I have what I believe is an online interview a week today, I applied for a Border Officer role at Glasgow Airport and thus far passed a couple of testes that they sent me, which lead up to this invitation to an online assessment centre a week today. 

 

All I know is that I had to download Zoom and create an account etc... but I have started this thread as I am so illiterate when it comes to technology and indeed, the online world, I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this next week, are any of you familiar with this type of interview ( if that's what it is ) and could you give me tips or pointers in what I should look out for or even what to expect? I am very, very eager to get this position, but I feel somewhat disadvantaged already as I have never experienced anything online before when it comes to work related stuff, have always just been face to face. I believe there is going to be other people in my position in the same Zoom thing, so it's not just me, or maybe it is, I have no idea 😔  

 

Any information, as I have tried to YT it and look it up, but not really getting anywhere, would be massively appreciated. 

• Put a bookshelf behind you on the Zoom call, they'll think you're really clever
• Make sure you say that whilst John Smeaton was brave, that sort of intervention should have been left to the qualified security personnel at a well run airport such as Glasgow
• If they ask what school you went to, tell them that you're not religious

Practice the technology so that you are able to attend a zoom meeting. I had to find a new job at 50 and it was the tech that was scary, not the content. Definitely look well dressed and presentable. You can also have a background filter so they cannot see your actual background. happy to have a zoom meeting with you to help you practice if that helps!

Edited November 18, 20241 yr by OrlandoDon

3 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

• Put a bookshelf behind you on the Zoom call, they'll think you're really clever
• Make sure you say that whilst John Smeaton was brave, that sort of intervention should have been left to the qualified security personnel at a well run airport such as Glasgow
• If they ask what school you went to, tell them that you're not religious

I will take this through not only my interview, but life as well. Always a pleasure, Rico. 🙂

1 hour ago, OrlandoDon said:

Practice the technology so that you are able to attend a zoom meeting. I had to find a new job at 50 and it was the tech that was scary, not the content. Definitely look well dressed and presentable. You can also have a background filter so they cannot see your actual background. happy to have a zoom meeting with you to help you practice if that helps!

It's both content and technology that is worrying me Orlando, I will absolutely wear a suit and tie, just concerned at what to expect and what actually is an online assessment centre? Was just curious to see if anyone on here has experienced it and if they had, could they fill me in a little as to what to expect. I appreciate your kind gesture regarding the Zoom, I may take you up on it nearer the time!

3 hours ago, KennyFuckinPowers said:

It's both content and technology that is worrying me Orlando, I will absolutely wear a suit and tie, just concerned at what to expect and what actually is an online assessment centre? Was just curious to see if anyone on here has experienced it and if they had, could they fill me in a little as to what to expect. I appreciate your kind gesture regarding the Zoom, I may take you up on it nearer the time!

Happy to help if I can, certainly not with the content of the interview, but on the tech side. I had over a dozen job interviews on zoom 2-3 years ago (had never done that before) and it was the tech that stressed me out more than the interview itself. Practice helps, especially with sound and camera on/off, so you are comfortable/confident.

Totally agree with the principle of having some practice to acclimatise yourself to being on camera and become comfortable with it. It is interesting to do this also as it can help you with your body language.

As someone who regularly interviewed and recruited graduates over a thirty year period I can't stress enough just how important body language is in any interview situation. I've seen very well qualified people slouching, crossing their arms, leaning back in their seat etc and it doesn't give off positive vibes.

Unfortunately I don't have experience of online assessment centres, but just bare the above in mind, if cameras are on, you're visible at all times.

Regardless of online or face to face, don't try to be something your not however, just be yourself, relax, grow into it and smash it mate.

Have a few flights in and out of Glasgow already booked for next year, I'll keep a close eye out for the border guard with the name badge Kenny "Fucking" Powers  😉

Plus, if you lead with jimmy thelin being a major influence in your life it will be plain sailing from there.

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

As someone who regularly interviewed and recruited graduates over a thirty year period I can't stress enough just how important body language is in any interview situation. I've seen very well qualified people slouching, crossing their arms, leaning back in their seat etc and it doesn't give off positive vibes.

I recommend opening with a spin round in your chair, followed by a wink. Then pretend to shoot each interviewer with an imaginary gun. 

3 hours ago, BigAl said:

Totally agree with the principle of having some practice to acclimatise yourself to being on camera and become comfortable with it. It is interesting to do this also as it can help you with your body language.

As someone who regularly interviewed and recruited graduates over a thirty year period I can't stress enough just how important body language is in any interview situation. I've seen very well qualified people slouching, crossing their arms, leaning back in their seat etc and it doesn't give off positive vibes.

Unfortunately I don't have experience of online assessment centres, but just bare the above in mind, if cameras are on, you're visible at all times.

Regardless of online or face to face, don't try to be something your not however, just be yourself, relax, grow into it and smash it mate.

Have a few flights in and out of Glasgow already booked for next year, I'll keep a close eye out for the border guard with the name badge Kenny "Fucking" Powers  😉

Thank you Al, I appreciate it. 

I'm just surprised it's on Zoom. A platform that sprung put of nowhere when the world locked down in 2020 ... and then disappeared quicker than you could say "vaccination" 

26 minutes ago, Reekie_Red said:

I'm just surprised it's on Zoom. A platform that sprung put of nowhere when the world locked down in 2020 ... and then disappeared quicker than you could say "vaccination" 

We are using Zoom all the time even now. Has pretty much replaced 80% of our in person meetings. I used to have to go to London for internal meetings regularly and these have all been replaced by meetings over zoom. Business travel is next to nothing now as a result. 

2 hours ago, Jute said:

We are using Zoom all the time even now. Has pretty much replaced 80% of our in person meetings. I used to have to go to London for internal meetings regularly and these have all been replaced by meetings over zoom. Business travel is next to nothing now as a result. 

We are all zoom here in order to be compliant with the industry I work in, phone, video conference, and now even text.

On 19/11/2024 at 11:53, RicoS321 said:

I recommend opening with a spin round in your chair, followed by a wink. Then pretend to shoot each interviewer with an imaginary gun. 

Also if the ask about any weaknesses you may have, answer that you are extremely honest. When he/she says,  "I don't think honesty is a weakness", reply with, "I don't give a flying fuck what you think"

With the advice provided in this thread KFP, I look forward to seeing you at the airport one day 😂

On 21/11/2024 at 08:10, manc_don said:

With the advice provided in this thread KFP, I look forward to seeing you at the airport one day 😂

Well, I was unsuccessful, due to having a neck tattoo. They changed their policy on this within the last 12 months and didn't ask anything like that in the 4 tests/questionnaires leading up to them discovering it in my assessment. Over 2 months of the application process for that to happen. However, I did well enough to be placed on a reserve list for 12 months, as their policy may change again. 

 

 Visible non-offensive tattoos are permissible if they are not facial or on the front or side of the neck (above collar line). 

 

That's what I was told in my feedback. In any case, my first ever online interview, it 100% lacks the personal touch of meeting people face to face and building up that rapport, just my opinion. I appreciate all the serious and non-serious replies in any case.  

51 minutes ago, KennyFuckinPowers said:

Well, I was unsuccessful, due to having a neck tattoo. They changed their policy on this within the last 12 months and didn't ask anything like that in the 4 tests/questionnaires leading up to them discovering it in my assessment. Over 2 months of the application process for that to happen. However, I did well enough to be placed on a reserve list for 12 months, as their policy may change again. 

 

 Visible non-offensive tattoos are permissible if they are not facial or on the front or side of the neck (above collar line). 

 

That's what I was told in my feedback. In any case, my first ever online interview, it 100% lacks the personal touch of meeting people face to face and building up that rapport, just my opinion. I appreciate all the serious and non-serious replies in any case.  

Take them to court. Bigots. Absolutely ridiculous in the 21st century. 

2 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Take them to court. Bigots. Absolutely ridiculous in the 21st century. 

Rico is bang on there

If you were transitioning and were in the process of having a sex change would they have binned you 

I'll bet the answer to that is no, therefore disgusting actions

Sorry to hear man. Really surprised about the tattoo policy, didn’t know they could do that….but I don’t know much.

Was your tattoo in the shape of a penis?

5 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Was your tattoo in the shape of a penis?

Of course, doesn't everyone have a tattoo on their neck in the shape of a penis? If not, then I definitely feel like a fool. 😔

16 hours ago, BigAl said:

Rico is bang on there

If you were transitioning and were in the process of having a sex change would they have binned you 

I'll bet the answer to that is no, therefore disgusting actions

Al, that's a whole conversation I would rather shy away from. I got too invested in all of that madness and it made me mentally unwell for a small period of time. But the fact of the matter is, you are absolutely correct to suggest that. 

2 hours ago, KennyFuckinPowers said:

Al, that's a whole conversation I would rather shy away from. I got too invested in all of that madness and it made me mentally unwell for a small period of time. But the fact of the matter is, you are absolutely correct to suggest that. 

He is correct, and it's quite right too, a person having a sex change should not get sacked. I get the analogy, but it's probably a false equivalence. Your situation is more like a person not speaking in the correct accent (being too colloquial). It's about class, rather than race or gender. It's deemed inappropriate, or unprofessional, to have a tattoo. These terms are bandied about by dickheads with zero moral compass, zero empathy and zero self respect. The type that carries out a boss's orders without question, even though they know it's wrong. Professionalism is an utterly nebulous concept, which could be more appropriately described as doing as your told - or conforming. It usually makes for a fucking incompetent employee or manager.

You should write to them to complain. Ask for them to explain the causation of impoliteness, lack of empathy, lack of diligence, tardiness, work-shyness with neck tattoos. In fact, if I were you, I'd write directly to CEO andy.cliffe@agsairports.co.uk asking him to explain his class-based discrimination.