Hello!!!
I need your help as on thursday i've got an job interview for my first job. Its with BVT which are basically the only UK manufacturer of aircraft carriers and a lot of other naval boats. Its called cost engineering which i figured from the description is like finance and accounting and marketing all mixed in one strange bundle.
The reason i need help is because it being my first job they can't exactly talk about past job experience so i'm guessing they will talk a lot about personal strengths and weaknesses as well as hypothetical situations. So i figured that i could use typology to help me think of all my strengths and weaknesses and how i'd react in hypothetical situations.
So i wanted ask what are the strengths and weaknesses of an ENTP (or INTP) employment wise?
Like entropie, I've gotten every job I've ever applied for, often with no experience. But I'm a genius at faking it till I make it - that's my one talent. I don't know what kind of advice to give you other than to be confident and sound competent. I smile a lot and always engage my interviewer.
In this stage of my life, I hire (and fire) a lot of people. Whether good or bad, I look for people who give answers that I have given in the past, or exhibit the following behavior:
-make direct eye contact with the person who asked you the question. At least for the first few seconds of your response. To me, that shows you have nothing to hide.
-always admit right away if you don't know something. But phrase it that you don't know it
yet
-state that you are not afraid to ask for help if you are stuck.
-stress that you are eager to learn and that you learn things very quickly (which I'm assuming you do). Come prepared with examples, but don't offer that information unless asked - it seems arrogant, which leads to next point...
-don't be arrogant or smug!! Never laugh at a question or feel you are too good to answer it.
-tell them about your work ethic and how that, at the end of the day, it's not the amount of money you made, but your pride in a job well done.
-I always say that I work well in teams, but I excel when given an independent task.
-my weakness is being a bit of a perfectionist, but not at the expense of missing a deadline
-that you are not a clockwatcher and will stay until the job is complete
-that you are friendly and congenial
At the end, they'll ask if you have any questions. Make sure you have some. The Q&A should last no more than 5-7 mins on your end.
Briefly hit the following topics:
-research the company and ask relevant questions. Questions should include the overall industry - don't go in there acting like you know how the biz works - be humble. Ask questions about the company's atmosphere and ask very specific questions about the team that you'll be working with (how many people, how long they have been there...) Make sure you find out what the team's goals are.
-ask the interviewer how long he's been with the company and if he started his career there.
-ask what they are looking for in a teammate, and what your responsibilities will be, if he hasn't told you already
-and by all means,
take notes (even if you are just scribbling) it makes the person feel that you are paying attention.
I don't know if this will apply for you, but this is how I've gotten jobs and this is what I look for when I'm hiring. Good luck!!
