[victoria24]

Lining up some interviews for feb and looking at the job specs. In NZ do employers interview in a certain way? The specs look quite behavioural, so do they go done the route of "tell me about a time you....."
is it very formal or informal? what clothing do employers expect you to wear to an interview? btw, i work in finance if it makes a difference.

[Spudgun]

All the companies I met ask standard competency based interview questions. It was no different from the UK.

They did laugh at me when I turned up for my first day in a suit.

[TheBigSaxon]

I got the same as well. I interviewed via video conference and I was wearing a shirt and tie, which they thought was very funny and that was with a CIO and the retiring Director of IT.

[TheBigSaxon]

When I interviewed they were more interested in how IT departments were run in the US than anything else. They wanted to know what type of experience to look for, what type of certifications are worth anything, what technology is coming around the corner and how I plan on implementing said technology while staying under budget, how ROI is evaluated and how I plan on implementing an ROI system at the company, the best techniques to use during the interview and hiring process that will select the most technically knowledgable as well as being the best personality fit, etc.

They did ask me why New Zealand, given my background and my credentials, why I was leaving the US, what I liked to do in my spare time, when I was planning on being in NZ, and they also asked if I had thought about if the company and the challenge was not up to my expectations if I would leave.

They also asked about whether I was going to be buying a house in NZ, which I replied I already was under contract on a house in Fendalton, ChCh. They really liked the fact that I was making ChCh my permanent home.

Hope this helps.

Dan
The Big Saxon

[cappuccino]

My last interview was actually 'fun'. The panel of 3 interviewers were all having a good laugh and joking with me and sometimes even got carried away in their own side chat to a point where I wanted to say "scuse me, I'm still here......"

They did ask a lot of competency based questions and it was formal in that they had prepared documents with the questions and wrote down all my answers (I must have given the right answers cos I got the job!)

As for clothes - I never bothered with a suit - just look smart and you will be ok.

I've been offered every job I have interviewed for here in NZ although didn't choose to accept all of them. One interview was conducted in a pub as a 'pre-interview' to suss me out before inviting me to the 'formal interview'!!

Good luck with your interview.

[victoria24]

thanks for the feedback guys, I'm being interviewed by a bank so would I suit and boot like the Uk? do people wear ties?

[M-Squared]

thanks for the feedback guys, I'm being interviewed by a bank so would I suit and boot like the Uk? do people wear ties?

Hehe... I work for a bank and if ever someone's all dressed up with suit and tie, they tend to get one of these questions:

either - "Prosecuting or defending?"
or - "Hope your interview goes well!"

:laugh

[seattle]

hmmmm, my OH is in finance and just had part of his interview yesterday- he wore a suit and was glad he did- thought people were a lot more formal than they are in the U.S. Probably depends on the company. Don't know about it compared to UK though. Better to be overdressed than underdressed? :o

[victoria24]

this is even more confusing!
so... what would you wear to an interview for a bank (i'm male btw)

[M-Squared]

Better to be overdressed than underdressed? :o

Very true. But it also depends which bank. The one I work for is very informal. Ties are extremely rare. On casual Fridays my 3rd line manager usually wears jandals. :laugh Personally if I were a bloke, I would wear a nice sharp suit, plain shirt, no tie. But if you're unsure, go with the above advice, be the smartest dressed person in the room, and don't sweat it, just concentrate on the interview. :nice1 I do have to disagree with the poster above, though, I find it infinitely more relaxed here.

[victoria24]

lovin you marion!

[M-Squared]

lovin you marion!

Gosh! :o

[seattle]

It is confusing though- i mentioned this thread to OH and he said he was a bit surprised at how "formal" it was- (he works in finance but not in banking)- but he did say that someone mentioned to him that Christchurch can be a bit more formal than the other cities? Has anyone else found this to be true of Chch? Yesterday he went to a gathering at a tent at the Canterbury Show and everyone was dressed up in suits, etc. - someone mentioned that at another similar show in Auck- some people wear shorts. I guess everything is relative- we're coming from the West Coast in the U.S. which is much more casual than the East Coast (and a lot of companies here are going casual- in fact I've read how tie sales have declined in the U.S.) On a positive note from the Show- OH didn't know anyone at the gathering (except the one person who invited him) but everyone was very friendly and welcoming :nice1