Job Interview Advice

[Ed 'Muse' Markwick]

Hi, this is my first post on this forum although I have been following it for a while.
I'm 16 and looking to get into a career in motorsport because I'd love to have a career in something that I'm so enthusiastic about.
Soon i'll be searching for possible uni places but for now I have been trying to find out as much as I can about automotive engineering and fortunately enough for me I've managed to find a formula ford team who could be willing to take me on as a work experience pupil.
I've built up a portfolio of everything I've tried to learn about and read many books on everything from engines to suspensions over the past 12 or so months.
I was hoping somebody on here would be able to give me advice about what to expect on the job-obviously I know long hours are expected and it's very physical- but I also wanted to know if there was anything else that I should consider taking him to show that I'm willing to learn and work hard to hopefully get into the world of Formula 1 one day.

[jon-mullen]

Hi Ed,

Job interviews will always surprise you. Sometimes you think they'll be casual and they're quite formal, sometimes the opposite. Sometimes they act like it's a given you're going to work there, other times they act like you're one of 50 prospects and it's a long shot.

In any event, it never hurts to have answers ready for the following questions:

What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
What was your favorite project?
What are your interests?
Talk about a time you did something innovative.
Talk about a time you had a disagreement with a co-worker and how you resolved it.
Talk about a time you didn't live up to an expectation or promise.
Talk about a time you found work frustrating.
Talk about a time you were given confusing directions.

Do: be cleaned up (to the standard of people who work there or a little above, don't show up in eveningwear), make eye contact, have a few questions prepared for them, be modest but confident, be enthusiastic, have a resume that represents you well but doesn't blow things out of proportion or contain trivialities

Don't: use self-deprecating humor (always the hardest for myself), show up late, act like you already know everything or are un-teachable/un-coachable, come off as stubborn, inflexible or iconoclastic, shorten people's names or address them too informally, make too many attempts at humor

Good luck, you'll do fine.

[Ed 'Muse' Markwick]

Thanks for the quick reply!
Hopefully I can get this placement so I can get myself on the way to uni-you're response has been helpful and will give me some great do's and dont's for next week...
thanks