My interview was to start at 9 am at Sheffields. As I was waiting, one young man 23-24 yr old who looked like a recent graduate just out of college or uni, more like an apprentice than an interviewer, came from behind and asked me 'what is you name?' When I told, he said follow me. I thought he was an assistant who was guiding me to the interview room. But in the room, he said I am going to interview you. (That was my first shock).
He made me sign at two places on a declaration form which is a normal procedure. The time of start he mentioned on it was 9.11 am.
As he was about to start, one middle-aged gentleman popped in and said to the interviewer I need this room at quarter past ten and you may have to shift to another room and he went away.
The interviewer said I am going to ask you 33 questions related to your application and it may take an hour or so. I will ask you for some figures which you are expected to give not accurate to the last penny but they must be reasonably correct. I asked, if the figures are related to my financial plan, do I have the permission to refer to the hard copy of the plan which I have brought along? He said, I cant say you are not allowed but it may not look nice and I will have to check what you are referring to. I said, that is fine. I will answer without referring to my copy.
The interviewer then said as I ask you questions I will be noting down your answers in my computer. So please go slow in answering as my typing speed is not very fast.
He started with general questions. As I was talking he was saying 'go slow go slow'. (ridiculous)
When he asked about my business, I gave him a complete picture of my business, the nature of my business, my customers, the target market, and the regulatory bodies that I need to be registered with. One question he asked what is the cost to register with those regulatory bodies, I said 5000. He asked like a child, is 5000 your startup cost? I said, no, it is only the membership fee.
Then he went to the next question which is market research. Again I gave him the details of the complete market research I did.
As I was talking, he stopped me many times and said "go slow. I cant type so fast". He even asked me for the spellings of the regulatory bodies and the research companies I referred to when they were already mentioned in my business plan and market research.
Then he asked who provided the funds, I told.
Next question, what documents have you provided with your application? I told.
And that was it.
When I came out, it was 10 am. The questions he asked were not even 20. No questions on contingency plan or tax or insurance or office space. Neither did he ask for any figures in the financial plan as he himself mentioned at the start.
I am totally puzzled. Were they not supposed to have a recording of my interview? What if he typed something that I never said?
Well, they could have had a robot to ask those questions. At least the robot could have typed faster.
I dont know what to do other than posting on this forum.
