Why are you considering leaving your present employer? (erm..i don't have a job)
(doesn't hurt to be honest) -
I enjoying my last job but it was costing more than I was making to do it so I gave it up
(this would be the newspaper run).
(here the cost could be money or stress or something else)
Why do you want to join Tesco?
Because I see them as a big stable company with plenty of opportunity to learn and with some opportunity for a career path or job variety.
doesn't hurt to flatter them a little, there's shelf stackers, then check out operators, then managers for the reliable people in a crisis
you might also mention your savings plan for the car, ie it shows strong incentive to stick with the job. Don't mention the further study other job bit. They want to imagine you want to stay at Tesco's forever. Hiring new people when others quit is a pain.
What personal qualities can you bring to Tesco?
You'd be reliable, you'd let them know promptly when you were too sick to work - but you don't get sick often.
You're very keen to learn. You're very consciencious and like to get things right.
(this is important because if you skip work without telling them, it makes life difficult for them, they have to find someone else at short notice and they can't depend on you and you annoy the management).
Sometimes they ask about your weaknesses.
I like to say - "sometimes I spend too long on one thing trying to get it just right" - ie this can be seen as a good thing too.
What do you consider to be your main achievements?
hmm, given your first job would likely be shelf stacking - you don't really want to mention too much about being academically gifted with computers - ie a geek. They might think you will get bored easily or quit as soon as you get a "real" job. Have you thought about visiting your local pc repair and sales shop and asking them what kind of people they'd like to work there?
Ok - main achievements
Tell them that you finished school with good passes.
I don't know what "GCSE's and a GNVQ" are, is it just possible that your supermarket manager / interviewer might not know either - perhaps best not to mention unless they mention they're into computers first.
Tell them that you completed the two weeks work experience - they may want to talk to that shop about what you were like - so it would pay to ring up the photo shop and talk to your boss there about how they felt about the way that you did your job and would they be ok with talking to the supermarket as a referee - and what kind of things would they say? You could also ask them the form questions - what did they see as your strengths, weaknesses, personal qualities? how did they feel about your work ethic and ability to get along with co workers (were you a stirrer, or did you get along with everyone or something else?). Have you asked the photo frame people if they're looking for someone to work for them? Bosses much prefer to hire someone they know, than a complete stranger.
There are lots of stuff on the internet for finding a job and practicing interviews. If you can, write out a bunch of interview questions, and get a friend or family member to ask them and you practice answering them, and get feedback - where you twitching, rocking on the chair, mumbling, distracted etc.
http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/library/ ... ticles.php
http://interview.monster.com/virtualinterview/campus/
06 Jun 2006, 5:11 am
