Job interview tomorrow but I need some advice...

[AbyssUnderground]

Hello all,

I have a job interview in the morning for a web design job I found. I just wanted to know if anyone had any good advice about how to answer certain questions because I want to get this right:-

1. What pay package would you expect?

I need to get this one right. My last employer put me on £10k/year but I have gained a hell of a lot of experience since then and I think my skills are worth more than that, so I'd like to aim for £12k/year, but how do I go about saying that to the interviewer without sounding greedy?

2. How will you make a difference to this company? and Why do you want this job?

I never know how to answer this one and I always cock up trying to improvise. I know my skills can make a difference because I am quite the perfectionist. If something doesn't look right, I feel bad about it and I have to fix it. Should I just go ahead and say that or should it sound more 'professional' than that?



I'll also appreciate any other advice anyone can give me. I'm hoping this will be a big break for me and a chance to get back on my feet financially, but more importantly to make a lot of new friends (seeing as I have so few!) and set myself new challenges.

Cheers all

[Raistlin]

OK, a couple of general points first:

I'm betting you feel really nervous now, you're worrying about being prepared, you're worrying about what's going to happen. Hold onto those feelings, really let yourself bathe in them and let them stay with you all day.
When you get to your interview tomorrow, tell yourself that you've done all that you can do to prepare (and really mean it) and that everything that happens now 'just happens'. Tell yourself that you're going to be the best you that you can be, and that if they don't want you then that's their tough luck.
Now tell yourself that, on that basis, the worst is behind you. Remember how you felt today, and then realise that you don't feel anywhere near that bad now. Let go of all that pent up worry and anxiety and you might find (as I normally do) that you enjoy the challenge of the interview

Next. This is a time for you to shine, to really tell someone about yourself. You can't do that if you're feeling negative - to sell, and to sell well, you have to be the most positive person you can be. You know that you're the best candidate for the job, make sure that they understand that too! Nobody knows you better than you do, make the most of that.

To answer your question 2:

There's a certain amount of 'selling' to be done, but remember that you need to be truthful with them (and with yourself). Tell them why you really want the job - if you just want to advance your career tell them that, if you just want more money tell them that. As for what you can do for the company.....that bit's easy, they will already have told you what they want you to do - read the job advert. If the advert says "we want someone who will juggle chainsaws, eat beas, and cover their body in peanut butter" then tell them that's what you'll do, but make sure that a) you're capable of doing it, b) you're prepared to do it, and c) you actually understand what you're saying you're going to do.

Now then, question 1:

12k doesn't sound like a lot of money to me, but I'm not in the web design business so I don't know how that compares. TBH, going from 10k I think I'd want to get to at least 15k (but that's just me).
At the end of the day, every penny that they spend on you needs to be justified. The basic justification is your work (they pay you to do that), but they should also be able to justify the amounts they pay you above that. Your skills and experience are valuable to them - they don't have to train you (although you will want some committment to your personal development from them ), they don't have to wait whilst you catch up with the required standards (although you'll want to continue to exceed those standards), so make sure they pay whatever is the fair rate. I'm afraid I can't help you decide on that, hopefully someone else can.

I'd always start high and be prepared to compromise low though If I were wanting 12k I think I'd ask for 15k

[AbyssUnderground]

Thanks Rob

I feel awful at the moment. I have done for the last 2 days knowing whats coming. I just did a trial run to find the place the interview is at this morning. Its easy enough to get to but in rush-hour traffic thats a whole new story to begin with. It takes about 30-40 minutes from my house to get there, but I'm leaving 1 hour before the interview so hopefully I should get there on time. Up at 7, out the house at 8, get there for before 9. I found a place to park (Sainsbury's) and I know where the building is (conveniently has a very small sign on the outside!).

£12k might sound low but considering I was on £10k I think its a lot, but I don't like sounding greedy. Web Design might be a very skilled job but I don't know what I should sell myself for. I didn't really want to push past £12k in case they tell me to do one!

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

I feel awful at the moment. I have done for the last 2 days knowing whats coming.

Waiting/preparing for any interview is the worst bit, you WILL feel better tomorrow when you get there. If you don't just tell yourself that you SHOULD, because you've got the worst bit out of the way.

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

I just did a trial run to find the place the interview is at this morning. Its easy enough to get to but in rush-hour traffic thats a whole new story to begin with.

Excellent, you're thinking ahead and preparing for different eventualities - that's very important and something that most people don't give enough thought to.

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

£12k might sound low but considering I was on £10k I think its a lot, but I don't like sounding greedy. Web Design might be a very skilled job but I don't know what I should sell myself for. I didn't really want to push past £12k in case they tell me to do one!

That's fair enough, and like I said, I don't know the going rates for that industry - just be sure not to sell yourself short

[Maggy J]

Can't you say somewhere in the region of or between 12-15 thousand?

That way it sounds like you are up for a negotiation on the issue.

[AbyssUnderground]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Can't you say somewhere in the region of or between 12-15 thousand?

That way it sounds like you are up for a negotiation on the issue.

Yes I suppose I could. Actually I think that sounds a lot better than giving a set figure. What I don't want to do is give a figure of £12k, then find out they were going to offer £15k!

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Can't you say somewhere in the region of or between 12-15 thousand?

That way it sounds like you are up for a negotiation on the issue.

Nice idea, makes you sound flexible but sets your bottom rate.

Did they give any idea of salary on the job advert?

[bopdude]

Well I don't want to sound negative or come across as putting down any job skill but that seems like a pretty poor salary for something I'm assuming is a very time consuming skilled job. You could be on more money in a far far less skilled trade, hells bells, our 21 year old labourer is on a fair bit more than that, and I mean a FAIR bit more.

Is it that your selling yourself short, are trying to climb the ladder, or is the job really that poorly paid ?

Again, no disrespect meant or intended

[ikthius]

did the job advert not say what the pay grade was?

if not you ask them, then you wont have to sell yourself short, they may be paying more than £15k, if they are are you going to tell them you just want £12k

ik

[AbyssUnderground]

I do think £12k is under what I should get but I don't want to sound greedy. That could jeopardise the whole job for me, and not many jobs like this come round often and its even rarer that I get a reply to my application.

The advert states "NEGOTIABLE" which is what I didn't like. How would I get around asking them what they will offer salary wise if they ask me what I would expect salary wise first?

[popper]

google is your friend

i only did a very quick search, but it seems the average starting wage is
Starting salaries may be around £18,000 a year

oc they also say
"
Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live."

http://www.connexions-direct.com/job...etailedArticle

------------------------
"£12k might sound low but considering I was on £10k I think its a lot"

theres your problem, your confidence is real low right now, and your basing your "now" figure on your past low wage, STOP THAT RIGHT NOW.....

if you let them, they will under pay you, they will try it on OC, but dont let them give a low figure and not react badly about it..., give a clear indication, its not right.

IF they can justiify it to you, then you might barter OC...

make it clear your not willing to accept a silly figure, and at an average £18,000 a year , your 12k is a bargain to them, dont start at that price, work down to it if needs be.....

how long has the position been open, how many applications have they had,what extra dutys are they expecting to be included above and beyond the ads outline etc.....

its not just about you, its also what they need right now, and can get out of you,if you start there and then.

sure ,you can make some allowence to extra dutys to get you in the door and on the wage books, bit under selling yourself is never a good idea.

if they come back with a low figure and you are considering it, make sure to ask about increaseing that basic wage, and how you might do that......

AND even if they put a far higher figure on the table than you outline or expect, DO NOT dwell on it there and then and get distracted, ask more questions about what that still means to those extra payed dutys that may also be available....


remember, those other benefits are also important, so make sure YOU ask them about any...

No1 for you right now is confidence building, and being in a position to say, look, this is some of my work, i undersstand this concept, that concept, and i bring with me lots of idea's that your firm dont currently seem to impliment.

you need to find their weak points, search for their past work to see what, and how they present their work....then know you can make them better, and you can.

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

I do think £12k is under what I should get but I don't want to sound greedy. That could jeopardise the whole job for me, and not many jobs like this come round often and its even rarer that I get a reply to my application.

The advert states "NEGOTIABLE" which is what I didn't like. How would I get around asking them what they will offer salary wise if they ask me what I would expect salary wise first?

I dont expect that they will ask this question, this is more for when they offer the job...... but it could be one of your questions you get to ask...

"If I was the successful applicant, what would the annual salary range be?"

Negotiable normally means more than £12k I think, I think this will be between £15-20k

ik

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

I do think £12k is under what I should get but I don't want to sound greedy. That could jeopardise the whole job for me, and not many jobs like this come round often and its even rarer that I get a reply to my application.

The advert states "NEGOTIABLE" which is what I didn't like. How would I get around asking them what they will offer salary wise if they ask me what I would expect salary wise first?

Negotiable normally depends on experience and or skill level, if you can do the job and you know you can, sell yourself, if you think your worth it then let them know, nicely.

HTH

[Damien]

I am going for a Web Developer interview, I was going to ask for 18k but considered that pretty low compared to some others in the industry but accepted that it's a small company so I would be happy with that.

I would ask for 15k if i were you.

What skills did the job ask for?

[Raistlin]

Two options:

1. Get in before they ask you:

You (during interview): "I note from the job offer that the sallery for this post is 'negotiable', what sort of range does that cover?"

You will probably find with this approach that they won't want to play ball. They don't want to tell you the range because they don't want to tip their hands.....but.....you might find that they give you a figure from which you can work - if they do give you a figure it will almost certainly be at the lower end of what they want to pay you

2. Wait until they ask you:

Them: "So, what sort of sallary would you like?"
You: "Well I notice from your job advert that the sallary is negotiable, what sort of sallary would you normally be looking to offer to someone coming into the company with my skills and experience?"

Puts the ball back in their court, they may well refuse to answer at this point and make you give them an answer - if that's the case tell them you were thinking of a number somewhere between 15 and 20 k If it's way too high you'll soon know because they'll laugh (or similar), if it's about right they might try to talk you down to 15k - if they do that then you're the one that's laughing

Best bet is a little research: this page suggests that the average for a "Junior Web Designer" is a little bit more than you're asking for

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk...%20designer.do