Job interviews - your experiences - Page 8

**KissArmy** · August 30th, 2017, 05:57 PM

The shoe's on the other foot now- I'm the interviewer, and the applicants are educated young people in their mid-20s. I'd simply recommend giving as thorough a job posting to them as possible, and let them take it from there. I look for good questions about the job based on the posting, questions about how I like my job/what I do, good eye contact and a good handshake, and proof that the applicant has researched my industry, is up on current industry-related topics. I've been impressed with almost all of them so far.

**Welderman** · August 30th, 2017, 06:05 PM

I once turned up with a can of beer in my hand..
I got the job, It was for a beer taster..

**KissArmy** · August 30th, 2017, 07:32 PM

Another tip- when interviewing before a panel, look for rudeness/poor professionalism going unchallenged or not countered with courtesy. That's a sign it's a bad organization to work for.

I had a second-round interview once before three women. The 1st level supervisor was a nice lady and I liked her. She got me to the second round. The third-level supervisor was at least civil. But the second-level supervisor was a rude bitch. Stiffening and bristling when I answered her question, incredulously repeating my answer back to me like I was a fool for giving it, and walking out of the interview without saying a word once her blackberry buzzed. The other two didn't challenge her rudeness or try to counter it with a softer question or extra courtesy. That told me I didn't want to work there.

Months afterward the media reported that these three womens' agency was rated rock bottom by its own employees in the most recent employee survey. I saw why.

jouméo 62 · March 11th, 2020, 10:51 AM

I remember one day for a job interview I entered the office and we looked at each other for 5 minutes in white before the secretary told him that he had another render for you

**Old Jud** · March 11th, 2020, 06:44 PM

Many years ago I was being interviewed by a panel of five (yes you read that correctly FIVE PEOPLE!) for a role with the local authority.

Two of the panel members contributed nothing to the interview, and appeared to be totally out of their depth on the subject matter being discussed. Right at the end of the interview one of the two dummies making the numbers up asked me a question that had no relevance to the position i was being interviewed for.
The other four gazed at him in what appeared to be total bewilderment, the guy seemed embarrassed and took no further part, i was struggling to stifle a laugh at this clown.

I left the interview comfortable in the knowledge that my taxes were being spent wisely.

alucard007 · March 11th, 2020, 07:22 PM

My problem is with recruitement agencies

These people are the gatekeepers/pimps of hiring people these days. In this day and age of digital no company will deal with a walk in interview, they let recruitment companies do the hiring. Their job is to look out for the employers best interests and theirs.... not yours. They will post all these high paying jobs in order to lure you in then offer you peanuts if you want the job and that's after multiple interviews. Even if there are no jobs they try to bring in potential bodies in order to build their database. They work on commission to get the best candidate for the absolute lowest dollar possible as it affects their bonus upon your hiring. I did manage to get a procurement job on my own because the girl at the agency was stupid enough to leave the employers info on her desk. At least the recruitment agency was good for something.

**hoss** · March 11th, 2020, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alucard007

My problem is with recruitement agencies

I once applied for a vacancy in a small recruitment agency, mailing my application directly to the CEO. I did not even receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

**hoss** · March 11th, 2020, 07:47 PM

I once had a lengthy job interview that was conducted by a department manager and a female HR manager. After a while she asked me whether I wanted another cup of coffee. I replied I´d take half a cup. With a fake laughter she asked me how she was supposed to pour a half-cup. I said "lower half". Didn´t get the job.

**i-Chop** · March 11th, 2020, 08:29 PM

I've had a few good ones (the ones that gave me employment, and one that I turned down) and a few clunkers on the way.

One of the most annoying experiences I had was in 1994. I had just completed a very rigorous curriculum from a computer technical school, and one of the so-called perks was job placement (that's another story for another time).

Anyway, maybe less than a month after graduating I get a call from a company to set up an interview. I'm all psyched up for this, as it would be first "real" interview, and my first "real" (professional) job! So I go in, filled in the paperwork detailing my skills and position I'm seeking (essentially repeating info that's already on the resume, but in greater detail). I have a very good rapport and interview with the human resources woman. I impressed her enough for me to go onto the next part: talking with the supervisor of the department I would be working in.

THAT part of the "interview" became extremely awkward. When the supervisor reviewed my application and resume, she pointedly asked me why I was applying for a non-existent position for the company. I had no idea what she was talking about and asked her to explain what she meant. Her unhelpful response actually had me slightly stammering because I had to explain that I did not specifically apply to the company directly, that it was done by my school's job placement services. Instead of making the situation better, it actually got worse by the woman suggesting that I would be better off looking elsewhere for a more appropriate company if I wanted to work with computers.

By this point, my enthusiasm was difficult to maintain because the supervisor was so cold toward me. I tried to keep an open mind about it at the end of the interview. Suffice to say, despite doing the thank you letter to the H/R person reiterating why I would be a good fit for the company, I didn't hear from them ever again.

Bear in mind, having just finished with a "degree" (AKA certification) from a technical school, we were given a template to follow to put on the resume in terms of job/tech skills and career objective. I forgot the exact wording, but it was along the lines of "seeking an entry level position in computer, AS/400, mainframe operations blah blah blah..." Apparently the H/R saw something in there that would fit the position, and everything I told to her of what I learned and wanted to bring to the table for the company seemed to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Likewise, the H/R person did not mention to me exactly what job I applying/interviewing for, and it didn't occur me to ask (except in hindsight!) because I thought my technical skills would be applied for a technical job (duh).

**hoss** · March 11th, 2020, 09:27 PM

I once applied via e-mail for a manager job. Got my application declined via e-mail with the words "as not to unduly add to our files we hereby return your documents...", with all the attachments of my original mail. Yes, it was a technical supply firm. The mail was sent by "apprentice@***.com". I forwarded that mail to the company´s CEO and applied for the soon-to-be vacant job of HR manager. Didn´t get a reply.

August 30th, 2017, 06:05 PM	#72
Welderman Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: County of Champions Posts: 3,707 Thanks: 55,074 Thanked 64,245 Times in 3,729 Posts	I once turned up with a can of beer in my hand.. I got the job, It was for a beer taster.. __________________ ''Elga, 5mm cast iron welding rods''.. Nice.. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

August 30th, 2017, 05:57 PM	#71
KissArmy Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,124 Thanks: 21,087 Thanked 12,361 Times in 1,105 Posts	The shoe's on the other foot now- I'm the interviewer, and the applicants are educated young people in their mid-20s. I'd simply recommend giving as thorough a job posting to them as possible, and let them take it from there. I look for good questions about the job based on the posting, questions about how I like my job/what I do, good eye contact and a good handshake, and proof that the applicant has researched my industry, is up on current industry-related topics. I've been impressed with almost all of them so far.

August 30th, 2017, 07:32 PM	#73
KissArmy Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,124 Thanks: 21,087 Thanked 12,361 Times in 1,105 Posts	Another tip- when interviewing before a panel, look for rudeness/poor professionalism going unchallenged or not countered with courtesy. That's a sign it's a bad organization to work for. I had a second-round interview once before three women. The 1st level supervisor was a nice lady and I liked her. She got me to the second round. The third-level supervisor was at least civil. But the second-level supervisor was a rude bitch. Stiffening and bristling when I answered her question, incredulously repeating my answer back to me like I was a fool for giving it, and walking out of the interview without saying a word once her blackberry buzzed. The other two didn't challenge her rudeness or try to counter it with a softer question or extra courtesy. That told me I didn't want to work there. Months afterward the media reported that these three womens' agency was rated rock bottom by its own employees in the most recent employee survey. I saw why.

March 11th, 2020, 10:51 AM	#74
jouméo 62 Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 45 Thanks: 35 Thanked 157 Times in 30 Posts	I remember one day for a job interview I entered the office and we looked at each other for 5 minutes in white before the secretary told him that he had another render for you

March 11th, 2020, 06:44 PM	#75
Old Jud Vintage Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 840 Thanks: 7,251 Thanked 8,633 Times in 819 Posts	Many years ago I was being interviewed by a panel of five (yes you read that correctly FIVE PEOPLE!) for a role with the local authority. Two of the panel members contributed nothing to the interview, and appeared to be totally out of their depth on the subject matter being discussed. Right at the end of the interview one of the two dummies making the numbers up asked me a question that had no relevance to the position i was being interviewed for. The other four gazed at him in what appeared to be total bewilderment, the guy seemed embarrassed and took no further part, i was struggling to stifle a laugh at this clown. I left the interview comfortable in the knowledge that my taxes were being spent wisely.

March 11th, 2020, 07:22 PM	#76
alucard007 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada in a tomb with my fleshlight and VE Buffy Davis Magazine Scans Posts: 277 Thanks: 5,219 Thanked 3,038 Times in 271 Posts	My problem is with recruitement agencies These people are the gatekeepers/pimps of hiring people these days. In this day and age of digital no company will deal with a walk in interview, they let recruitment companies do the hiring. Their job is to look out for the employers best interests and theirs.... not yours. They will post all these high paying jobs in order to lure you in then offer you peanuts if you want the job and that's after multiple interviews. Even if there are no jobs they try to bring in potential bodies in order to build their database. They work on commission to get the best candidate for the absolute lowest dollar possible as it affects their bonus upon your hiring. I did manage to get a procurement job on my own because the girl at the agency was stupid enough to leave the employers info on her desk. At least the recruitment agency was good for something.

March 11th, 2020, 07:47 PM	#78
hoss Vintage Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: I have a farm in cloud cuckoo land Posts: 3,468 Thanks: 19,922 Thanked 26,477 Times in 3,456 Posts	I once had a lengthy job interview that was conducted by a department manager and a female HR manager. After a while she asked me whether I wanted another cup of coffee. I replied I´d take half a cup. With a fake laughter she asked me how she was supposed to pour a half-cup. I said "lower half". Didn´t get the job.

March 11th, 2020, 08:29 PM	#79
i-Chop Vintage Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 498 Thanks: 10,484 Thanked 14,537 Times in 498 Posts	I've had a few good ones (the ones that gave me employment, and one that I turned down) and a few clunkers on the way. One of the most annoying experiences I had was in 1994. I had just completed a very rigorous curriculum from a computer technical school, and one of the so-called perks was job placement (that's another story for another time). Anyway, maybe less than a month after graduating I get a call from a company to set up an interview. I'm all psyched up for this, as it would be first "real" interview, and my first "real" (professional) job! So I go in, filled in the paperwork detailing my skills and position I'm seeking (essentially repeating info that's already on the resume, but in greater detail). I have a very good rapport and interview with the human resources woman. I impressed her enough for me to go onto the next part: talking with the supervisor of the department I would be working in. THAT part of the "interview" became extremely awkward. When the supervisor reviewed my application and resume, she pointedly asked me why I was applying for a non-existent position for the company. I had no idea what she was talking about and asked her to explain what she meant. Her unhelpful response actually had me slightly stammering because I had to explain that I did not specifically apply to the company directly, that it was done by my school's job placement services. Instead of making the situation better, it actually got worse by the woman suggesting that I would be better off looking elsewhere for a more appropriate company if I wanted to work with computers. By this point, my enthusiasm was difficult to maintain because the supervisor was so cold toward me. I tried to keep an open mind about it at the end of the interview. Suffice to say, despite doing the thank you letter to the H/R person reiterating why I would be a good fit for the company, I didn't hear from them ever again. Bear in mind, having just finished with a "degree" (AKA certification) from a technical school, we were given a template to follow to put on the resume in terms of job/tech skills and career objective. I forgot the exact wording, but it was along the lines of "seeking an entry level position in computer, AS/400, mainframe operations blah blah blah..." Apparently the H/R saw something in there that would fit the position, and everything I told to her of what I learned and wanted to bring to the table for the company seemed to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Likewise, the H/R person did not mention to me exactly what job I applying/interviewing for, and it didn't occur me to ask (except in hindsight!) because I thought my technical skills would be applied for a technical job (duh).

March 11th, 2020, 09:27 PM	#80
hoss Vintage Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: I have a farm in cloud cuckoo land Posts: 3,468 Thanks: 19,922 Thanked 26,477 Times in 3,456 Posts	I once applied via e-mail for a manager job. Got my application declined via e-mail with the words "as not to unduly add to our files we hereby return your documents...", with all the attachments of my original mail. Yes, it was a technical supply firm. The mail was sent by "apprentice@***.com". I forwarded that mail to the company´s CEO and applied for the soon-to-be vacant job of HR manager. Didn´t get a reply.