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Preparing for HR adviser interview & work-related test. Any tips?

Cher

Good morning everyone.

I posted last week about wanting to return to work, after a year off on Maternity leave, I joined my last role 6 years ago as a office manager, and progressed to standalone HR Manager and completed by level 7. I got some fab advise that I had proofed by ability progressing and qualifying but lacking confidence, all very true and a year off with a baby!

I have been offered an interview on Monday for a fixed term contract as a HR Adviser, part of this process is a 45 minute work related test. I have not completed one of these before, can anyone give me any insight on what this is likely to entail? I am very nervous and lacking confidence after a break from work, and my concern is if I am unprepared for the test, it will affect my confidence going into the interview afterwards. 

Also any tips on how to prepare for the interview? I have a wealth of experience, and got to this stage through competency based questions on the application, so this fills me with some confidence my skill set meets the job, but i will feel better if I can go in with some answers prepared, and do not want to go in with a ton prepared answers and they ask me completely different things. I know I cannot fully prepare but after a while out of the workplace this feels very daunting!

Thank you for reading and I hope someone will offer me some advise/support :)

Cher

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  • For the interview, don't prepare answers: prepare examples. Think back over the various tasks you have completed, projects you finished and jobs you took on in your previous roles. Articulate to yourself what your contribution was, what you achieved and what you learned from each one.

    For the test... Other than asking them for hints, there's not much you can do to prepare (that's why it's a test!). Have a go. Do your best. Don't worry if it's hard. I like to set horrible tests because if everyone finds them easy there's nothing to choose between. But if everyone finds them hard, you can make judgements based on how they went about the task and what bits they did well.
  • in reply to Robey
    I agree with Robey, it's all about preparing examples. And practice saying them out loud - you may feel like an idiot, but if you ask yourself sample questions out loud and answer them (while in the shower, driving, just alone in the house), you get used to saying them, so when you're in the stress of an interview situation you're more comfortable and confident responding. It's not about having a script; just easy and thought through answers that might be relevant to a number of things you could be asked.

    The other thing I always advise people (I do interview counselling for Smart Works when I can) is to prepare your first answer - it's almost always a general opener about your career to date and how it prepares you for the role in question or something along those lines. Think about the three key points you'd want to make in response to that question - what are the things that set you apart - and structure an answer around it that is focused and not too long. Again, practice saying it out loud - and to a trusted friend or family member if you can. Check they get the key points you are trying to convey. If you can start with an answer you're confident with, it just helps you get going in an interview. After that point - well they're asking questions about you and what you can do - which should be something you know all about, better than anyone!

    Good luck.
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  • in reply to Robey
    I agree with Robey, it's all about preparing examples. And practice saying them out loud - you may feel like an idiot, but if you ask yourself sample questions out loud and answer them (while in the shower, driving, just alone in the house), you get used to saying them, so when you're in the stress of an interview situation you're more comfortable and confident responding. It's not about having a script; just easy and thought through answers that might be relevant to a number of things you could be asked.

    The other thing I always advise people (I do interview counselling for Smart Works when I can) is to prepare your first answer - it's almost always a general opener about your career to date and how it prepares you for the role in question or something along those lines. Think about the three key points you'd want to make in response to that question - what are the things that set you apart - and structure an answer around it that is focused and not too long. Again, practice saying it out loud - and to a trusted friend or family member if you can. Check they get the key points you are trying to convey. If you can start with an answer you're confident with, it just helps you get going in an interview. After that point - well they're asking questions about you and what you can do - which should be something you know all about, better than anyone!

    Good luck.
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