Online Money Making with Jules

When you attend your interview, you can find yourself in a situation where there are questions flying at you – left, right and centre. It can appear unbelievably bewildering. Try to stay focussed as your next few responses may be life changing. I once had an amazing interview that led to one of my most enjoyable jobs…

I had always wanted to teach at one of local schools as I really enjoy working with children. I was in the interview room, with my (soon to be) boss opposite me. She asked me what my biggest weakness was. I replied that I am usually a very timid and shy person when I first get introduced to people. Unfortunately, people misconstrue that as me being rude and conceited. She just laughed and reflected on how she too had had that same problem! (That was a lucky break!)

Don’t be afraid by your weaknesses, but don’t make them up, or use one that you might have heard before. The most played out and abused “weakness” would have to be the saying, “I am too much of a people-pleaser!” You will unquestionably have to wipe the brown off your nose after that one! In addition, it probably just made you seem false and unconvincing to the interviewer.

What eventually got me the job was a response that I wouldn’t have planned in a hundred years! The headteacher stopped suddenly and just stared at me for a few moments and then asked – “If I had a class of children that you didn’t know on the other side of the school in a room that I haven’t yet shown you and I needed you to go in there and deal with the situation quickly – what would your initial response be?” At this point, I thought that the interview had already been lost, so I was paradoxically super-relaxed. I just laughed and told her that I would go into the centre of the room and start laughing loudly until they all went quiet and get them playing the hockey cokey or something mad like that.

Funnily enough, I was chatting to her a little while later (after I had been in post for a bit) and she told me that it was that precise answer that secured me the post. She knew that I was honest and had the ability to rapidly establish rapport with the children. So – go with the truth…

Don’t forget to practice your answers with your friends and family. It can be a little embarassing going through your strengths and weaknesses with them, but it is better to get teased by those that care about you than risk looking silly at your interview.