job interview - help!!!!!!

[allen_family]

Hi � long question sorry!!!!

I've got an interview coming up for my dream job and I need help!!!!

I've got pretty poor academic credentials, a 3rd class degree from a mediocre university and very poor a-levels (although it was at the time when A levels were hard!)

However, I came from a dysfunctional, very poor, 'broken home' and was never encouraged to do particularly well at school, my siblings both left school and home at 15-16. I was the first person from my council estate to ever do A-levels and go to Uni.

I started with my current employer 9 yrs ago and have done very well; I've hit promotion dates on time or early. I've led some major projects and have out-performed people who've gone to some of the best schools and Unis! I've also been actively engaged in community and charity work.

I'm about to go for a job within an organisation that is renowned for its stuffiness and I'm sure they will initially focus on the negative and disregard my positive achievements.

My question is this, how do I deal with the questions about my previous academic shortcomings and should I explain, that I had a difficult time and actually, getting to Uni was an achievement in itself and I've been well ahead of my peers since?

Thanks

David

[antiguru]

Assuming you didn�t lie on your CV, they already know your qualification level and have still decided to interview you, so you may be worrying unnecessarily. My advice is not to be drawn into the reasons. Just stick to the headlines of what you got and turn every question into an opportunity to highlight the good things you have achieved in the workplace.

For example, if they say �why did you choose that mediocre university� say �I was really lucky to be able to go to university at all and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It really helped me prepare for the hard work I had to put in later in order to achieve tough deadlines on the (so and so) project�.

Without wanting to offend you, you already sound a bit defensive about where you came from. If this company is �stuffy� that attitude will only make them feel uncomfortable. Also, you chose to apply to this company, so it�s time to move on.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[allen_family]

thanks...i agree i am defensive, but i'll be up againt eton/ harrow - oxbridge set.....

[aviator]

It doesn't matter where you are from or your qualifications if they have decided to interview you then they have looked that you are qualified and are more than likely interested in your achievements at work.
It can be difficult going for jobs where you feel inferior to the oxbridge set as it were, but seriously, if you can go in and talk about your achievements and steer any negative into a positive then you could have gone to sh*tstreak community college!
I wouldn't personally focus on the education side or give them a sob story on how far you have come from the wrong side of the tracks, chances are they won't care.
You are better talking about your work projects saying that you are accomplished at this and that and have done so and so, and if they still ask about education say that you are a different type of learner than the academics in the waiting room, and that you need to have kinaesthetic challenges and real life problems to solve.