke.

I have sat (bored to death) at so many meetings listening to some whiz kit enthuse about some “new” idea that I can remember being ditched ten or twenty years before because it didn’t work. Ideas just go round and round, seems it’s the good workable ones that fall by the wayside.

Firms spend wads of cash on consultants who recommend team bonding days, when they have destroyed the community sprit of the company as my wife’s employer did by getting rid of tea breaks and the biscuit lady twice a day who was the font of all company knowledge and interdepartmental gossip!

And I have sat in a car at the side of the road (time restraints and targets) to have my performance review done by a lad who wasn’t even a glint in his dad’s eye when I started doing the job, but has lots of management courses under his belt.

Oh dear! See you’ve got me started now ;-)

Look forward to hearing a positive outcome form the interview Grannie once again good luck :-)

Mayfield

There you are Mayfield, we have such a wide experience between us and I think one or two others who have been in other areas of experience we could write a guideline to interviews. Who is up for it.???

I am not going to add any more advice to Granny as I think that by now she has had a lot to read and digest, so will be having positive thoughts for her instead.

Siting in the shade as it is a sunny and hot day, remembering my hands on days as a nurse then a Sister in a well know London Hospital, I know that we did not have the paperwork now required BUT we did know how to provide hands on care as well as doing all the then required paper work.
Also we cared for the relatives and friends of the patients.
I am still in touch with 9 people who are relatives of people I was responsible for during my career. Not bad really, and one visits me once a year and always brings her mothers favourite flowers.
Granny I am sure that there are many people who feel the same way about you, hold your head up high and do not be afraid to look at people when they are talking to you....

Good Luck

Bridget in Spain

16.52 hrs.
:-D

Thank you all so much.I have printed off all of this thread so i can digest it all and some really good advice given.After the morning i had this morning with senior again i cant wait for this interview.It would be nice if she bought her own lunch in instead of eating mine lol or bought some milk for her tea.Shes a bit on the tight side as well.Fingers crossed i get the job and i dont think she will talk to me again lol
Thank you to you all
Annie