Foo - Job interviews

Is there anything worse? Really? I mean it's essentially an S & M session isn't it? What's your biggest weakness, how do you handle pressure, what size jock do you wear? 10 different ways of asking the same damn question. And when it's all over you just get scheduled for a second interview.

man.. i've filled out at least (AT LEAST!!!) 200 applications over the past 3 years or so and i've only had 4... FOUR!! interviews. but once in the interview i did have a high success rate of getting hired. i only missed one job. two i actually worked at. the final one i was prehired but my car fell apart and i can't cycle that far. plus ups requires you to keep all of you stuff (wallet etc.) in your car while at work. that is why i no longer do this "car" thing.

when it's all over you just get scheduled for a second interview.
Theoretically, this means they like you at least a little and you're making progress... :D

Theoretically, this means they like you at least a little and you're making progress... :D


lol, true, but it also means more BS questions that I have to have BS answers for on the spot. On the plus side i'm already middle management for the company ... taking another step up the ladder would be REAAAALY nice though.

I remember doing the application things for awhile too. I think the mistake I made was turning in a lot of app's by fax/email etc... In my experience employers don't even consider applicants that don't turn in the resume/application in person.

Is there anything worse? Really? I mean it's essentially an S & M session isn't it? What's your biggest weakness, how do you handle pressure, what size jock do you wear? 10 different ways of asking the same damn question. And when it's all over you just get scheduled for a second interview.

If you're invited back for the second interview you can see it as not impressing them enough to hire you on the spot, but not unimpressive enough not to be called back. I'd say a second interview is a good thing.

As an employer, my opinion of the interview is that it is the only opportunity to guage what the person should be like personality and professionally wise. There's nothing worse than a smiling, beaming candidate who will do anything or say anything to get the job. You can't keep up the charade of smiling and being happy forever.

The CV and past employment experience is usually what will get you to an interview (or at least a telephone call) but beyond that it's done to how you present and interact in the interview. I'm not sure what the laws are like in the US, but in Australia you hire someone for a permanent position and after the probation period (usually 3 months, but negotiable) you virtually can't get rid of them - which is overall a good thing. That means the interview process is really, really important. Much more so than formal qualifications or demonstrated ability.

How do you handle criticism and feedback? Can you constructively inform your boss that she/he is misinformed/wrong? Are you honest and unwilling to deceive customers and other staff? Will you be courteous and respectful of the other staff (at all levels) and their diverse cultural, religious and lifestyles? What are your requirements for flexibility in time and schedule?

I think however each company or organisation has very different views on what is important. Many organisations are virtual circuses - average managers hiring even more average staff. There's no fixing that once the rot sets in...

Don't forget, the interview is also an opportunity for you to decide whether or not you'd like to work for the organisation!

Best of luck!

The Princeton review online used to have a contest "My worst job interview". SOme of those stories were hilarious.

We spent a week on interviews in a class in high school. It helped a huge amount. I've never minded job interviews (not to say they aren't stressful, but not killer either) and the class definitely contributed to that. I honestly hate buying new shoes more. The old ones are just too darn comfortable.

The biggest thing for me was to get a list of common interview questions. You should be able to find one through Google pretty quickly. Have an answer prepared for each question. They make you think beforehand instead of at the interview. Since as you said, they come up with 10 different ways to ask the same question, preparing 10 answers makes you ready for a 100 questions.

Oh yeah, when you fill out the application, make sure not to fill in the the box marked "sex" with "soon, I hope." :cry:

One of the most frustrating things is when you take 1/2 day or a whole day off for an interview. You spend several hours being interviewed in a nice company. Then you find out they have already decided to promote/transfer from within. The only reason they had outside interviews is because they are legally bound.. You never had a chance...
This has happened to me 3 different times. 2 out of the 3 were Fortune 500 companies. What a waste of my time..

It's weird because depending on your situation, if you're absolutely desperate for a job, it can be nerve racking and very stressful. If you already have a job and/or are still in school, I find interviews fun, it's a chance to meet new people and brush up on networking even if I don't get the job. Sometimes you walk away learning something new and sometimes as in my case I ended up getting the job but I also walked away from the interview feeling dumber cause that was how stupid some of the people here were, they were just draining the IQ out of me.
Plus I get to ask them a bunch of questions and find out what different companies do.
"I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions and I want them answered immediately!"

.

Oh yeah, when you fill out the application, make sure not to fill in the the box marked "sex" with "soon, I hope." :cry:

what happened when ya did that?

and adrian b. we have no such luck. they have a hire at will law here. you can quit or get fired for with or without reason at anytime. it's always in the small print. :(

It's weird because depending on your situation, if you're absolutely desperate for a job, it can be nerve racking and very stressful. If you already have a job and/or are still in school, I find interviews fun, it's a chance to meet new people and brush up on networking even if I don't get the job. Sometimes you walk away learning something new and sometimes as in my case I ended up getting the job but I also walked away from the interview feeling dumber cause that was how stupid some of the people here were, they were just draining the IQ out of me.
Plus I get to ask them a bunch of questions and find out what different companies do.
"I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions and I want them answered immediately!"

Who is your daddy, and what does he do?

I seriously can't believe you said that because here in our office (tech support/NOC etc...) we spend all day quoting schwartzenegger *SP*.
:roflmao:

Who is your daddy, and what does he do?

I seriously can't believe you said that because here in our office (tech support/NOC etc...) we spend all day quoting schwartzenegger *SP*.
:roflmao:

Heh our favorite phrase is when someone comes up to us asking for something we'll use our best arnold voice and say, "No Deal."

check www.ebaumsworld.com, they have a whole list of prank calls, the ms.cleo ones are the best.

I'm not sure what the laws are like in the US, but in Australia you hire someone for a permanent position and after the probation period (usually 3 months, but negotiable) you virtually can't get rid of them - which is overall a good thing.

In many states in the US the law is hire and fire (or quit) at will, with no cause required, nor notification period. This, of course, can be changed by any contract or union agreement or laws for specific groups, such as teachers.

However, that does not mean that you are allowed by law to discriminate - you generally can not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, (in some states sexual orientation), disability, race, etc. But, discrimination in this area is hard to prove!

Heh our favorite phrase is when someone comes up to us asking for something we'll use our best arnold voice and say, "No Deal."

check www.ebaumsworld.com, they have a whole list of prank calls, the ms.cleo ones are the best.

i thought i was sad. :eek:

i thought i was sad. :eek:

We get paid to read ebaum all day. ;)

Update: Second interview is Monday. I have to create a PP presentation for it. Wish me luck :D

Heh our favorite phrase is when someone comes up to us asking for something we'll use our best arnold voice and say, "No Deal."


Working in chemical plants that are always on the verge of an industrial accident, my favorite has always been: "RUN! Get to 'za choppa!"

Just finished the second interview. It actually went pretty well. I think i'd grade it a 7/10. I just came prepared with a presentation which I probably went through a little too fast and they asked a few questions that I think I did pretty well with. It was nice, I could tell the first interview was the "how well can you answer these bs questions" interview and the second was actually important. Questions about data interpretation, performance management etc... I'm feeling pretty good about it :)

So, final update ... I got the job, unfortunately when I notified my supervisor today he stated it's department policy that I can't leave my position for another prosition within the company for 6 months after being promoted into the position i'm in now, and i've only been here for 3 months .... suuuuuuuuuuucks ... but maybe i'll get lucky and another position will open up in a few months.

Department policy, my a$$! Tell him to bugger off, you don't work for him anymore. :D

so far for me its a 50/50 if I get interviewed, I either get hired on the spot, or they don't bother calling me back for a second interview

So, final update ... I got the job, unfortunately when I notified my supervisor today he stated it's department policy that I can't leave my position for another prosition within the company for 6 months after being promoted into the position i'm in now, and i've only been here for 3 months .... suuuuuuuuuuucks ... but maybe i'll get lucky and another position will open up in a few months.

The plus side of that is that now you know he thinks you're valuable. :D

So, final update ... I got the job, unfortunately when I notified my supervisor today he stated it's department policy that I can't leave my position for another prosition within the company for 6 months after being promoted into the position i'm in now, and i've only been here for 3 months .... suuuuuuuuuuucks ... but maybe i'll get lucky and another position will open up in a few months.

I work for a company like that too. But depending on your qualifications and who you know up the ladder it's possible to bypass that little rule.