Yard interview today - tips?!

Shantara

Shantara

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Thanks in advance!

I have a job interview for an apprenticeship at a yard at 2pm today. I'm so nervous! I like to think I'm good at retail interviews...but the only 2 yard interviews I've had I failed miserably...any tips? :)
 
I'm rubbish at interviews but just luckily have managed to fall into jobs along the way.

Just be yourself! Good luck :thumbup:
 
I would say be positive if you are asked to handle or ride a horse (a lot of people are over quiet and can seem nervous of them) and reasonably quick if you have to do anything as although they will expect to train you it gives a better impression than someone who takes hours to clean a water bucket. ask what thee apprentiship leads to as some people may take the rise and use the training angle to get cheap slave labour. good luck.
 
At a yard the qualities they will be looking for aside from being good around horses, quick and efficient etc are going to be committed, reliable, hard working, able to work in a team and individually and willing to learn.

If you can can prove you have the above qualities with examples that should really work in your favour, as it's easy to just list them.

So for commitment do you have any jobs that you've held down for a long time? (Over 2 years)

Reliability- do you take many sick days? Always turn up on time? Willing to help at short notice?

Hard working- are you prepared for long days (plus 12 hours) if so say you are!

Team/individual- give examples of times when you've worked well in a team and on your own.

As much as this yard will want someone to be confident in their abilities, modesty also goes a long way- so say you are aware and willing to learn more, and that you understand every yard has their own way of running things.

And good luck, try and relax and ask questions.
 
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Thanks guys :)

I'm so excited, but so nervous! It'll be my first time living away from home, if I get it. It looks like a wonderful place and Neddy would be able to come too! So in a way, it'd solve my Cookie issue and I wouldn't need to fork out for a new horse...but I would lose my field *cries*
 
Not a yard interview but my old boss put a lot of emphasis on someones personality and ability to get on with the team.
He said you can train people to do a job but you can't 'train' people to be nice / get on with people.
 
A little late if your interview is today, but how about getting feedback from the previous interviews? Always helpful to understand how others see your strengths and weaknesses. (BTW - strengths and weaknesses is often a question that is asked of interviewees, so you need to be able to answer this in a concise and thoughtful way)
If it's your first time living away from home then you don't want your potential employers to think that this will be an issue for you e.g. homesickness.
Also, make sure that you have some good, thoughtful questions to ask them. There's nothing worse than asking a candidate "what else would you like to know?" and them replying with a blank stare.
 
Good news and bad news!

Good news, i have 2 trial days :D whee! The lady seems lovely and the yard is amazing!

Bad news, I'm sitting in a broken down car waiting for the AA, huff :(
 
Chan said:
Good news and bad news!

Good news, i have 2 trial days :D whee! The lady seems lovely and the yard is amazing!

Bad news, I'm sitting in a broken down car waiting for the AA, huff :(
Click to expand...

Good luck with the trial days. Work hard and look like you're enjoying it, you can't go wrong that way!

Bad luck about the car - hope the AA are with you shortly.
 
Well done :)
Best advice I was given in regards to trials is to be enthusiastic about everything you are asked to do.

(A friend had to be enthusiastic about spending 8 hours sorting through and de-tangling coat hangers- it got her the job over the others trialling though!)
 
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