Common Asked Housing Officer Questions

A housing officer will often be employed for housing associations or the local authority, supporting clients with the assessment of needs in terms of housing applications.

The housing officer may also specialise in working with homeless people and/or service users with additional needs.

How competitive is a Housing Officer job Interview?

Interview Specifics

This article will list the commonly asked job interview questions for a housing officer.

By understanding the job interview structure and by knowing the commonly asked housing officer interview questions, applicants can prepare answers that highlight their level of competencies within this industry.

Common Asked Housing Officer Interview Questions

Can you tell me about your housing officer experience?

This housing officer interview question is asked for two reasons; 1 it is an open question to get you talking/feeling relax at the job interview start. 2, to gain a general overview of your experience (generic because the follow-up questions will go into more detail)

To answer this job interview question, start by summarising your experience as a housing officer, your relevant qualifications and a key unique skill relevant to the industry – something that makes you stand out, this could be a specialism you have IE working to house homeless service users.

How do you assess the needs of a client?

This interview question is key because this is the crux of the job role.

Split this answer into two sections. Section one is your people skills; explain how you build rapport, how you use effective listening skills, how open and closed questions have a powerful impact, and how you remain calm in stressful situations. Give a short example to highlight your level of expertise and competencies.

Section two should explain the interview structure; the questions you should ask, the information you need to collate, and how you follow GDPR, data protection and confidentiality legislation.

What does customer service mean to you?

You may be asked several customer services-related interview questions.

In the housing association sector often the service users can be stressed or angry. Some service users may have alcohol or drug addiction. In some cases, you will be speaking to clients who are struggling with finances and have been turned down for financial support.

When answering interview questions relating to customer service and communication, explain how you can handle these situations;

What was the situation – why was the service user angry or upset?

How did you handle the situation – what did you say or do to help calm down the client?

What was the positive outcome – how did the client respond to you?

What do you look for during a housing inspection?

Competency-based job interview questions require you to fall back on your experience.

Give an example of when you have carried out an inspection that had issues (you need to pick an inspection with issues to show that you can deal with this in a professional way)

In the example explain what you look for during a general inspection, the inspection process you follow and quote safeguarding regulations, and how you, when required, challenge a service user.

Follow this up with the example “one time during an inspection I saw…” Give details of what you found, the potential safeguarding issue, and what you did to address this

How would you have a positive effect on your colleagues and team?

A big part of the housing officers’ job criteria is to have the ability to work as part of a close-knit team. You will be asked one way or another about your ability to work within a team.

Open the teamwork answer by simply explaining how you enjoy working as part of a team and how in all previous housing roles teamwork has been an important aspect of the role. This opening confirmation statement shows how you have this required skill.

Now you have ticked the ‘teamwork’ box, you need to give a real-life example. A good frame for this job interview answer is to give a ‘helper’ perspective.

Describe how a colleague was having a problem with a housing issue and how this problem affected the output of the whole team.

Go on to describe how you took action and explain the action you took. Follow this up with the positive outcome focusing on how the whole team benefited from your quick actions.

You can also talk about the larger team – in this role, you will need to work with a range of agencies and stakeholders, including social services, jobcentre plus, citizens’ advice service.

Which other agencies would you refer a service user to?

Part of a housing officer’s job role is to work with the tenants to help them to be successful.

To be effective in this job duty you will need to work with, signpost or refer to a large number of partner agencies from social services to the local job center, from doctor surgeries to career advice officers.

In your answer list the relevant agencies you would partner with and give an example of when you would make a referral compared to signposting.

The example has to be specific. First, explain the service users situation and the key block that was holding them back. Explain the limitations of your roles and how the service user required expert advice.

Go on to explain how the service user had attempted to get support but had failed. End the interview answer by stating what you did to ensure the client got the support and advice they required.

Do you have any questions for me?

A guaranteed question is the “do you have any questions for me?” question. And your answer should be YES! Always ask a question.

Good questions to ask in a housing officer job interview are;

What is your approach to supporting service users with their many barriers?
What development opportunities do you have to help upskill a housing officer?
How many hostels/houses do the organisations look after?
What is the best part of your day?

September 8, 2018

Personality Types and Career Ideas

Does your personality type have an impact of your happiness at work?

What makes you anxious, stressed or bored?

What environments get you excited, motivated and focus?

Your personality type can be match to a career/job sector to give you the best chance of success and career happiness

Below is a list of the myers briggs personality types and the types of careers that, in most cases, will naturally suit each personality type

For a limited time only you can download a 12 page personality type profile for FREE

By Clicking this Link

Personality Test

To access your 12 page profile, you first have to answer 4 simple questions, this will take approximately 2 minutes – good luck and have fun.

Personality Types and Career Ideas

ENFP

trainer
adviser
creator

INFP

adviser
counsellor
creator

ENFJ

mentor
catalyst
counsellor

INFJ

healer
advisor
writer

ISFJ

protector
provider
carer

ISTJ

inspector
supervisor
organiser

ESTJ

leader
organiser
supervisor

ESFJ

provider
organiser
event host

ENTJ

inventor
entrepreneur
leader

INTJ

inventor
strategist
manager

INTP

inventor
architect
creator

ENTP

advocate
inventor
negotiator

ESFP

performer
promoter
carer

ESTP

explorer
crafter
operformer

ISTP

operator
fire-fighter
explorer

ISFP

improviser
carer
performer

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November 6, 2017December 5, 2020

Aristotles Teaches How To Persuasion in a Job Interview

Aristotle’s Persuasion Technique

Persuasion is the goal of the job interview.

In the job interview, you need to influence, persuade and motivate through the answers of your job interview answers. You naturally persuade all the time, through the words you say and how you say these words. The problem is you may persuade people not to recruit rather than persuade them to offer you the desired job position.

Aristotle was a master of the persuasive language. We have taken the leanings of Aristotle’s rhetoric and made it relevant to the job interview.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Ethos is your character, how you come across to the interviewer. In a job interview, you need to be seen as credible, an authority. If the job interviewer believes in you, they will listen to you, if they listen to you, they will want to buy you (offer you the position) Aristotle said “We believe good men more fully and more readily than others.”

An example of an ethical appeal: “What I have learned from working in this industry for over 28 years is…” Your duration of experience has a direct path to your Ethos.

Pathos creates an emotional response from the interview panel. In the job interview situation, you need to appeal directly to the interviewer’s emotions. The great interviewee controllers the employer’s emotions throughout the job interview, taking them on an emotional roller coaster.

An example of an emotional interview answer is “have you ever been in a situation when a multi-pound deal was just about to be lost….what I did to turn things around was…” By getting an employer to imagine/remember a negative situation stirs up their negative emotions, before you create a positive emotional pull, by explaining your positive outcome.

Logos is a way to use logic; reasoning, data, statistics and even debates and arguments. Imagery creates an emotional pull, logos allows you to give the facts to back up the story. “This technique increased profit by 35%..” “9 out of 10 people benefited from X”

October 25, 2017November 19, 2020

Job Interview Questions You Need to Prepare For

How to prepare for the job interview questions

Do you have a job interview date fast approaching?

Are the fears starting to rise? How much help would it be if you knew what questions you were going to be asked? If you knew the interview questions, could you prepare better interview answers?

Of course, you could. Predicting interview questions is easy. Generally in the job interview, you will be asked around 6-10 interview questions. You will be asked some commonly asked interview questions, which I will share below, and you will be asked some specific job interview questions relating to the position you are applying for. Below, I will explain how you can figure out what these questions will be.

This article will help you prepare for a successful job interview outcome.

Job Interview Questions You Need to Prepare for

So let’s start with the commonly asked interview questions. These are the job interview questions that you will be asked in every job interview. The examples below will in the reality of a real job interview be worded differently, but the meaning will be the same.

Job Interview Question 1 “Tell me about yourself?”

At every job interview, you be asked an opening question “Why did you apply for this job?” “What is your experience in this field?” “Tell me about yourself?” that asks for a summary of you and your experience.

You need to prepare a strong opening statement that will highlight your skills, talent, unique selling point and of course your experience in the sector. With this being the first job interview question you have been asked, you need to answer this question with confidence. To answer these opening questions, start by explaining your total years in the industry, your key achievements and one of your unique selling points.

What you are doing here is making it clear that you have the required criteria for the position, but that you also have something additional, something that makes you stand out.

Job Interview – example questions

The second section of the job interview is where you will be asked to give examples of the key skills required for the position. This is the competency section.

To answer these job interview questions you first need to set the scene. Explain the situation, goal or objective to ensure the interviewer understands the importance of the situation. Next explain the actions you took to achieve the required outcome. The best way to deliver this is by explaining three things your undertook that had a positive impact on the outcome. Finally, summarize what you did and state the successful outcome.

Interview End

At the end of the job interview, you will always be asked if you have any questions that you would like to ask them? To stand out you need to ask intriguing questions.

Here are a few examples

“what made you pick this job?”
“describe the best day in your job?”
“what do you like about working here?”
“how did you gain your role here?”
“what will you achieve in the next 2 years?”

August 19, 2017

Job Interview Questions for a Job at Rise in Manchester

Rise Manchester offers a tailor-made space for the FinTech community, drawing together the city’s vibrant startup culture and its rich industrial past. In staff they are looking for friendly and fun staff who know there coffee and who can improve their customers experience.

If you want a job at rise, here is some questions you will need to answer

Below you can also access 101 Interview Questions and techniques to Influence the Job Interview. Good luck with your next job interview.

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Job Interview Questions for a Job at Rise in Manchester

Job Interview Question 1:

“Tell me about your customer service experience?”

The opening question at Rise, will be a generic interview question to gain an insight into your customer service and barista experience. Summarise your experience and have a focus on the key skills required for this position; how you welcome customers, how you promote the rise philosophy and how you go above and beyond

Ensure you mention

customer service skills
strong written and spoken communication skills
the ability to solve problems
the ability to deal tactfully with customers
your friendliness and rapport building skills

Job Interview Question 2:

“How do you handle difficult customers?”

For situational job interview questions, answer using a real life story or example

state the situation – why the customer was angry/difficult
explain how you remain calm and how this calmed down the customer
discuss what you did to support the customer while following processes and procedure
explain the outcome of the situation ***ensure this is positive

Job Interview Question 3:

“When have you gone and beyond to help a customer?”

Rise isn’t just a coffee shop, its an experience. In an employee Rise are looking for staff members who go that extra mile. Answer this interview question by first stating your work ethic and your temperament. Second give a real life example of when you went above and beyond to help a customer. Remember at Rise the customer base isn’t just shoppers, in fact the percentage of customer are entrepreneurs who spend their day at Rise working

Job Interview Question 4:

“What questions do you need when booking a room for a customer?”

Many customers book rooms and the stage area. This task requires a level of organisation. When answering this questions explain your strategy for keeping the administration side of things on point. How do you ensure that you have the correct details; customer detailsl, booking details

Job Interview Question 5:

“Why do you want to work at Rise?”

Be honest when answering this question – Rise has to be the right fit for you, and you need to be the right fit for Rise. What made you apply for this role? Why do you like the environment? To answer this question, start with “The three reasons I want to work at Rise are…” and then give 3 real reasons.

Job Interview Question 6:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.

Conclusion

Many people are afraid of job interviews. The truth is if you prepare for your job interview, by predicting the job interview questions, you can easily prepare your job interview answers. If your job interview answers highlight your unique selling point, are stated in the positive and are said in a confident manner, then you can influence the job interview to increase job offer.

Interview Preparation Resources

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January 4, 2017November 20, 2020

Interview Questions for a Forest Officer

A List of Interview Questions for a Forest Officer Job Role

A forest officer can be known as a forester, forest manager, woodland manager, assistant head forester.

This is a physically demanding job with a need for an ability to project manage long-term schemes, work with external partners and a good working knowledge of forestry.

Throughout the forest officer job interview, you need to highlight these skills, your own forestry experience and your relevant qualifications; arboriculture, countryside management, forest management, forestry and woodland ecology and conservation

10 Interview Questions for An Forest Officer Interview

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 1

Can you tell me a little bit about your experience as a forest officer?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 2

What certificates of confidence do you possess, IE, chainsaw, wood-chipper, harvester?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 3

Why is a good working knowledge of health and safety an important part of this role?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 4

Can you give an example of when you have completed a long term forest project?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 5

How do you motivate others when working collaboratively on a project?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 6

What land management skills do you possess?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 7

What type of specialist personal protective equipment can you operate IE harnesses, abseils, etc

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 8

Give an example of managing and maintaining specialist equipment and machinery?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 9

How do you carry out a survey of a new site?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 10

How do you evaluate the success of a project?

Forest Officer Job Interview Question 11

Do you have any questions for me?

Good questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.

December 18, 2016November 20, 2020

How to Prepare for a Job Interview Answer

Prepare for a Job Interview Answer

The job interview isn’t the difficult process that everyone believes it is.

In actual fact to pass a job interview all you need to learn is how to prepare your job interview answer (as you will have the essential skills, qualities required for the desired position).

By following a couple of steps you will blow away the competition and win more job offers.

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Prepare Your Job Interview Answer Step 1

Use examples to give real evidence to your answer.

Basically to win a job offer you simply need to state that you have the essential desired criteria. But stating that you have X, Y and Z may be the logical (and most commonly used) approach but this rarely has any impact.

This is because employers make job offer decisions based on their emotional association to the interviewee. For your job interview answers to have real impact, state you have the desired skill and then give an example of how you have used this to good effect.

Remember stories, anecdotes and examples have a lasting impact of the job interviewer.

Prepare Your Job Interview Answer Step 2

Talk about what the interviewer deems important.

In the job interview, it can be surprising that after a confident verbal delivery you don’t get offered the job. You had a rapport, answered each question and use stories but still, you aren’t accepted – why?

The reason is that different people from the same industry deem different skills, work styles and priorities differently. If you talk about how you are a people person but the interviewer preferences systems more then you won’t hit the mark in the job interview.

You need to question the interviewer and find out what they deem important. This could be targets, growth, development, technology, finance, people, reputation, charity, processes, the list can go on. Once you know what the employer finds important you can add this to the your interview answer, giving it a bigger impact.

Prepare Your Job Interview Answer Step 3

Match your tone and facial expressions to your answers.

People will often talk throughout the job interview, even give a good answer, but still, they fail to pass the interview process.

This is because a monotone voice and blank facial expressions detracts from your answer. Remember that most of your communication, around 60% is none verbal. Use tonality, volume and expression to answer the interview question with power.

Over 50 Job Interview Questions and Answers

December 12, 2016January 16, 2023

3 Easy Steps for Creating the Perfect Interview Answer

The Perfect Interview Answer

The way you win a job interview is through your perfect job interview answer.

How you reply – with strength or with weakness, determines the success of your job interview. This article will teach you the 3 steps to make a job interview answer hit the mark

Step 1

Answer with confidence.

The first few seconds of your interview answer determines whether the interviewer will listen or ignore the rest of your answer (well they’ll half listen – still not that good)

To create a buzz and to ensure that the interviewer is interested, state straight away that you can do, or have the desired skill they request. Just state “yes” or “I have a great example of that” if you have what they want they will want to listen to your answer

If you wanted a chocolate bar and I said I know where you can get an apple, you wouldn’t be interested. Instead, if I said I know where you can get chocolate your all ears. Give them what they want straight away

Step 2

Create intrigue and an emotional response

Rather than state just logical facts (if you do this you’ll become part of the grey void that all other applicants merge into) gives an emotional story.

People are emotionally drawn to a story. Adopting this storytelling tactic in the job interview you can create authority by selling your skills, experiences, and qualities through the adventure of a detailed story. Stories create visualizations and what you visualize you feel

Step 3

Sum up at the end

Your story creates rapport – key in today’s job interview, but you need to remind that you have X skill

At the end of your answer simply say “so overall I have X skill” or “so yes, I can say I have been using X in all my roles to full effect”

December 11, 2016

3 Ways to Feel More Powerful in the Job Interview

Yes job interviews are scary and no, its not just you who thinks that.

In fact job interviews are in the top ten most commons fears. But there are ways to feel more confident, to feel more powerful. By creating the feeling of internal power, increasing your job interview self esteem your interview performance will impress and show you at your best.

By creating this positive state you are more likely to sell yourself, build rapport and of course be offered more job positions.

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Create Job Interview Power #1

Interviewees feel inadequate as the compare themselves to a fake but positive perspective of the interviewer. We wrongly believe that the interviewer is this powerful god like person who has your life, your future in their hands.

We search for and find all of our own weaknesses and presume that the interviewer god will know about them. To feel more powerful you need to turn this negative technique on its head. Instead of looking for your on weaknesses, search for theirs. Look for little signs of weakness; a dirty shoe, un-ironed tie, messy desk – anything that makes them human again.

Even compare yourself to this weakened person – my shirt is smart, clean and ironed – this creates a natural aura of power within yourself

Create Job Interview Power #2

Every time you go to a party there is always one person who stands out, a person who grabs the attention of the room, a memorable individual that everyone warms to

It is this same type of person who sticks out and gets offered the job from any job interview

Whats the secret??? Stories! Yes stories.

People are emotional drawn to a story. The likable party goer will have hundreds of stories and anecdotes for any situation. They build up suspense, give a detailed description and end with a bang. By adopting this story telling tactic in the job interview you can create an authority by selling your skills, experiences and qualities through the adventure of a detailed story

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Create Job Interview Power #3

Create a conversation

Because people, generally, are scared in the job interview, they will nervously smile, answer the question in a matter of fact way (no story telling here) and prey for the job interview to end

Instead build both rapport and likability, which increase your chances of receiving a job offer, by asking questions to the job interviewer.

This answer then ask a question technique puts the interviewer on the back foot, helping you to feel more powerful. It also creates a natural conversation that will create a connection between you and the interviewer. Its this connection and gut instinct from the interviewer that will land you the job offer.

Over 50 Job Interview Questions and Answers

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September 25, 2016November 21, 2020

Out Of The Box Interview Tips

Think Out Of The Box To Pass a Job Interview

Run of the mill interviewing techniques are becoming talk of the past.

“Tell me about yourself”?, A question that has been out there for so long that candidates tend to just learn the answer to it by heart with minor tweaks here and there.

If the questions aren’t going to change so will the same patented responses will be given during interviews. There is no advancement in the interviewing procedures and no learning for graduates coming fresh out of the universities.

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Let’s consider a situation where a candidate (you) gets the call from HR representative of the company you applied to.

A unique feature about this call would be (we’ll get into that) but how normally a candidate would respond to one such call:

HR: “Hi, is this Mr. X I’m speaking to?”

Mr. X: “Yes, who’s this?”

HR: “This Ms. Y from ABC Co., you applied for the position of XYZ. Have you got a minute, I have to ask a couple of questions?”

Mr. X: “Please go on”

HR: “Ok, so have been you working somewhere?”

Mr. X: “Both yes and no, actually I resigned from my previous employment and am currently serving my notice period”

HR: “Ok, it says here you’ve been with the firm for last 5 years, what makes you want to switch?”

Mr. X: “Although, I have had no issues here during the tenure of my employment, all I feel is a bit stagnant where I’m and want to challenge myself in pursuit of new and better opportunities”

HR: “Alright, let me schedule an interview with you tomorrow say at 11am?”

Mr. X: “Sounds good to me, will be there.”

HR: “The directions to our office will be emailed to you shortly.”

Mr. X: “Sure thanks. Bye.”

That is how a normal telephonic interview appears as. But if we could improvise and candidate can earn the seat in front row? Startling? We pick it up from point no. 10 above and see how it changes.

Mr. X: “Can I suggest a date, as I have some things to take care of in the days to follow? Hence I won’t be able to squeeze time for the meet.”

HR (based on the availability): “When it would be possible for you to visit, then?”

Mr. X: “On so and so date (suggest a date for 2-3 days ahead)

The idea is to buy time so you can thoroughly search about the company, its stakeholders, review their profile on LinkedIn and prepare yourself well.

HR: “How does day after tomorrow sound?”

Mr. X: “Great!”

Now if the counter argument is not up to your liking, best lock in the day as it maybe that the organization is interviewing other candidates or the interviewing authority may not be available in those days.

At least by making a request you have made your presence felt and that you are not typical instead expressive. Just that is the purpose of asking to schedule at a later date. This gives you leverage in negotiations at the time of offer.

You don’t need to insist on scheduling for the day/date you have in mind or you’ll lose the opportunity, altogether. An attempt suffices and generally employer allows for a day or two in scheduling meets for candidates.

Secondly, the questions needs to be revisited to allow candidates to speak open-endedly and when someone is provided the platform to speak, their frame mind is reflected and the person interviewing can gauge whether or not the person would be a suitable fit for the organization.

Questions could be:

“How much element of fun is part of your life?”

“Do you cater to sarcasm?”

“What if I were to ring up a close friend of yours, will he/she be able to tell me your weaknesses?”

Author Bio

Rayanne Dany is an HR consultant and can be reached for assignment writing service via her twitter handle. She has tons of experience in different organizations amounting to a total of 10 years. Her insight over the years as an HR professional has paved way for writing improvement techniques.