Placement Adventures # 10

Right before exam session I had my first Placement Interview. I will never forget the date and time: 14th January, 08:35. I was in Swindon, which is almost two hours away from Birmingham.

I had to leave home at four o'clock in the night, go to the library to print some interview information and then I caught my train at five. It was such a long journey. I had one change in the middle of nowhere kind of town and in half past seven I was in Swindon.

As you can imagine, knowing my travelling experience, I got lost. Evidently there were two exits in the train station, I took the North Exit, while I should have taken the South one. I ended up walking like a madman for an hour and a half until I found the long craved interview place.

The interview was a part of a whole assessment day which started sharp at nine. First, there was a welcome presentation and a word from the current interns. Since there had already been one in Aston, there was no news for me there. The second task was a group project. We were supposed to prepare a presentation about a company suffering from operations problems. After delivering the presentation there was a tour around the building and lunch. Then the serious part started.

The third very important task was after lunch. I was told in my acceptance letter that I would need to prepare a presentation on the company with strategies of dealing with their top five customers. I had already done quite a bit of research the previous day and was quite prepared. I have to say, though, the four applicant that were in my room were very not prepared. We we delivering our presentation in front of a five-person jury. Straight after the presentation came the interview.

The interview seemed very relaxed and friendly; notice the word "seemed" I am using. In the end of the day you never know what is going on in the interviewer's head. So, there were four main topics they asked me on:
- Have I in any time of my life had to influence some one (or group) and how did I do it?
- When have I faced a task that I was not prepared for and how did I face the challenge?
- When have I ever processed data and how did I do it?
- Questions on my CV.

Everything seemed to be over in a glimpse of an eye and I was back in the presentation room where the assessment day took off in the morning.

Before it I was back on the train on my way to Birmingham. I am still waiting for the answer, so hold your thumbs up!

To be continued...