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Posted By rswalkeruk
Dear All,
I have an interview pending for a health and safety position with a local authority.
I have been requested to attend half an hour before the interview, where i will be given an unknown scenario/subject. I then need to create a ten minute presentation on the subject in the allotted time to present to the interview panel.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of interview?
Any hits or tips would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Richard
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Posted By Ian Futcher
Personally I haven't, but my colleague recently attended an interview at a warehouse company where he was being assessed for Warehouse manager.
The guy arrived and was shown around the site and was then asked to put together a presentation for the managing director regarding improvements and opportunities, including safety considerations.
My colleague prepared a skeleton presentation even before arriving with a whole range of potential topics, and then edited out the ones that were unnecessary, and "tarted up" the remainder.
I had advised him to keep the PowerPoint to literally one-or-two-word bullet points (and maximum 5/6 per slide; if you only have ten minutes, I reckon 2 slides will be ample) and for him to elaborate in his talk rather than on the PowerPoint.
He was in a group of about 6 candidates... he made the final two.
Since then, he and I have decided to start up in business together, so I'm glad he didn't get it!!
So - I suggest you prepare with the likely topics beforehand, as you will not have long to do it on the day.
Ian
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Posted By CFT
With Ian on this; prepare the slides to your liking and then fill in the blank bits once you are given your chosen subject. If it is LA it may be topical, in which case you will have plenty to choose from; no disrespect intended to LA's.
Good luck
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Posted By Carol East Kent
Hi Richard
Last month I completed an interview for my local council, I was lucky they did provide the presentation information, I would I increase work force involvement within h&s.
I focused on policy documents, managers leading by example, every one's responsibility and positive reporting / safety culture.
If you would like to email me I might be able to assist further. (caroljdutton@hotmail.com)
The questions at the interview were based on the why there was a requirement for h&s, what is the impact of h&s in the workplace. Dealing with criticism and a unionised workplace, audit procedures, a creating a positive safety culture
Unfortunately the position was offered internally, I was grateful for the experience.
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Posted By Pete Longworth
The position was offered internally by a local council. How unusual.
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Posted By TBC
Local Councils and Fire services vacancies spoken for and internally - I don't believe it!
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Posted By TBC
But you've got to try!
Good Luck.
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Posted By Winsley
Over the years I have been to 4 or 5 local authority H&S vacancy interviews.
Never been offered a job with them, and I know that at least 3 of the jobs went to internal candidates............ how very surprising.
I am now at the stage I would only apply for LA job as a very last option.
- poor pay
- inefficient/bureaucratic
-poor prospects
I would only ever see LA jobs as starting jobs, for new people into H&S.
As for the selection technique of not telling the candiddate what the presentation is about until 10minutes before..... well what a joke that is.
You might have to think on your feet, but the scenario has little basis in real life H&S, in my 15yrs experience.
I now walk out of interviews etc when this is done to me - regardless of the salary/company.
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Posted By stephen d clarke
Hi,
I recently attended a county council interview for a corporate H&S advisor and I was given 30 min to prepare a 10 min presentation on "The implementation at the council of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order". Unfortunately it was the one regulation I hadn't looked over in much detail as my previous employer had a fire safety advisor and I made a mess of it and didn't get the job. I agree though that type of question isn't realistic, in 40 years of employment in variou roles I've never ever been asked to give a presentation with just 30 min notice except at interviews. As it's an LA you should be able to get annual H&S reports etc off the net and fnd out what is currently an issue for the council.
good luck
Steve
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Posted By Guderian
I would agree with the previous 2 posts.
Have the guts to tell the LA that you decline the interview - citing the stupidity of the assessment technique for your reason.
When I have interviewed people, I never adopt the 'short notice' presentation technique, it proves very little.
Only by objecting to this technique, will it be drummed out of the selection methods used by LA's.
Unless you already work for the public sector, if you decide to attend the interview, and you are in competition with other LA empolyees, then they have probably got the edge on you.
Despite the supposed open and fair recruitment policies of such organisations, while they will never come close to admitting it - they prefer their 'own types' to get the job.
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Posted By CW - No Post Nominals
I worked for my LEA a few years ago and it was common practice for someone already within the authority to be encouraged to apply for a post, and then coached not only on how to fill in the form correctly but also on how to answer the set questions in the way that ticks the boxes.
A total stitch up.
I got the job because a friends wife worked in the HR department and provided me with the interview questions that were to be asked, along with what wee the answers that were expected. They must have been quite bamboozled as they had over 20 applications for the post. 1 internal, the rest external. These were narrowed down to myself and the internal candidate although the internal candidate did not meet the 'essential requirements'
I played my ace to get the job by finding out from my friends wife that the main man on the panel loved dogs, labs in particular and in the 'tell me about yourself bit' I animated my love of hunting dogs and their fabulous pedigree.
Needs must and all that, although it was the worst job I ever had in over 20 years of working. I could just not handle the culture, lazy buck passing sods.
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Posted By John Fraser
I also agree with the last couple of points, particularly the last one. I found it difficult to get employment within a local authority due to all the reasons mentioned above many years ago for environmental health. In the end I gave up and pursued a career in the private sector. Best move I made, although I do see public sector construction employees coming over to the private sector as they are being forced to due to the LA poor performance and private sector doing a better job in building refurbishment, and it is a short sharp change in mentality over attitudes to working when they are transfered over. Many are found out and are asked to leave due to their LA attitude. I find it quite humerous actually to see that the ball is in the other court as they never last that long.
Good luck in the interview though.
John
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