Structured Interview

[Paul.S]

Hi all

Im well aware there maybe other posts relating to my topic but i need help and fast! I have my structured interview with GA on Tuesday afternoon. This is my second attempt at applying to be a driver. Last time i failed on the structured interview. The problem is im struggling to come up with suitable material to talk about. If i fail this time the career route is all over...

I received some feedback and there are 3 areas i need to improve for this attempt...

1. Remaining calm in emergency and stressful situations (I believe this is because my subject was not suitable)

2. Concientiously working to meet training course and job demands (possibly related to the above reason)

3. Proactive and tenacious



Please, if anyone can help in anyway with suggestions help or anything else i really would appreciate it...

 

[Nym]

What situations do YOU think you have been in like this, you can't make things up for these.

Will do my best on this but it depends on if GA would like how I answer structured questions or not. (Some places do, others don't.)

 

[Paul.S]

Oh I know it can't be made up... Trouble is I don't think I've ever been in a suitable situation... For as far as I can remember I'm not sure I've been involved in an incident or accident that would be strong enough to use

However I am a trained first aider and I do work well under pressure as well as under my own steam etc

 

[Nym]

Honestly don't know how I can help there...

I know what I used to look for when I was interviewing, but I really don't think GA will interview like I used to, partly because my interviews were only partially structured.

 

[Paul.S]

Ok well thank you anyway

 

[yorkie]

This can be a problem for people who have been in a job where nothing demanding, challenging, or stressful has happened. Is that really the case for you? It may be that there are things you can put but you just need to have a think. But it's not something anyone can help you with (unless you can come up with ideas and just need help on how to word them)

 

[SkinnyDave]

I got a good bit of advice to volunteer as a Marshall at Silverstone for F1 etc.
You can also look at British Superbikes etc This can give you very valuable experience for following rules and regs and also dealing with potentially dangerous situations etc.
Hope this helps

 

[Sunday_mornin]

Very hard to help anyone with regards the structured interview, it merely talking openly about actual experiences you have had and therefore proving certain competences. You have either had relevant experience or you haven't I'm afraid.
I'm sure many a great candidate has never reached his/her dream purely because they have never been directly involved in a suitable emergency.
Surely you can find something within your history that can prove tenacity and proactivity, I believe this is an important one myself. You will be working alone and they require someone with a strong will to do the right thing no matter what external pressures maybe applied from passengers etc.

Good luck Paul.


Ian

 

[Fragiledog]

My big worry is that the situation I'm going to put down for that question won't fit what they are expecting . But I guess I just have to see.

 

[Sunday_mornin]

My big worry is that the situation I'm going to put down for that question won't fit what they are expecting . But I guess I just have to see.

Are you aware of the criteria they are looking for?

Ability to communicate effectively
Ability to follow rules and procedures
Calm in an emergency
Being conscientious.
Being proactive / tenacious.
Ability to work alone.

When writing your examples, think do they prove any of the above criteria, if not, think of something else.


Ian

 

[Beveridges]

Some people may believe that they are near the end of the assessment when they get to the Structured Interview. Really, your only half way to meeting all the criteria at the Pyschometric assessment. So really the Structured Interview is actually as big as the other 5 tests put together. The criteria that is required in the Structured Interview is as follows:

1) Ability to communicate effectively
2) Ability to follow rules and procedures
3) Calm in an emergency
4) Conscientiously works to exceed course demands
5) Being proactive / tenacious
6) Ability to work alone

This is the criteria that has to be passed. Each one gets graded either a Fail, Borderline pass, Average Pass, Good Pass or Outstanding Pass.
Be warned that this Interview is hard. VERY hard. On my first attempt I failed it, on my second attempt I spent about a hundred hours preparing my answers (knowing what the questions were going to be in advanced) and still only managed a Borderline Pass in criteria #2 and #6.

The questions they ask in the Structured Interview have been posted many times already all over the Internet, they are:

1) Describe a time you dealt with an emergency (criteria #3)
2) Describe a time you solved a difficult problem (c#5)
3) Describe a time you completed a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks? (c#4)
4) Describe a time you followed rules and procedures? (criteria #2)
5) Describe a time you worked alone for long periods of time? (c#6)

So you can see the main criteria that each question relates directly to. Criteria #1 doesnt relate directly to the questions as I think it is measured mainly by how well you communicate during the actual interview, both in writing and verbally.

Obviously, there is no point doing the psychometric tests if you can not think of an answer for all 5 of the above questions. It will lead to one of a possible two fails.

 

[kayla101]

Some people may believe that they are near the end of the assessment when they get to the Structured Interview. Really, your only half way to meeting all the criteria at the Pyschometric assessment. So really the Structured Interview is actually as big as the other 5 tests put together. The criteria that is required in the Structured Interview is as follows:

1) Ability to communicate effectively
2) Ability to follow rules and procedures
3) Calm in an emergency
4) Conscientiously works to exceed course demands
5) Being proactive / tenacious
6) Ability to work alone

This is the criteria that has to be passed. Each one gets graded either a Fail, Borderline pass, Average Pass, Good Pass or Outstanding Pass.
Be warned that this Interview is hard. VERY hard. On my first attempt I failed it, on my second attempt I spent about a hundred hours preparing my answers (knowing what the questions were going to be in advanced) and still only managed a Borderline Pass in criteria #2 and #6.

The questions they ask in the Structured Interview have been posted many times already all over the Internet, they are:

1) Describe a time you dealt with an emergency (criteria #3)
2) Describe a time you solved a difficult problem (c#5)
3) Describe a time you completed a training course lasting longer than 2 weeks? (c#4)
4) Describe a time you followed rules and procedures? (criteria #2)
5) Describe a time you worked alone for long periods of time? (c#6)

So you can see the main criteria that each question relates directly to. Criteria #1 doesnt relate directly to the questions as I think it is measured mainly by how well you communicate during the actual interview, both in writing and verbally.

Obviously, there is no point doing the psychometric tests if you can not think of an answer for all 5 of the above questions. It will lead to one of a possible two fails.

This is really helpful, thanks for posting. I've been practising my questions & answers loads as I'm hoping to get to the structured interview stage next week with FTPE!!

 

[Paul.S]

Thankyou everyone for your help and interesting feedback. Special thanks to Beveridges for your response. Tomorrow (Tueday) is the big day so i will know soon enough

 

[387star]

Also worth noting everybody will find some questions easier than others. Think of them like subjects!

I for example would be very confident with the working along aspect as I do in my present job and prrevious managerial job but would struggle with other parts.

I will wait before applying again to become driver I need to build up the confidence and wish to gain a wider variety of skills within the industry now I am in

Remember the examples can be work and outside work regarding emergencies and you can spin the question around. Think outside the box...

 

[Paul.S]

Had the interview yesterday afternoon. Felt ok had prepped well and thought i had answered the questions to a good standard, however it felt like I had been ripped into pieces by the time I got out...!!! Should find out in the next day or so... Fingers crossed...

 

[Emilymay86]

My husband has his structured interview next....my question is about the Training question...

My husband has not really done long training courses before....he has completed NVQ's...would that be accepted or are they looking for intense full time course?? He also did a year of theological training part time but not accredited....wuld they accept that??

Or can he talk about on the job training like training for a conceirge job he had in a hotel...it was 2 weeks worth but again not accredited.

Help please as to what kind of training they are expecting you to have done before Bit nervous that he wont meet that criteria!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Silv1983]

NVQs take a long time... more than 2 or 3 weeks... so should be adequate. A good assertive and confident delivery of an answer regardless of the qualification should suffice.
Train drivers' get an NVQ level 2 after their training in some TOCS so something similar or above - which most nvqs are would cut the mustard.

 

[E&W Lucas]

My husband has his structured interview next....my question is about the Training question...

My husband has not really done long training courses before....he has completed NVQ's...would that be accepted or are they looking for intense full time course?? He also did a year of theological training part time but not accredited....wuld they accept that??

Or can he talk about on the job training like training for a conceirge job he had in a hotel...it was 2 weeks worth but again not accredited.

Help please as to what kind of training they are expecting you to have done before Bit nervous that he wont meet that criteria!!

Thanks in advance!

They are recruiting people for a very intense 10 - 12 month training course. During that course, we all experienced our "ups and downs".
They are looking for people that have been in similar situations, and stuck at it. In some ways, a part time course over a long period, fitted in around work, shows exactly this.

 

[Silv1983]

They are recruiting people for a very intense 10 - 12 month training course. During that course, we all experienced our "ups and downs".
They are looking for people that have been in similar situations, and stuck at it. In some ways, a part time course over a long period, fitted in around work, shows exactly this.

I passed my structured interview using an example of a course/qualification which was only 3 weeks long. Sometimes quality is as important as quantity.

 

[Paul.S]

Had my structured interview last Tuesday. Still haven't found out if it's a pass or fail... How long should I give it before contacting GA? I was thinking Friday.... I just wanna know the result... Even if I failed it'll be nice to know...

 

[Monty]

Had my structured interview last Tuesday. Still haven't found out if it's a pass or fail... How long should I give it before contacting GA? I was thinking Friday.... I just wanna know the result... Even if I failed it'll be nice to know...

No harm in giving them a call and ask if any decision has been made, it's how I found out.

 

[Paul.S]

Found out today. Failed

 

[OTM]

Really sorry to hear that Paul.S. You mentioned earlier you struggled to find examples. Did the feedback mirror this?

 

[Paul.S]

Have requested feedback as nothing was said in my letter. Still waiting to hear back...

 

[Monty]

Am I right in thinking you can re-apply in six months because you did not fail any of the assessments, they only decided not to offer you a position after the interview? Keep trying, you'll get there.

 

[Paul.S]

the structured interview is part of the assessments so all assessments would need to be taken again second time round. Same applies for the managers interview if you get to it. Fail that and you have to do it all again... And yes you have to wait 6 months before applying again

 

[SJN]

Hi All

I have my structured interview on Tuesday and am just wanting a little advice.

For the emergency question, will it be acceptable to describe a time I had to call an ambulance for a member of the public who collapsed outside my place of work?

Also the the solving a difficult problem, I was thinking of when I suspected a staff member of stealing and how I dealt with it, or would that be better as the following rules and procedures question?

Thanks in advance for any replies. I really appreciate it.

 

[OTM]

Firstly, SJN how would you define an emergency situation? What skills and behaviours do you think are being looked for in the scenario you choose to discuss with the interviewers?

 

[SJN]

Hi OTM, thank you for the reply. I presume they are looking for someone who can remain calm and assess the situation and be able to guide others and stop a panic situation arising. I feel able to do this. I am a pub manager at present and the situation I was faced with was from a fight and one person was badly hurt and I sorted it out. I hoped this would be acceptable as an answer in the interview.

 

[Dave1987]

Hi you need to demonstrate that in an emergency situation you have the ability to remain calm follow rules, ensure the safety of yourself and others. Remember safety is you main concern when you are a driver.

I am a driver for GA