Friday OT - Get A Job
- Thread starter Angie
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I've been in my current job for 29 years and worked for my dad before that, so I don't have any.
On the other end of things, I have interviewed quite a few people who appeared to either be extremely nervous (or more likely) on meth. Like watching Chris Farley do an interview, and sometimes I'm surprised that they don't just start rolling around the room.
On the other end of things, I have interviewed quite a few people who appeared to either be extremely nervous (or more likely) on meth. Like watching Chris Farley do an interview, and sometimes I'm surprised that they don't just start rolling around the room.
I had a good internship in college and the company set it up where the intern would have a lot of say in their replacement intern.
Interviewed a kid and asked if he was going to be a 4th year senior, and he said "nope I've got a 5th year, I'm going a victory lap."
(Why not just say, 5th year because I changed my major/have been working and taking less credits/etc)
Interviewed a kid and asked if he was going to be a 4th year senior, and he said "nope I've got a 5th year, I'm going a victory lap."
(Why not just say, 5th year because I changed my major/have been working and taking less credits/etc)
Years ago I interviewed for a job at a local community college. I waited 45 minutes past my scheduled interview time. At the time I really wanted that job and thought continuing to wait would show them that.
The older, more confident and not willing to put up with certain s$!t me would now tell the secretary if my time was worthless to them, then I would hate to see how they treat employees...and then walk out.
The older, more confident and not willing to put up with certain s$!t me would now tell the secretary if my time was worthless to them, then I would hate to see how they treat employees...and then walk out.
My current IT company. We interviewed a guy who wanted to move to Austin and was applying for a Sr. Position. We are all on camera. We watched him open and slam two Red Stripes on camera during the interview. If you can’t go without drinking on an interview, then you have bigger problems than employment.
A slight pivot, many many years ago I worked for a company with pretty inept leadership. I ran a department with a small handful of in-house staff and then contracted out projects when volume was high. We'd been in a pretty good stretch of projects coming in, and I was told to hire two more full-timers to reduce the need for contracting out. I'd been there a while and knew there were ups and downs and advised them that it wouldn't be a great idea to do that, fearing what we might have to do if things took a dip. They disregarded my advice. So I hired two more full-timers and, less than a year later, had to let both of them go because work had slowed down. If you've never had to let someone go from a job, it sucks.
My interview to break into my industry was over the top.
High school and college transcripts. Classes with "bad" grades were circled and I had to defend each grade the interviewer didn't think was high enough.
"You were a good student in high school....and then....college"
At the end he asked a blanket question about my grades. "Well, Dave, at times I bought into the college lifestyle a little too much"
When he walked me to the door he said, "You know, KnappShack, I also bought into the college lifestyle a little too much"
I had a 3.4 GPA in major and over 3.0 overall. Not outstanding, but not a monkey in a cage either....and I was working three jobs at times to pay for school
Another interview the person said, "I don't have feelings. I don't care what anyone thinks. How will you deal with that?"
"I don't believe you. You are obviously passionate about your career and have a lot of pride in what you've accomplished". Got the job, but this is also the interview where the office had no windows and the lights cut off. Sat in 100% darkness for the interview.
High school and college transcripts. Classes with "bad" grades were circled and I had to defend each grade the interviewer didn't think was high enough.
"You were a good student in high school....and then....college"
At the end he asked a blanket question about my grades. "Well, Dave, at times I bought into the college lifestyle a little too much"
When he walked me to the door he said, "You know, KnappShack, I also bought into the college lifestyle a little too much"
I had a 3.4 GPA in major and over 3.0 overall. Not outstanding, but not a monkey in a cage either....and I was working three jobs at times to pay for school
Another interview the person said, "I don't have feelings. I don't care what anyone thinks. How will you deal with that?"
"I don't believe you. You are obviously passionate about your career and have a lot of pride in what you've accomplished". Got the job, but this is also the interview where the office had no windows and the lights cut off. Sat in 100% darkness for the interview.
I had one of those itchy types for an interview last year. She constantly was touching her face, readjusting in her seat, etc. She must have adjusted her bra 50 times in 20 minutes. At first, I thought she was just nervous, but by the time it was done, I figured meth.
Another one from a former job years ago. No interview, just a resume. Guy was applying for a P&L management job, but had zero relevant experience. Had like 2 masters degrees in history, had been at UofI for like 12 years. His cover letter said something to the effect of "I have finally realized I need to find a job which will provide actual money for me to survive". It was really funny, but also kind of sad.
Another one from a former job years ago. No interview, just a resume. Guy was applying for a P&L management job, but had zero relevant experience. Had like 2 masters degrees in history, had been at UofI for like 12 years. His cover letter said something to the effect of "I have finally realized I need to find a job which will provide actual money for me to survive". It was really funny, but also kind of sad.
I moved to the DC area right after we got married, and was taking the subway to an interview. It was pouring rain. The closest subway stop was only a block and a half from the office building I was going to and I was wearing rain gear and had an umbrella. Still got hair pretty wet. Was a rare occasion that I put on mascara that was giving me that raccoon look. I was plenty early and went into the ladies room in lobby to fix my mess. Figured that was safe, interview was on second floor with someone named “Jake.”
So I went to work on the hair with the hand towels and some kind woman saw me and offered to help with the mascara mess. I explained my situation and we chatted a bit. She said she worked on the second floor and would show me where to go for the interview. Yes, she was indeed “Jake.” Had a long hard to pronounce first name that parents thought would be cool and unique so when her assistant called to schedule the interview with Jake, I was clueless. No wonder she was so chatty about my college classes in the ladies room. And she did offer me the job.
The bad interview was a guy who wanted to take me out for drinks after the interview. Declined that and he declined to offer me the job. Undoubtedly dodged a bullet there.
So I went to work on the hair with the hand towels and some kind woman saw me and offered to help with the mascara mess. I explained my situation and we chatted a bit. She said she worked on the second floor and would show me where to go for the interview. Yes, she was indeed “Jake.” Had a long hard to pronounce first name that parents thought would be cool and unique so when her assistant called to schedule the interview with Jake, I was clueless. No wonder she was so chatty about my college classes in the ladies room. And she did offer me the job.
The bad interview was a guy who wanted to take me out for drinks after the interview. Declined that and he declined to offer me the job. Undoubtedly dodged a bullet there.
I was trying to be friendly Carvers, didn't think you would want to eat supper by yourself. I also said drink, not drinks..
I just want to say I love this idea of the interns taking part in interviews for their replacements. That is such a good idea.
Living out of state at the time when not everyone had a cell phone, I interviewed with a company. It seemed to be going well when the woman notices I'm from Iowa. "you need to meet with Jim".
Jim is a pretty stoic guy and starts asking me questions. "I see you went to Iowa State," After making me talk about Iowa State, he says "I went to ISU". Then he notices that had been a Assistant HS coach after graduation....."I competed in that sport". Eventually, he gets to the part where the coach I assisted was his HS coach. I had also listed the HS coach as a reference. I didn't let my reference know that I was interviewing, so I was running around after the interview trying to find a PAYPHONE to call the reference.
Thankfully, I got the job for which I'm still employed. The other Cyclone moved on, but he is still a part of my network.
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In college, I was interviewing for an internship in Schaumberg at an insurance company, Northwest Insurance, I believe.
I tend to be a shy person. Someone, especially at the time, who wouldn't walk up to someone and start talking to them at parties type. In any case, so I walk in to this interview with a person, getting ready to do the small talk before they start asking me questions. After greetings, the interviewer then says that they like to do an informal interview to get to know me. So I do my short speech about what I've done in college and what my goals are. Which then leads to 'tell me everything I need to know about you for you to get this internship.' At which point, I begin to stumble as I was expecting the traditional interview questions. The whole thing lasted probably only 15-20 minutes.
Looking back at it now, I know what they wanted to do. Since this internship was like a sales job, they wanted someone who was an extrovert, which I was not.
I tend to be a shy person. Someone, especially at the time, who wouldn't walk up to someone and start talking to them at parties type. In any case, so I walk in to this interview with a person, getting ready to do the small talk before they start asking me questions. After greetings, the interviewer then says that they like to do an informal interview to get to know me. So I do my short speech about what I've done in college and what my goals are. Which then leads to 'tell me everything I need to know about you for you to get this internship.' At which point, I begin to stumble as I was expecting the traditional interview questions. The whole thing lasted probably only 15-20 minutes.
Looking back at it now, I know what they wanted to do. Since this internship was like a sales job, they wanted someone who was an extrovert, which I was not.
I applied to the Radiologic Technology program when my boys were in MS. Applicants had to meet various criteria, including an interview and they accepted a certain number every year. During my interview I was asked "If we had one opening left and it was between you and one other person, why would we take you?" I gave him my honest thought "Because I'm not going to waste my time or money going through a program I'll fail, quit or drop". I got in and graduated with honors!
Also....how many are surprised with how people dress for interviews or to bring in a resume/application for a job? We were always taught to dress nicely, even while dropping off a resume/application. I actually got a job in college because of that. I wanted a part time secretarial job and took my resume to different offices. One place called me in for an interview and hired me. The hiring manager said she happened to see me that day, was very impressed that I took the time to dress up (as I would if I were working there) and knew if that's what I did just dropping off resumes, then I would be a good hire.
Also....how many are surprised with how people dress for interviews or to bring in a resume/application for a job? We were always taught to dress nicely, even while dropping off a resume/application. I actually got a job in college because of that. I wanted a part time secretarial job and took my resume to different offices. One place called me in for an interview and hired me. The hiring manager said she happened to see me that day, was very impressed that I took the time to dress up (as I would if I were working there) and knew if that's what I did just dropping off resumes, then I would be a good hire.
I applied for a state agency position in a different part of the country and made it to the second interview which was in person. It’s a great opportunity so I’m really studying for the position but make the decision not to really study the head of the agency because he’s a political appointee so it doesn’t really matter what I think of him (and it’s not like I’ll be talking to him), and he’ll be gone at the next change of administration.
Interview’s going fine and then they ask me something like “what do you think of [the head of agency]?” All I knew about him was his party affiliation and I couldn’t say that. Looking back I should have said something along the lines of “I do not know a lot about him, but as a junior career civil servant it should not matter to me who the director is.” Instead, I said something like “I don’t know a lot about him, but I consider that to be a good thing. Because I live in a different part of the country. If I know a lot about him it is not for a good reason.” I did not get the job.
I still think that was a stupid question.
Interview’s going fine and then they ask me something like “what do you think of [the head of agency]?” All I knew about him was his party affiliation and I couldn’t say that. Looking back I should have said something along the lines of “I do not know a lot about him, but as a junior career civil servant it should not matter to me who the director is.” Instead, I said something like “I don’t know a lot about him, but I consider that to be a good thing. Because I live in a different part of the country. If I know a lot about him it is not for a good reason.” I did not get the job.
I still think that was a stupid question.
First job I had out of college, in the last interview with the owner and president, (I was dressed in a suit), the president said, I appreciate that you dressed up but if you wear a tie to work ever again you will be fired. My uncles or grandmas funeral was during period where I had graduated and when my full time was supposed to start but I was working part time for them so I made sure to leave my tie in my vehicle when I worked.
Interviewed for a job out of college. Got into the interview and their job description didn't match the posted job description that I applied for. They also said "we'll try to get you a day off or two during our busy season" which was about 6 months. I said "I think we can go ahead and stop the interview here because this isn't the job I applied for and I can tell it won't be a good fit".
Guy called me a few weeks later and thanked me for my honesty.
Guy called me a few weeks later and thanked me for my honesty.
I was on an interviewing team and we were interviewing a guy for a sales position. We asked him about his sales technique, to which his answer concluded with "Wham bam thank you mam." He did not get the job.
I've used the old technique where I kept asking questions as I walked the person out.
As I open the door just lob out a question about the job search or something to get them talking outside of the traditional interview setting.
FYI - you are being interviewed and assessed until you are in the car and gone. Don't tell me you left the old job because the boss was an ass
I've posted on here before but the person who ran out of my office and out to her car still is crazy. She was struggling a little so I offered to get her some water and buy her time to collect herself. She grabbed her **** and ran (I mean ran) out the door. I'm trying to follow her out because you can't just have non-employees running around with NPI available. Good stuff.
I had this happen for a first job out of college so I followed the process along. Experience wise I was a fantastic fit for where they wanted me but that wasn't what I really wanted to do. It became apparent at the second wave of interviews when they brought us into their corporate office like 12 at a time and then had us interview with different people but had time to mingle so to speak. I was always leary of the hanging out with "other interviewees", figured it could be a situation where they have people there either pretending to be students or just observing us. So I make sure to be semi social in those situations and talk to others. I talked to this one other student, she was interviewing for the position I wanted and they were interviewing me for the position she wanted. We were both kinda ticked.
A side note to that story, I thought the other interviewee was kinda attractive so I slid the convo to a little personal type, somehow she told me that during last semester she was pregnant, was induced into labor on a Friday so she wouldn't miss classes on a Monday. At that point, I realized she was a little too crazy for me and kept it all business talk.
