Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

[kayak]

Well I had a phone call yesterday from a fella in the sstg office. Apparently he had emailed me about getting an interview but I hadn't got it. He was just about to throw out my application but decided to give me a call because I had seemed very keen in the application. So now I've found that for some reason emails they send to me aren't bouncing but im not getting them for some reason, even though I can email them fine.

But anywhoo, I now have an interview on the 7th of MAY with them for one of 4 sponsored CMA CGM places at plymouth!

That was a close one. Any tips for the interview?

And how should I break it to them that they are more of a backup plan if I fail entry to the RFA?

Cheers,
Alec

*date edited*

[dawg]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

So now I've found that for some reason emails they send to me aren't bouncing but im not getting them for some reason, even though I can email them fine.

...maybe he's not been typing them correctly, and they're going to someone with an address that's one character diffrunt?

7th of march

What for? Tardis Crew Management?

And how should I break it to them that they are more of a backup plan if I fail entry to the RFA?

This is your interview plan?!

...I think an interview page on the wiki is urgently required... it'd be nice if everyone would contribute their experiences from the various companies they've had them with (hint, hint...)
http://officercadet.nfshost.com/pmwiki/ ... ction=edit

[kayak]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

Nope, I sent them an email after it wasn't working, and he copied the email address straight across from the email I sent...

Woops I mean 7th may!

And well I wasn't sure if they'd ask about any other companies your applying for or something? Do I just not mention it then?

Never had an interview before :S

[dawg]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

Alright, well, you can kill two birds with one stone here..

How about you google as much info you can on the company - which is good for your interview, for when they ask you "why their company (and not another one)", and paste it onto a wiki page

You need to know about the company to create a story that you're going to sell about why they should pick you instead of someone else. The more background you know, the more able you are to deal with random questions.

Body language is another aspect... the best interview is when you somehow hit it off with the interviewer and break the ice so that they enjoy talking to you (they may have several tedious interviews to get through that day with kids who just clam up and don't respond much to any of the interview questions).

Try to be a bit like a politician, answering questions they didn't ask... don't start listing all the wonderful offers and plans you've got! Treat each company like they are the one you really want (some cynics might extend this to other areas of life, ahem )

I could go on... but you'd best "revise" the company, like for an exam, and post some further questions that others may be able to help with as well. Any good?

[Malim Sahib]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

I've only ever had two interviews in my life, both for cadetships with Maersk and BP respectively. I was offered jobs and had an interview scheduled with the RFA but I accepted the BP offer first.
I've moved around a few companies since, but have never had an interview, such is the way of it!
My flatmate at College was RFA and his interview was pretty standard and short (20 minutes) with just a general chat as what kind of man he was, why he wanted to go to sea and what he knew about the RFA. This was long before Admiralty Interview Boards, fitness tests and all that new nonsense.
Anyway, here's a rundown of what happened:

Maersk:
Met in the Holiday inn opposite Glasgow College (think the hotel has been renamed now). Interview went like this:
1.Watched a Maersk Propaganda video showcasing just how great they are and why we should love them
2. Undertook IQ test
3. Chinwag with Maersk Training Superintendent regarding my personal interests, why I want to go to sea etc. Nothing too deep, almost like a chat between two mates to basically get an idea of what kind of bloke I was. Circa 5 minutes.
4. Chinwag with Maersk 2nd mate (much younger bloke than Training Super) for more of the same. Circa 5 minutes.
Then told to get lost and had a letter appear 3 days letter offering me a job.


BP:
Turned up to Hotel early, interview men arrived late. Both were retired having spent their entire careers in the company (40 years each), one a former Master, the other a former C/E - two great blokes I got to know well in subsequent years.
It went like this:
1. Cup of tea and chinwag about the weather etc.
2. C/E picked up that I'd mentioned I'd been in the Boys Brigade in my application form - cue chat about the BB's (completely superfluous to matter in hand)
3. Why do want to go to sea (before you ask, I can't remember why)
4. Any relatives go to sea? I said yes - my Father, Grandfather and Uncle had all been to sea and all 3 had served in BP.
Cue 20 minutes of lamp swinging about who knew who etc. My father (sitting outside) was invited in, and this conversation then continued with him.
Another cup of tea and more biscuits.
Casually asked if I'd applied anywhere else (in presence of Father and tea lady), said yes RFA and Maersk, and that I'd been offered a job by Maersk.
Was asked how much Maersk were offering to pay me - about 4 grand says I, "we'll pay 8 and a bit to start" says them.
"Fancy a job?" I said yes and that was that.
They said that they always looked favourably upon those young lads who'd had relatives in the company, almost like an old boys network.
I think it was another half an hour before the two of them and my father finally stopped swinging the lamp; they were on the verge of heading off to the Pub before someone realised I was underage.

The above was quite typical of BP at the time, in a lot of ways nothing had really changed for decades and they were a really good outfit to work for. Alas they've now grown up and become a 'modern' company.

I'm led to believe that BP's interview process is a bit more formal these days!


As general advice I'd pretty much repeat what has been said:

Turn up early.
Be smartly dressed (Shirt/Tie and Suit)
Be as polite as possible without appearing too greasy
Research the company in question and find out what ships they operate, where they go etc, perhaps even some company initiatives/regulations The more you know the better it will look, just don't fire it at them randomly and appear a 'know it all'.
Research the course you're likely to be doing - how long at college/sea, what's involved with the course, expectations etc. You'll find this information on either the College website or in the College prospectus.
Be wary of spinning too much BS - they will pick up on it.
Bearing in mind the above, have a long think about the questions you'd like to ask. Try to make them serious and not too trivial/obvious - give the impression you're genuinely interested.
Appear respectfully keen and interested in what they have to say.

[dawg]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

"Fancy a job?" I said yes and that was that.

Cue Hovis music... "ee them were the days!"

I'm led to believe that BP's interview process is a bit more formal these days!

**** me, yes! Computers really have ruined the world!

[Malim Sahib]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

Cue Hovis music... "ee them were the days!"

Hovis? You obviously came from a privileged household!

When I were a lad we were so poor we couldn't afford bread, never mind a TV....

(sigh)

[dawg]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

Luxury!

When I were a lad, we'd have to beat ourselves to sleep wi' ya rusty pickaxe, in a slag heap outside power station; wake up, 'alf hour before we went to bed, and then, and then, if we wa lucky, lucky mind! all 79 of us orphans 'd be thrown into a bear pit to fight over a single crumb, and we'd wash it down with a thimbleful of boiling hot mustard sucked through a straw made of angry wasps!

(...that's Doncaster for yer!)

[Malim Sahib]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

Slag Heap? Crumb? Loooooxzzury....

We couldn't afford a slag heap, all we could afford was a pothole on the main road!
All 429 of the extended family had to crowd in there, and it was only 8 inches wide.
Aye, times were hard.

[steamer]

Re: Almost missed out on my sstg interview for CMA CGM

SSTG interviews are different is all I can say!! You'll be interviewed by a guy called Steve I imagine-watch him carefully as he's very down to earth and will see through any bull sh** that you try and throw his way!
Basically have an honest answer about why you want to go to sea, convince him that you have thought very carefully about the financial aspect, being away from home and MOST importantly convince him that you will actually last the required three years. In my interview he seemed quite pleased that I understood that the sponsor companies participate in cadet training for the tax rebate more than a burnng desire to train British officers and that potential drop outs reflect badly on SSTG and cost the sponsors a lot of money.

I have been looked after very well by them so far, and genuinely do not want to let Steve down as he has put his neck on the line to get me on the scheme...whether that is a bit of clever psychology on his part or that he is a genuinely nice bloke I simply don't know.

Best of luck with the interview, take a deep breath before you go in and try to believe that you are walking into a building full of friends before you ring the bell and you'll be fine.

I've been interviewed by Clyde Marine as well and found them to be very corporate and reliant on tick boxes. SSTG are nothing like that and seem to recruit on personality and attitude instead.