How To Prepare For Pharmaceutical Quality Job Interview?

Interview tips for a careworker job.?

• My career path so far has been within Scientific Analysis, namely quality control on pharmaceuticals. But I find it a bit soulless, and I don't care so much for the work I do. So I have decided to try care work. The job I am going for is a care worker in a shared residence, looking after disabled people, sometimes staying nights there just to be on hand if they need help right away. Really I have no idea what to wear for this interview, the type of attire I would wear for a lab job interview just seems over the top, but what do I know! Would love some advice to prepare me (especially what to wear). The interview is on the 24th May. Thanks for any help you can give me!

• Answer:

  Dress professionally. If you feel overdressed in a suit you could take off the jacket. (Don't wear a $500+ dollar suit.) Wear a long sleeves dress shirt (nothing fancy, just plain--even an white or cream oxford would be fine) with a tie and dark dress slacks with dark shoes/socks, preferably both black. No cologne or scented aftershave. Wear a watch but nothing else unless you have a wedding band. Your attitude must be professional but very approachable, likable, friendly but firm. Remember you're now applying to be an authority figure in a group home. Your attitude will sell you. You must show the kind of confidence that says you can be trusted to be responsible and dependable. That you are a careful listener and sharp, can make quick assessments. When you interview it's best to say not that you want to "try" carework after you're last possible? burnout? but that you took the career choice expected of you when what you've always had in the back of your mind was to do carework. (Later if you need to quit you can say that although you always loved the idea that you're not cut out for it.) Say that you'd like additional formal training for the job as you work as this is a career change for you, not just employment.. Of course, the question will be Why? What interested you? When did you first notice the interest? Hopefully you had a childhood friend or acquaintance or family member who was disabled. From this you learned lessons about compassion and dignity and about how we all have the same basic needs in life. You enjoy working with people and that you'd hope that you could derive some satisfaction from your lab job thinking of how it could help people (or society) but that the job didn't fulfill your need to work with people. http://caregiver-jobs.org/responsibilities-of-a-caretaker-for-disabled/ They'll ask about the pay cut but of course, your needs are modest and the actual work interest is the driving force behind your decision. Research the company and the situation so that you'll have points of how you can contribute and fit in with the culture, their home, and have some questions about the exact job description, how long has the job been vacant (because you are ready to step right in, is what you say, but it's a question to allow them to open up about possible turn-over rates), etc. Are you CPR/First Aid certified? How soon could you be, if not? What do you know about the types of disabilities the people living there have? Do some research generally if you don't know so that you will at least sound knowledgeable. Going in if you see residents, make solid, friendly eye contact, smile, say hello to them. How are you? Remember to look like a natural fit. Your interviewer will be including this as an unofficial part of the interview Relax...I'm sure you'll do fine and they'll be lucky to have you!