[Malin]

Hello -

my husband will have a "job-interview-video-conference" next week - and we have a "wearing a tie or not" discussion here :uhoh.
It's perhaps a stupid question, but he really wants to have the job so we thought one of you may give us an advice? Apart from the tie (or not) - what is good and appropriate to wear 'on TV'? (I guess small squares will hurt the viewers eyes after 10 min)...
It's a job as a scientist in an environmental area.
He is also asked to fill in (online) a kind of "psycho-tests" (Occupational Personality Questionnaire) by an agency, they work for/with them. Is this also common in NZ?


Sorry for all grammar and spelling and whatever mistakes (I decided to stop apologizing after my 15th posting :mad: ) and thanks for all answers :yes

Malin

[ruthyroo]

My advice would be to wear a tie for the interview. I've used video conferencing in the past and I really don't think that the pattern matters all that much. The NZ dress code is very relaxed but always good to dress up for an interview I think.

Good luck

[willsken]

Hello -

Sorry for all grammar and spelling and whatever mistakes (I decided to stop apologizing after my 15th posting :mad: ) and thanks for all answers :yes

Malin

Don't say sorry, your posts are perfect! :nice1

[GeorgeM]

Some places are very laid back in NZ but others are still very traditional in their dress policy.

If you don't know where the company interviewing you stands in this area then it's better to err on the side of caution.

If you dress conventionally for a laid back firm it won't look that odd as many people will have done this in the past, I bet. But dress too casually for a company which has a traditional policy in this area and you could come over to them as being sloppy even if you weren't.

[Smiler]

Malin

I agree with GeorgeM and others, it is an interview, better to dress up up than down. Something plain not patterned, so that hubbys skills and personality shine through and are not eclipsed by singing, dancing ties or shirts.

The dress code seems more laid back in Wellington than it does in say the city of London, which is all I can compare it with really. OH went in on his first day, suit, shiny shoes, tie the works. They didn't exactly laugh at him but he soon switched to more casual clothing. :laugh

The psychometric test, is that what you mean? It does seem to be common here and was common in the Uk too. OH had to take one with an agency here and also with two other companies, but he would expect to take one at his level anyway. They were done online too.

Hope that helps and you must stop apologising for your grammar etc, it's fine :nice1 and makes more sense than some of my early morning/late night ramblings.

Deborah

[Rabbit]

smart or even casual but with a tie.

You can allways take it off after you have got the job.

In my last interview the guy had an open-necked shirt and was wearing a pair of jeans.

I was in a dark suit, black polished shoes, white shirt and tie.

I got the job.

In one way it felt un-equitable, but at the same time, I had turned up in my "Sunday-best" and that was considered as the right thing to do and was respected.

Being relaxed, layed-back and comming across as a competent, reasonable and reliable person is probably the most important.

After three days in the job, the suit and tie will be history.

[Malin]

Thank all of you very much, I will tell next week how it was!

No apologize today :p
Malin

[Nienke]

Good luck to your husband!

[clg]

Agree with the others, wear a tie and the tests are common. Some ties can look stranges on video so he should wear a solid coloured tie or one with with the least ammount of color and pattern variation possible.

Good luck!

Chris

[Smiler]

We are all starting to sound like an episode of What not to wear!!:laugh:laugh

[Malin]

Hi -
this morning my husband made the online-tests, they were given by a worldwide agency, called SHL ("objective assessment products measure the performance of people in the work"). It was "ability screening online": testing personal abilities (how one reacts in stress-situations, how one behaves towards strangers), a language-understanding test and also another test where he had to calculate and analyse statistics and more unpleasant similar things like that.
Time was limited, quite short and even though his english is much better than mine he did not manage to finish all questions. Perhaps this was on purpose, that one can't manage to answer all questions, but we don't know this.
It took nearly 5 hours and he felt very exhausted and stressed after all, and had this feeling we all know: I am too stupid and will never manage...

But because I am a good wife I'll comfort him of course and will also tell him till next monday steadily (but not longer :laugh !!!) that he is the best man in the world and if they don't want him - it will be good for something else we don't know yet....
So far from a cold, rainy and snowy Germany
Malin

[Nienke]

It is usually the case with these kind of tests, that you cannot finish them on time. Hope your husband was succesfull.
Wait until monday to tell him he's the best.... :laugh girllllll power!

From a cold, rainy and snowy Holland,
Nienke

[barryp]

I can't speak for that particular battery, but in general it is true that you're not expected to complete them.

If used properly, such testing can provide an objective complement to experience and social factors. Most people are pretty terrible interviewers, after all; we don't interview as a regular part of our day-jobs.

If used improperly - as the sole selection criterion for a new hire - then who would want to work for such a firm anyway?

[Malin]

Hi -
here is my short report:
After a lot of technical difficulties everything went fine and they managed to speak to each other. Michael said he felt well and liked the friendly atmosphere while they were talking but has no idea how they will decide - and how many competitors he has.
Their next step is to ask the references for their opinion. They will get in contact with Michael in the end of next week.
But whatever the outcome is, it was a good exercise for him.

Thank all of you for your advice (he wore a grey jacket, white shirt, a red striped tie - and looked really scrumptious :D ). His shoes weren't polished, but he could have been naked under the table (HE WASN'T!!!), but that's the video-conference-advantage ....

Malin

[Smiler]

Malin

Great to hear it all went off well, the 'under the table bit' made me laugh.:laugh

Good luck with the next stage too, let us know.

Deborah

[Malin]

Hi,
just want to tell that he received a rejection (? right word?). They take no one of their canditates because they are all not fulfilling their exspectations, but this doesn't comfort my husband a lot ... we know it is unlikely to find a job from Germany in NZ but still ...
We will arrive in NZ in the beginning of June and we'll see what happens when we are there. Does anyone know a good recruitment agency for environmental scientists and engineers?
Malin

[Smiler]

Sorry to hear that Malin, good on hubby for trying though and next time will be so much easier because of that. :nice1

I don't know of any agencies for scientists or engineers though. Any one else help here, please?


Deborah

[Dozzer]

nobody has asked.. so I will...

What video conference software are you using ?