Message Board - Natural Turf: Question asked at interview
24 Nov 2011 by stephen hughes
Was asked at an interview what my referee's would say were my bad points .Has anyone else been asked this
24 Nov 2011 by petermarkcraig
Well it's a common enough question but not usually asked in a such a unusual way.
Of course the grass looks good. The sun is shining.
24 Nov 2011 by Ken Barber
Over 40 + years in the workplace and too many interviews, I was never asked such a question.
I hope you said you didn't have any so your referee's wouldn't of put any down!
KB
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
24 Nov 2011 by glenkeeran
Well Stephan
I have to congratulate you on your interview, i have been appling for a large number of positions in England and cant even get that far. I wouldnt mind but i have been a green keeper for 18yrs, a course manager for 12yrs and worked in some of the nicest courses in Ireland and europe, i also have been involved with landsdown road in Dublin and have constructed local football grounds. I am 38 so i must be doing something wrong?????
Sorry i needed that rant!!!!!
everything happens for a reason
24 Nov 2011 by glenkeeran
And there not managerial jobs either... phew !!!!
everything happens for a reason
24 Nov 2011 by petermarkcraig Last edited 24 Nov 2011
Two of my standard questions are
"What aspects of groundsmanship/gardening do you most enjoy."
"What aspects of groundsmanship/gardening do you least enjoy"
....but I would never ask someone what other people might think of them.
Of course the grass looks good. The sun is shining.
24 Nov 2011 by Ken Barber
No, your not doing anything wrong..... There is just too many others like you in the same boat!
I had been looking for a move for 5 years and stopped applying a year ago because I thought it was because I was too old.... at 59 I probably am. But I was hearing of people getting jobs I was not even offered an interview for and their experience was way less than mine. They probably took a salary that would have laughed at as well!
KB
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
24 Nov 2011 by glenkeeran
Hi Ken
Nice to hear from you, i sometimes question myself "should i get more educated"...... or what else can i do to make myself more inviting. It is frustrating but to hear someone with the caliber of knowledge as yourself going through the same thing for 5 yrs somewhat eases me a little.
Regards
everything happens for a reason
24 Nov 2011 by Ken Barber
I must admit, I am glad not to still be working in Ireland..... I hear things are really tough over there!
Are you the guy that was working at Turvey G C north of Dublin?
KB
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
24 Nov 2011 by Ken Barber
Sorry to steal your post here Stephen and good luck with the interview. I hope you get a positive response!
KB
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under who’s shade you do not expect to sit.
24 Nov 2011 by Mike
Never asked that, but I was once challenged to an armwrestle in an interview.. he was a strange chap...
24 Nov 2011 by Cueball
Recently applied for a job, got to interview, went to references, "with a view to make an offer" in the email. I then heard nothing for 3 weeks; when I chased them I was told they had difficulty getting hold of me and that i had been unsuccessful. I did ask for feedback on the interview and reasons why I had not got the position. That was about a month ago now...
24 Nov 2011 by SOS
Hi Stephan
My reply to the interview would be to ask my references directly.
My understanding is that if a current employer is given as a reference they can't state any bad points but only refuse to give one.
If that sort of question is given at an interview your potential future employers aren't worth working for in my opinion.
Any good interview should always bring the best out of both parties and any negatives should be avoided at all times especially if its a first interview.
24 Nov 2011 by jamie otto
Ive been asked the same question several times, theres down sides to everybody and its an interviewers way of finding out how self critical a candidate is.
If a candidate can identify weaknesses within themselves and explain how he/she plans to improve it gives a potential employer a good insight into the person.
do jiu jitsu, have the idiot choked out of yourself!
24 Nov 2011 by SOS Last edited 24 Nov 2011
Hi Jamie
I do see your point but as Peter stated earlier, the question should always be worded another way depending on what position you are applying for.
24 Nov 2011 by Barry Pace
Wheres Barry G, sounds like HR jibberjabber to me.......
Why not say..' what are your weaknesses'.... mine is spleling with a migraine.
Plastic.... it's The End I tell you... THE END!!!!
24 Nov 2011 by jamie otto
But SOS
why beat around the bush, im much happier when an employer says what they actually mean. but thats just what makes me feel more comfortable when im being interviewed.
do jiu jitsu, have the idiot choked out of yourself!
24 Nov 2011 by SOS
Hi Jamie
I do agree
Do you ask the question on what their trading surplus was last year? and what guarantees they have in place for their promised budget for you if you took the position on ?
I would always want to know this info as a potential future employee in a managerial position to make me comfortable about taking the job if it was offered to me.
24 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
I'll say just this, er let's try a bit of tact.
Lets call them "the department that deals with contacting people that have applied for a position".
Feedback should be a part of the process of a professional and responsible company for people that have made it through an interview stage.
More and more these days , that does not happen.
I just wish these same people had to experience more often the exasperating task of applying for jobs.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
24 Nov 2011 by Bjarni Hannesson
Interview questions which ask the candidate to evaluate himself are mostly pointless. Let alone assumptions on third party evaluation.
If you are asked to give evaluation of your self, you most likely paint a great picture of your self. It usually doesn't help the interviewer much. But then again, we can't expect everyone to be a good interviewer. Interviews are considered to have at best 60% success rate at spotting the best candidate. So it's more about selling your self, than actually being the most skilled one to do the job. How often do we see people in positions they shouldn't be in. Does that mean that only useless people applied? I don't think so.
Regarding getting a job @glenkeeran, you are certainly not alone with this problem. Further education doesn't guaranty you a job in this industry. I've been in the business for 17 years now. Two years ago I completed my M.Sc. in Sport Surface Technology. I've only landed two interviews since my graduation.
We probably have to have a session together with Ken Barber, and try to up our application skills :) It's certainly a skill I need to improve on, given my lack of success.
25 Nov 2011 by glenkeeran
@ bjarni ok i will buy the first beers 
everything happens for a reason
25 Nov 2011 by higgins
Stephen,
Your not at fault i.e. how do you answer that because being totally honest i would have to say that my bad points, in no particular order are :-
1) I work too hard and i am never satisfied with my efforts.
2) I set myself huge targets/ goals, but i always seem to exceed them.
3) I will not visit a doctor, but i will drag myself into work because i am the only one that could do my job.
4) my work comes before my family and social life.
Without a doubt there is a technique to getting an interview.
It must be approached as a one off application, with a huge amount of research, every point in the application directly answering and mirroring the person they are after.
The H.R. dept. will have a check list and points system, make the points and your on to the short list.
If you do not get an interview, contacting them for feedback will not get you an accurate answer.
If mail shooting firms, do not just send your c.v. personalise it to meet the firms criteria,their mission statments ect.
Get your spelling right, do not Bull s..., and remember most people are not going to take much notice of an unrelated reference, most will be a confidential telphone call to your last/existing work place.
If a firm is local to you,you are out of work, go and work for nothing, once in, your name will be in the frame, if anything comes up.They might even ring fence jobs.
Then there is the interview itself, if done wrong, defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.
There are lots of ways to prepare for interview, you need to be appraised by someone who tells you the truth, not what they think you want to hear.
25 Nov 2011 by wicketdevil
Funnily i went for a job at Kent county cricket club about 12 years ago. i knew at the end i didnt have a chance i was interviewed by the club secretary and assistant sec didnt meet the head groundsman or was asked a single question about grounds work or cricket prep what a waste of my time. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
25 Nov 2011 by ticky21
well...on a lighter note...i went for a job at a sports ground once, and the headgroundsman asked me :- A) can you make tea? B) can you drive a forklift?.....to which i replied. Why how big is the bloody kettle..?...........boom boom..
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
25 Nov 2011 by Noah Little
Good luck Stephen - my advice would be that you tell them you cannot guess what employers/referees think as those people may not necessarily ever let-on what they really think. They are afterall not obliged to tell you what they think of you. Why would you bother giving the name of a referee if you thought you knew exactly what that referee was going to say about you (the candidate) if asked? daft bl**dy question if you ask me...
Another point too - Companies that don't give feedback to unsuccessful candidates don't deserve to have respondents to their advert IMHO. What ever happened to common decency and respect for those people trying to get on with their life and further themselves AND do good for the company they've applied to...??? " Do unto others as you would have them do unto you " rings a bell.
End of...
25 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
Higgins
Yes you ve hit the nail right on the head,
"the HR department will have a checklist and a points system".
They will have a checklist etc but they will know jack sh1t about the job in question. Getting past them is the biggest problem.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
25 Nov 2011 by tonybolton
Challenge.
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother
25 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
I'll write my own posts thanks, I meant problem.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
25 Nov 2011 by Mike
HR depts... how many actual groundsmen on here were actually interviewed by a HR bod? I was interviewed by the HG's for my last and current employer, since then, I have done the interviewing, supported by my bursar, but still my call...
25 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
Then that's why you are doing ok Mike. 
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
25 Nov 2011 by Mike
Indeed Barry!
Last bout of interviews, my bursar told me it was my department, hence my call. He offered his guidance based on many years of high level management - I appreciated that, and took his wisdom on board, and ultimately made the appointment based on my the feeling that I got about the person, not any sort of 'points' system, or suitability criteria... chuffed to say I made a good call.
I believe that the HG should always have the final call - if HR are to be present, that's great, but they should support the HG, not undermine him/her.
25 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
All they should do is lick the stamps and send out the letters
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
25 Nov 2011 by Mike Last edited 25 Nov 2011
I don't mind them tbh, Barry, as long as they are there in a specific capacity. In real world terms, I know very little about the HR aspect of my job, so I often rely heavily on hr, or other senior members of staff for guidance and wisdom. It would be wrong of me to be ignorant of another's knowledge in an area which I don't specialize in. Again though, I would only use it as guidance for me, and if they imposed a points system or similar, that conversation wouldn't last too long...
Btw, I also do the letters, stamps, email communication, phonecalls - I consider all of that an integral part of getting to know the candidate.
25 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
Well, with my tongue firmly out of my cheek, I don't think they have a lot to do with the groundscare profession.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
25 Nov 2011 by tonybolton
That's the problem, sorry challenge Barry, when it comes to jobs for our colleagues these professionals do have a lot to do with the groundscare profession. Like it or not more and more organisations, companies and employers are employing either their own, in house, or outside 'people persons' I hate the term HR, so old fashioned, and to be honest they are not looking for grass cutters or grafters, but innovaters and managers, future CEO's and leaders. Where did we both go wrong?
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother
26 Nov 2011 by barry glynn
I hate the term",people persons", so pretentious and in fact contradicting, cos that's the last thing they are.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
26 Nov 2011 by higgins
cueball,glenkeeron,biarni,
If any of you guys want me to cast an eye over future applications/c.v. give me a p.m. in confidence.
26 Nov 2011 by Grassman2011
Who was going to interview me then? the HG had already been sacked by the the time of my interview. I had the club administrator, qualifications, Botanist, Director of cricket, x school master and chairman, well i did.nt know his. One year later, new Chairman and new director of cricket. Glad to say they made the right decision!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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