Posted By Philip Roberts Glynn, I recently attended an inteview very similar to the one you describe. I was given information on accident reports and figures. I was asked to produce an excel speadsheet using the information to show any information I decided was relevent. I produced pivot tables showing pecentages, incidence rate etc. The second part of the interview involved two power point presentations, one for management and one for shop floor. I was given information on changes that had taken place such as recent down sizeing, changes in job descriptions, pay restrictions etc and was asked to make the presentations about the effects these changes may have had on the accident figures I had been given earlier. All this in two hours. I then had to make the presentation to the interview panel. A daunting task but it can be done. If I were you I would brush up on my excel and power point skills, best of luck Phil

Posted By Rakesh Maharaj Glynn Can't say that I have experienced anything similar.. Just wanted to wish you every of the best for the interview anyway! R

Posted By Philip Roberts Glynn, Have e-mailed an excel presentation to you direct to show what can be done with the software, hope it is of some use regards Phil

Posted By Merv Newman Glynn, best of luck. And am I glad that I don't have to go for job interviews anymore. My last one consisted of a chat over a cup of coffee, a short walk (I was using a walking stick, having broken an achilles tendon the week before playing squash) around the plant (actually still a building site) and then "Let's go look at a few houses in the area". Chose a house, (didn't take the one with a thatched roof, nor the one with the swimming pool) took some photos, called my wife and went home. Once again, best of luck. Power points are easy but practice doing at least 20 different graphs in excel. If your presentation is going to be about yourself, talk about your professional life (one slide on your family is plenty with photos of kids (if any) but NOT of pets) If possible, take a digital camera with you, ask if you can take some photos around the site and ask if they can be integrated into your presentation. If they say yes, then concentrate on the good things you see - what they are doing well (include people), then a few photos of where you could improve things (do not include people, except perhaps contractors in these photos) I don't do job interviews anymore, but sales visits are quite normal. I have a favourite slide I show which I know has won me a number of contracts : A building site with about ten workers visible. I ask "what do you see ?" and they give my all the fall and trip hazards and housekeeping etc. Then I take the slide off and ask "was there anything positive ?" Someone will say "everyone was wearing his hard hat". The others will agree. Now I ask "Why didn't you say that before ? I asked 'what did you see ?' You saw the positive point but only gave me the negatives. Why ?" Quite often that clinches the deal. In our trade we tend to look for the negatives, but there are always some good things going on which need recognising and reinforcing.

Posted By Glynn Liz.. I am having the interview on friday so I will be able to give you feedback on the events that took place.... It will probably be next weekend at the earlist when I have recovered from the ordeal but the format I am sure is : 1.To make make sure that I am conversant with excel and powerpoint and to have a understanding with how the software in used 2. making sure thatI am not afraid to stand up in front of people and do presentations. As this I am sure is part of the job.. Not forced to get it but when you are down to last 2 you never know. Thankyou to every one who took part.. I will keep you informed

Posted By Liz Ellis Glynn, Best of luck. Regards, Liz.

Posted By Allan St.John Holt Um, not sure it's about enforcement. Is that what we do? In fact, I think communication is one of the most important aspects. Somebody once told me that it doesn't matter how smart you are, if you can't communicate your knowledge and experience it counts for nothing. In my experience that's right - and I doubt whether the IT moment described is all there is in the selection process! The impression I have is that other candidates have been weeded out along the way and this is the decider. If that's right, all things being equal, which one would you pick - the good communicator or the one with the more impressive CV? Allan

Posted By Merv Newman I'm with Allen on this. First, I am not and never have been an enforcer. I advise management on what they need to "enforce" Second, where acquiring "competence" is concerned, you may have the qualifications but if you can't sell yourself and your ideas then you will never achieve the experience. On wednesday I have to present the content of a forthcoming series of SMS audits to a bunch of reluctant contractors. We are being imposed on them by site management who are fed up with the accidents they are causing to company employees. First they are going to get a good kicking from site management, then I have about 15 minutes to tell them who we are, what we do and how we can work together. I've been sweating that presentation off and on for about a week. Right now it is down to 2 transparencies. In a couple of weeks I'm running a two-day seminar on BBS. As far as I can gather there are more volunteers for this than there are places. This one I have been sweating for at least a month. Right now it is up to 92 transparencies. Still working on it. You have to know how to tell 'em