job interviews

Steelicks

Steelicks

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i am currently looking for work, and just got offered a job interview on monday. since im 21, im a veteran at this by now; ive been to billions of them. i dont really get nervous at interviews, but i DO get nervous phoning up about it. every... single... time. it is most frustrating!

anyway, let us discuss job interviews here, and the social awkwardness that is related to the pursuit of a bit of money in our wallets
 
first job i got... a few months back in march

i thought i totally screwed it up, but...

well, it went a bit like this

hi im nathan, blah blah blah

then the guy was like "why do you want to work at payless shoes"

and im thinking "zomg, why do i want to work at payless shoes!!?!?!?!"

so i tried to buy some time

"i... like... shoes?"

*shit*

then, "where do you see yourself in ten years time?"

and i was like, totally truthful, "not working"

oh... double shit...


and a few minutes later, "so nathan, what do you think of ethnic minorities?"

me: "um, because i wish to work in retail, i do not believe in preferential treatment..."

interviewer: "oh, thats good, but do you think you understand them, and their backgrounds well enough to communicate with them?"

me: "um, yes, in fact i hold understanding to be a very important aspect in communication, i mean, when you think about it, because we choose to understand the arab israeli conflict and the division of palestine, proclamation of israel, i will understand if an islamic customer would choose to make anti-semetic jokes, which i do not approve of, but i would understand the circumstance..."

interviewer:"oh. i see... um..."

me: "yes, and we should also understand that the arab israeli conflict isnt so much of an event, but a series of events.."

interviewer: "i see"

oh my gosh i sucked...

then he was like "well, it was nice meeting you nathan, would you like to come in another day for an interview with the store manager?"

and i was like "AGAIN!?!" "oh, yeah, sure"


but i totally aced the interview with the store manager

didnt really recall what i said though, but i got the job because i was so talkative

"hi, im nathan... would you like to hear about my day?"
*crap. shouldnt have asked that*

"yes, i would like to hear about your day"

*wtf?*

so i talked about friends and going to watch the school's shakespeare productions at shakespeare night and stuff...
and im thinking: "its illegal to discriminate against me for being a thespian..." lol


well, i quit anyway, a few weeks ago, now i signed up with some talent agency, and it didnt require an interview, which actuallly really freaked me out because i thought of how dodgy it is not requiring an interview...
 
I've been looking for a job recently, but it seems I never even get to the interview stage...people just ask me to send them my CV [which I do] and that they'll get back to me [which they never do]. I did though, have an interview last Wednesday about a catering job, just to earn some cash, and I felt it went very well. I mean I have enough qualifications, I'm a polite, honest worker...I don't see why they wouldn't hire me to clean some dishes and mop the floor. I have to wait almost 2 weeks for a reply [I'm still waiting, although they did say by the end of this week].

I think my CV sucks and I just ramble on about stuff on it...I get bored writing formal things after posting almost 10000 times on the internet xD.
 
my best interview was when i applied for a christmas job at toys r us. The interview went along the lines of:

"So, have you got any criminal convictions?"
"Nope"
"When can you start?"

And for my interview at Sainsbury's I turned up an hour late looking like I'd just got out of bed (I had), and I still managed to get the job. I guess my tactic is to apply to places that are absolutely desperate for workers, so they'll hire even me.
 
Steelicks said:
anyway, let us discuss job interviews here, and the social awkwardness that is related to the pursuit of a bit of money in our wallets
Click to expand...
If you think the interview went shit, it probably didn't.

To be honest if I was interviewing someone and they choked up I'd probably give them a fair go..if someone's delivery is too slick and they smile + nod too much then I'd suspect something's up.

Don't be led into questions. If you just tell them what they want to hear then chances are they'll see through you, and if you have to tell white lies then you probably didn't want to work there anyway.

If you're being brought in for an interview then your resume is fine, as they're interviewing you to see if you'll fit in with the company. Answer everything truthfully, if you lie (putting on a fake personality counts) then they'll probably fail you during probation.

Mass-mailing resumes works but, especially with engineering jobs, HR firms are so overburdened that they tend to lose things. I didn't meet the criteria for my previous job but I got in as a contractor, after a month or so I was being just as productive as anyone else. Two of my friends work for another company that I applied for but didn't get a spot (despite HR telling me i apparently passed the interview, also they didn't actually tell one of my friends he got a job until someone else emailed him on an unrelated note)..they flat out told me not to bother applying to HR and to just give them a message to pass to their boss.
 
I've only ever had one job interview, but I got the job and have been going straight for 15 months at it. Guess the company likes me?
 
4 of the shittiest questions i have been faced with.
1. if you were an animal, which would you be?
2. if you were a tree, which would you be?
3. why are you better for this job than all the other applicants? (obviously im not, what do you want me to say:/)
4. why do you want this job? (money bitch, money!)
 
now i'm probably a bit young to offer you all advice on how to enter job interviews successfully (only been interviewed for a casual job once but got it), but when I've applied for leadership positions for school and sporting clubs (as well as certain language examinations) I find it less daunting when you walk in with a smile. Also, give lots of fake laughs (don't make it too generic) and when you need to say "um" then make it sound like the "ums" and "ahs" are deliberate. Also the thought that works for me (though not with others) is that I think of the interviewers as being just like me, (if that makes any sense) no different.

also you should drag out your sentences and give them little opportunity to talk. above all be respectful and polite, but not too timid. Overtalk your achievements too: eg, "As part of my responsibilities as class captain I was required to make sure the class knew about announcements, which required leadership skills and ETC YADDA YADDA."

good luck to anyone applying for a job
 
Okay. So. In my almost 24 years, about 10 years since I got my first job, I've had 16 jobs. (I count any place that's ever sent me a W2.) I have NEVER, EVER been turned down for a job after going for an interview. I won't go into every single piece of strategy that I have, but here are some basic pointers:

* Bring a copy of your resume with you to the interview. If you haven't already given them one, bring two so that you can both refer to it.

* Overdress every time. It's much easier to take a suitcoat off then make one materialize out of thin air.

* Firm handshake, eye contact when greeting, repeat their name. Shows that you care to know them and you're interested in being there.

*Taking a second or two before answering a question is not negative at all. They'll see you take the question seriously and that you want to gather your thoughts instead of just spewing out the first thing that pops into your head.

* Last one for now: always, always, ALWAYS thank them for the interview. In the job I have now, my boss still has the card I sent her thanking her for the interview. If a thank you card isn't your thing, you DEFINITELY have to call them within a week. Just thank them again for the interview and reiterate how excited you are for the opportunity. This will keep your name fresh in their mind when they start the hiring process.
 
16 jobs? my arent we resourceful

wouldnt it hurt your opportunities though when yo go for another job and they look at your resume and ask "how come you've never stayed with a business for more than a few months?"

apparently if you stay with places long enough, it shows you have dedication
 
You bring up a good point, continually starting new jobs looks terrible on your record (I'm looking at YOU JUSTIN). For me, though, I would go to college for 9 months, then go home and get a summer job. Also, back in last fall/winter I was working 3 jobs simultaneously. Add in the 2 or 3 places where I did one night of work (and ended up on payroll and got a W2), 16 jobs isn't as much as you'd think.
 
This thread seems more geared for serious jobs.

Atlas said:
3. why are you better for this job than all the other applicants? (obviously im not, what do you want me to say:/)
4. why do you want this job? (money bitch, money!)
Click to expand...

Obviously, if you are applying for something that you are passionate about and truly GOOD at these questions aren't really that bad. If I was applying for a job as a webmaster/programmer I could cite so much experience that they'd get sick of talking to me and get to the hiring process. On the other hand, if I was applying to a restaurant/other economy, low pay job I would have no real way to answer those questions. I got hit for #4 when I applied for Applebees and I answered truthfully that I was looking for a summer job to raise some money for college and then changed the focus back immediately to my good qualities, etc.

* Last one for now: always, always, ALWAYS thank them for the interview.
Click to expand...

Same points apply - people are going to look funny at you if you give them a card in exchange for an interview at Wal-Mart. Awesome, thanks, I'm so glad to have the opportunity to work with the great staff of the restock division!
 
Whenever I get an interview, I pretty much take the high risk of banking I don't fuck up the job so I can lie my ass off during the interview to kiss ass. So far it's worked.
 
Obviously, there's no way to determine if you're better than people you've never met, so just tell them about some of your qualities that make you a good employee. Dedication to work, friendliness with customers/clients, loyalty, etc. Whatever you think that you can bring to their table, tell them about it.

As for resumes, I have extensive experience working on them. This is an open invitation: if anyone wants me to give them an unbiased opinion on their resume, PM me. In many situations, the resume is the first thing a company sees of you, especially since so much hiring is done online these days. If your resume is crap, you will NEVER get called.
 
can i ask for a bit of advice on resumes then DM?

with casual jobs, apparently detailed resumes are really really offputting, and employers would actually just rather read availibility more than qualifications.

ive only ever applied for a job once, so i dont know if its true or not, but it seems to be the case, because one of my friends told me that her manager just chucks the 2-3 pages resumes away without bothering to read them for casuals
 
That's absolutely true. Have you ever heard of the term "overqualified"? It exists, and is used more than you might think to turn people down for positions. Casual jobs don't necessitate a resume, normally you just go fill out their standard application form and that's that.

* Side note here: ALWAYS ask to give your application/resume directly to a manager, that way you get to meet him/her and you plant your name firmly in their head with your face as well.

* SECOND side note: ALWAYS call within a week and speak to whoever is in charge of hiring. Just ask them if they'd had a chance to review your application/resume yet, and if it's possible to schedule an interview. In many of these places, they get a pile of people to look through for a position, and if you remind them that you're interested your name bumps up to the top of the list, both on their desk and in their mind.

Where was I... oh right, casual jobs. Resumes are too much for these, it will make you look desperate/pretentious/clueless/all of the previous. If you're not sure if a resume is too much, when applying for the job, go to wherever the place is and say you're interested in a position and ask if they have any applications to fill out.

- If they say yes, fill it out and then ask if they'd like a resume also.
- If they say no, then you can assume they're either A. not hiring at the moment, or B. only hire using resumes. If it's B, 99% of the time they'll just say "no, but if you have a resume I'll pass that along for you."

Okay, that was a long-winded answer to your question, but I wanted to make sure I covered all the bases.
 
NAME: Greg Bulmash

SEX: Not yet. Still waiting for the right person.

DESIRED POSITION: Company President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever's available. If I was in a position to be picky, I wouldn't be applying here in the firstplace.

DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that's not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.

EDUCATION: Yes.

LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility.

SALARY: Less than I'm worth.

REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.

AVAILABLE TO WORK: Of course! That's what I'm applying.

PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they're better suited to a more intimate environment.

MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50 LBS?: Of what?

DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the more appropriate question here would be "Do you have a car that runs?"

HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be a winner of the Publishers Clearninghouse Sweepstakes.

DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job, no; on my breaks, yes.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb sexy blonde super model who thinks I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be doing that now.

DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: Yes. Absolutely.

SIGN HERE: Aries.
 
I tried applying to a GNC because I saw a help wanted sign outside but the woman still didnt call me up. I never had a ''real'' on the record job because all I did was work construction, demolition, and moving jobs for the past 3-4 years. Craigslist has alot of new sections for jobs and I found a few numbers so Ill be calling them up later on today.
 
I really don't get bothered about interviews. I had them for all 6 of my university choices and didn't prepare for any - I just went in assuming I'd know the answers to all of their questions, and it turns out I did. Of course, it never hurts to have a list of qualities you can reel off about yourself, or especially about the company.

I expect to be more concerned when the time comes for my job in computer science during my placement year. But then again, it will be a job that I actually want, so I can give valid reasons for why I want to be there and why they should hire me.
 
DoomMullet, sir, since you're giving some advice, I'd like to take this time to inquire about a few things.

> How long is TOO long for a resume?

> If someone is applying for a casual job and it requires a resume, would it be thought of as overqualified to have a more "targeted" resume toward that job rather than just your personal resume?

> In interviews, I've heard that there are some questions that interviewers are not allowed to ask, but still do (ie. are you married, single or divorced/ or what are your religious views), how is it that one deals with these questions when they're asked? I saw an interview video and it included how to deal with these, but it wasn't completely clear.


That's all for now, thanks for giving everyone advice! =)
 
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