anonymous_abc
Member
Good for you.
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Applying for jobs is exhausting and soul-crushing
- Thread starter Moofers
- Start date
Good for you.
KiwiLannister
Member
So I had an interview at Deloitte today for a consulting internship. I think it went pretty well. Now the waiting begins I guess.
Would be very excited to work for them, would be a career with a lot of options in the future. At the very least the interview was good experience, I think I can learn a lot from it even if I don't end up with the job.
Would be very excited to work for them, would be a career with a lot of options in the future. At the very least the interview was good experience, I think I can learn a lot from it even if I don't end up with the job.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Just started my job a week ago after being unemployed for almost a year and today I just got laid off. Fuck the job market. It's back to applying for jobs of both crappy and worthy quality.
Sorry to hear about that. Did they provide any reason?
Has anyone had any experience with offer letter hangups? I interviewed with a company about a month ago, and they sent me a background check and I cleared it. Monday they said they sent an offer letter to be approved... it's the weekend and nothing yet. The prospect of having to go back to square one after getting a potential job 7 months after graduating is bumming me out.
teruterubozu
Member
Just got hired at a museum I was volunteering at. I lost hope finding working after doing 3 interviews and getting rejected, but I wanted to get off my ass and do something productive so I started volunteering here and there. It paid off.
TheSpoiler
Member
Well, since the once-beautiful job I have has turned to shit, I'm on the lookout for a new one. Thing is, I've only been at this place for a handful of months, and it seems really odd to just up and leave.
What do I tell my next employer? I don't even know how to schedule interviews around this current job, but I might get fired soon anyway.
On the good side, I am getting offers. I just don't want the fact that I left a job 5 something months in to be the reason I'm passed up for a job.
What do I tell my next employer? I don't even know how to schedule interviews around this current job, but I might get fired soon anyway.
On the good side, I am getting offers. I just don't want the fact that I left a job 5 something months in to be the reason I'm passed up for a job.
It shouldn't be, if you can articulate well the reason why you left. I had something similar happen to me, called back one of the places I interviewed at, explained the situation, and they welcomed me with open arms. I wasn't negative about it, didn't trash the other place I was employed at, and explained the exact reasons why I left.
I don't think anybody is going to think little of you if you explain that the environment wasn't a great fit for you. It happens all the time in my field (engineering).
TheSpoiler
Member
I definitely can do that. The only issue is leaving before I get fired. I need the money, so putting my two weeks notice in right now is kinda flippant of me.
I assume it happens in marketing too. I just want to be sure before they look at my resume and scoff at me.
I'm not perfect, but some of the stuff I've learned may be able to help some of you:
-Take the jobs that are going to put you in touch with the right kinds of people, even if they are crappy. I've had about four or five interview or job offers just from the people that I worked around. I would take an office job with no pay over a highly paid retail, service, or blue collar job any day of the week because of this.
-Network with everyone. A lot of the interview offers, job offers, and people pointing me in the right direction came from me having a 30-60 second pitch, and letting people know my skills, education, and what I was looking for. Anytime I saw an opportunity to casually bring it up, I would. Recently, I had one guy offer me a job on the spot, and an IT manager interviewing me on the spot when he found out my education through casual conversation. I also get asked about my resume. I keep a few around for this reason, or at least ask if the person has contact info if they mention looking for someone like me.
-Understand the hiring process at large versus small companies. I had a professor tell me how the hiring process worked at the large corporate places she worked for and was on the interview panel for. In short, she said that they had multiple people involved. If one person saw that you didn't meet a certain education requirement, your resume never got passed on to the person who read the cover letters, and in turn, never got passed on to the person who did the hiring. No one person looked at a resume in depth; they all had a specific task to filter out people based on a series of checkboxes ticked.
This was insightful, because in spite of my high GPA, I never got calls back from the large corporate places because my bachelors degree wasn't in that field. I do, however have an associate's in the field. In spite of that shortcoming, all but one of the small to mid-sized companies called me back because my resume was in the hands of the people who did the hiring. And in spite of one or two checkboxes not being ticked, I think that it is an impressive resume. In other words, smaller and mid-sized places look at resumes as a whole, while larger corporate places will filter you out before you ever get to that point. I even had one company call me a year later to see if I was interested, and I occasionally get contacted by other hiring managers months after interviewing or seeing my resume.
-Expose yourself to as much technology as possible, and list it on your resume. I've seen some of the people I had to compete against for my current job. I think one of the reasons I got the job over them is because of the specific software that I was exposed to and listed on my resume. This specific job uses the software that I listed, and I think that it gave me a competitive edge due to how much the guy interviewing me talked about it.
-List what you have done for your old companies, or at least the people who work for it. I think that in spite of my shortcomings, seeing that I went out of my way to help other employees do better in life encouraged employers to take a chance on me, even if my bachelor's wasn't in the field listed. One employer even said that they completely overlooked it when they looked at the other stuff on my resume. In other words, everything else was so impressive, that they didn't even notice that my bachelor's degree wasn't in the required field.
-Have something to hang your hat on. I've met a lot of people with low GPAs, no accomplishments, and no ambition whatsoever. They all complain about not being able to find work. I was that guy at one point years ago. Couldn't find a job. Since then, I raised my GPA to above a 3.5, joined an honor society, went and got another degree when I really didn't have to, worked and went to school full time, etc. The fact of the matter is, when people see that you are busting your ass to be where you want to be, and they hear about it when they speak to you, they will go out of their way to help you be successful.
-Take the jobs that are going to put you in touch with the right kinds of people, even if they are crappy. I've had about four or five interview or job offers just from the people that I worked around. I would take an office job with no pay over a highly paid retail, service, or blue collar job any day of the week because of this.
-Network with everyone. A lot of the interview offers, job offers, and people pointing me in the right direction came from me having a 30-60 second pitch, and letting people know my skills, education, and what I was looking for. Anytime I saw an opportunity to casually bring it up, I would. Recently, I had one guy offer me a job on the spot, and an IT manager interviewing me on the spot when he found out my education through casual conversation. I also get asked about my resume. I keep a few around for this reason, or at least ask if the person has contact info if they mention looking for someone like me.
-Understand the hiring process at large versus small companies. I had a professor tell me how the hiring process worked at the large corporate places she worked for and was on the interview panel for. In short, she said that they had multiple people involved. If one person saw that you didn't meet a certain education requirement, your resume never got passed on to the person who read the cover letters, and in turn, never got passed on to the person who did the hiring. No one person looked at a resume in depth; they all had a specific task to filter out people based on a series of checkboxes ticked.
This was insightful, because in spite of my high GPA, I never got calls back from the large corporate places because my bachelors degree wasn't in that field. I do, however have an associate's in the field. In spite of that shortcoming, all but one of the small to mid-sized companies called me back because my resume was in the hands of the people who did the hiring. And in spite of one or two checkboxes not being ticked, I think that it is an impressive resume. In other words, smaller and mid-sized places look at resumes as a whole, while larger corporate places will filter you out before you ever get to that point. I even had one company call me a year later to see if I was interested, and I occasionally get contacted by other hiring managers months after interviewing or seeing my resume.
-Expose yourself to as much technology as possible, and list it on your resume. I've seen some of the people I had to compete against for my current job. I think one of the reasons I got the job over them is because of the specific software that I was exposed to and listed on my resume. This specific job uses the software that I listed, and I think that it gave me a competitive edge due to how much the guy interviewing me talked about it.
-List what you have done for your old companies, or at least the people who work for it. I think that in spite of my shortcomings, seeing that I went out of my way to help other employees do better in life encouraged employers to take a chance on me, even if my bachelor's wasn't in the field listed. One employer even said that they completely overlooked it when they looked at the other stuff on my resume. In other words, everything else was so impressive, that they didn't even notice that my bachelor's degree wasn't in the required field.
-Have something to hang your hat on. I've met a lot of people with low GPAs, no accomplishments, and no ambition whatsoever. They all complain about not being able to find work. I was that guy at one point years ago. Couldn't find a job. Since then, I raised my GPA to above a 3.5, joined an honor society, went and got another degree when I really didn't have to, worked and went to school full time, etc. The fact of the matter is, when people see that you are busting your ass to be where you want to be, and they hear about it when they speak to you, they will go out of their way to help you be successful.
Ultimadrago
Member
Have an interview tomorrow, hoping it turns out well.
Just had a phone interview for a job at college I previously worked at. Hard to tell if the guy was impressed or not that I had a lot of familiarity with the kind of software they use. Only thing that threw me off is that he kept repeating if I was familiar with Macs which I kinda' am. I wouldn't say I'm an expert or anything but I really want this job. After about 15-20 minutes he told me that they will contact me in another couple of weeks (this is standard practice as I was told by a former co-worker).
So I'm crossing my fingers.
So I'm crossing my fingers.
I'm a PC guy but my main client requires work on a Mac. It's mostly the same, but luckily Google exists in times when I find myself stuck on something.
The worst is when I work on a Mac or PC for days at a time and then go to the other. It's like talking to a friend and randomly throwing out a story in another language.. shit doesn't work. Takes me a minute to realize I'm working on a different system.
Yeah. If worse comes to worse I'll install the Mac OS on my system to get more familiar with it.
Linux familiarity never seems to impress anyone.
EmptySpace
Banned
have an interview on thursday. gah. i beleive i am qualified for the position, so the question would be how to make the interviewer like me aka the hardest part of expressing oneself after having only met them within seconds. 
Hello folks, I wanted to give some advice for resumes, I recently received a job offer and one of the things I was complemented was a section I put on my resume.
At the bottom I have a section called "Supervisor Testimonials", whenever I received any positive comments from my supervisor during my yearly reviews I put those comments on my resume.
This was very helpful getting the interview.
At the bottom I have a section called "Supervisor Testimonials", whenever I received any positive comments from my supervisor during my yearly reviews I put those comments on my resume.
This was very helpful getting the interview.
Good idea.
Escape Goat
Member
I seem to get a good number of interviews but then nothing happens. I think I interview well and I've examined all my answers to common interview questions. Maybe it is just me.
I seem to get a good number of interviews but then nothing happens. I think I interview well and I've examined all my answers to common interview questions. Maybe it is just me.
Maybe my experiences are different, but I can tell if I will get a job offer or not by the end of the interview. If the interviewer spends most of the time interviewing me, then I probably am not who they are looking for. I think that interviewers ask more and more questions the more they are unsure about you. With every job that I've receieved an offer for, the interviewer spent most of the time trying to sell me on the company; explaining the benefits, how it is such a great company to work for, etc. In some of the interviews that I've receieved job offers for, they didn't even bother asking me about anything in my resume.
Escape Goat
Member
The last interview I had the interviewer really didn't ask me anything beyond "tell me about yourself". I learned later in the discussion they had an internal applicant so it was pretty clear we just wasted both of our time to satisfy HR policy.
I have a couple potential jobs in limbo. No immediate "Yes, we want you!" calls yet but no Dear Johns either. I need to take a break I think. Each rejection is getting harder and harder to hear. But then I think I can't take a break because I have financial obligations to meet so I keep on. All it takes is one Yes...
It really upsets me when employers do this. They waste time interviewing other people knowing that they already have someone for the position. I guess you just have to learn how to use nepotism to your own advantage whenever possible. If I would have know that this was how a lot of hiring worked, I would have joined as many organizations and associations as I possibly could in college.
Vicetrailia
Banned
This is just about to happen to me too, and I just got promoted. Only im trying to finish school and now I work in my industry but I'm going to something out of my would-be field. I'm still torn but the pay is slightly better, I get benefits, raises, stability and etc (but still no school happy schedule). It's just too bad that they're so cost extreme that they won't offer more. I liked working there but oh well.
Roland_Gunner
Member
Many community colleges have technical writing programs but employers tend to want people with experience. It seems like tech writer is one of those jobs you luck into. One of my friends was a trainer at a call center and hated it but got the chance to document all their processes. He then used that experience to get a tech writer job and now doesn't have to train rooms full of high school grads making $12 an hour.
Freedom = $1.05
Banned
there's a reason most advisors push students to do internships. For one, it nets you legitimate experience in your field. But almost as important, it creates relationships and contacts in your field to better help you when you leave school.
Vicetrailia
Banned
So for the last two years i have documented the processes for the manufacturing department. I can become a technical writer using that experience?
Roland_Gunner
Member
You can try! It all about creatively editing your resume to make that look like a key part of your job. Having a couple of really good examples you can send over would also help.
EmptySpace
Banned
so what's the protocol for acing an interview?
the company that i applied for is a small one, a startup.
i guess i could write down my answers and refine them and memorize them...i did so in the past but i didn't get hired.
how loose should i get? in all honesty i am not one to be comfortable and show my everyday, regular self in an interview but then again i am a very boring person...
do i just bullshit my way through? i really am torn. on one side, i wanna show how serious and motivated i am (even though part of me has opinions of the company and the industry it services), and another side of me just wants to bullshit through the interview and appear charismatic and do some side commentary jokes and all that jazz (which i hate because it's so freaking fake). then again, i am desperate for a job so i guess there's the brakes.
the company that i applied for is a small one, a startup.
i guess i could write down my answers and refine them and memorize them...i did so in the past but i didn't get hired.
how loose should i get? in all honesty i am not one to be comfortable and show my everyday, regular self in an interview but then again i am a very boring person...
do i just bullshit my way through? i really am torn. on one side, i wanna show how serious and motivated i am (even though part of me has opinions of the company and the industry it services), and another side of me just wants to bullshit through the interview and appear charismatic and do some side commentary jokes and all that jazz (which i hate because it's so freaking fake). then again, i am desperate for a job so i guess there's the brakes.
You need a good balance of the two. You want to appear likeable and pleasant, while at the same time someone who obviously knows their shit about the position they're trying to get. Writing down answers and questions to refine and remember is always a good idea, but during the actual interview you need to be able to wing the answers and answer in a completely normal, flowing fashion. If you look like you're trying to recall exactly what you wrote when answering something, it will look weird. Smile a lot. Bring a notepad and a pen, and when it's time for you to ask the interviewer anything (usually at the end, but if you ask anything during the interview), write down what they say, bullet points, whatever. Makes you seem very interested in the position and in knowing more about the company.
Syphon Filter
Member
What is your field?
Valkerionseven
Member
Bleh just got my email from the teaching abroad job, got alternate status meaning im on a list of people who gets called when someone who bs'd the interview better than me rejects the job or gets caught touching an underage student a few months in. Who knows what rank I'm on in that list either.
job limbo... perfect....
job limbo... perfect....
So here's my story - Last week I decided to give notice at a job I had only been in for 3 months at the most. I had many reasons for doing so - it wasn't that I couldn't do the work, it was just ridiculous how much work they were giving with such a small timeframe to do. It was almost like I had to be on 24/7. All it did was cause me grief and stress - that's not an exaggeration - I wasn't sleeping well, doing 10-12 hour days every day, and ended up spending weekends dreading going back to work.
So I made the choice - I wasn't prepared to be unhappy and unhealthy just for the sake of a pay cheque. So I pulled the pin without having anything to go to.
It took guts, but I still feel I have done the right thing.
My job hunting so far hasn't turned up much - a few people have replied with 'nothing at the moment' but I'm trying to stay positive. I'm sure something will come eventually.
So I made the choice - I wasn't prepared to be unhappy and unhealthy just for the sake of a pay cheque. So I pulled the pin without having anything to go to.
It took guts, but I still feel I have done the right thing.
My job hunting so far hasn't turned up much - a few people have replied with 'nothing at the moment' but I'm trying to stay positive. I'm sure something will come eventually.
So what you're saying is you can't get it based on journalism training/experience.
I was just asking because my mom has worked with technical writers and told me it was totally something I could do.
I work in television, camera operator/editor. My main client is PGA Tour and they're all Mac.
Doczu
Member
I've tried to do my master degree while working, but that didn't go well. Also there were no possibilities to do my courses in the weekends, so i had to resign (i was in dire need of cash).
While managing all my papers, going through the system to fill all the surveys i just found out i was... promoted to a senior. With no official congratulations, no letters from higher-ups, nothing. And now i know why. I was applying for a internal job proposition (i could do it: right level, good performance and more than 12 months on my current level) and the day the system was closed i was still on my former level. And the date when i got my promotion was one day later. I was cock-blocked from getting that new job. Why? Because you can apply for a promotion only if you were at least 12 months on your former level... Fuck them...
Ultimadrago
Member
The more I think about my interview from yesterday, the more I know I didn't get the job. I made so many mistakes...
Sgt.EntryEnass
Banned
I know one job is about to be open later today....
Don't let that bring you down. The job I got 2 weeks ago is from an interview I thought I bombed.
I'm excited to start tomorrow but I'm also nervous at the same time. :x
have an interview on thursday. gah. i beleive i am qualified for the position, so the question would be how to make the interviewer like me aka the hardest part of expressing oneself after having only met them within seconds.
Don't worry about having them like you. Be memorable. If you can come up with a unique way to look at a scenario and clearly articulate it, that will be worth more than any witty joke or smile from an interviewer.
Remember, many job applicants are qualified, and many of them can be likeable to an interviewer. You need to be these things, and then more.
EmptySpace
Banned
it sucks because i haven't had a lot of experience with interviews. last interview i had, i thought i was really well-prepared and i followed a lot of those online tips (s.t.a.r., etc.) yet i still couldn't get the job. tried to be likable and threw in some side comments as well.
i find it hard to be a memorable person when i myself am a very boring person. i'm also the type of person that has to think long and hard instead of being able to come up with very good answers on a whim. i got standard answers embedded in my brain but when they throw me a curveball i tend to overlap my answers (not to mention most questions can have some overlaps with previous ones). oh well.
I just modified my resume to add this. Let's see what happens.
Commander Jameson
Member
Don't think that because you didn't get the job, they didn't like you or thought you weren't qualified enough. Chances are you came across well, you knew your stuff. The problem is competing with other candidates. They may already have had someone in mind or someone had a little more experience. I think in most interviews, most of the people going are suitable candidates, but the companies have to make arbitrary choices to narrow down their options.
One thing I would ask is are you passionate about your subject or whatever you are interviewing for? Is it something that excites you or motivates you? As that can come across in interviews. I know when I've gotten onto a subject that I know about and feel strongly about, that I can almost take over the interview and drive the discussion without having to think. But if it is something I need to think about, then I'll take a minute to compose my thoughts. This isn't a bad thing and better to think about your answer than blurt out the first thing that pops in your head to cover the silence.
So I am pretty upset with how stupid I am.
Had two meetings for work today scheduled, both on opposite sides of the city.
Thought I had it all good to make it to both.
The first interview was a "test" that the HR department wouldn't tell me anything about.
I got there and the test took 2 hours.
I rushed through it and I'm pretty sure did an awful job in an attempt to make it to the second interview, which I ended up missing.
Hopefully they'll be okay with rescheduling, if not I just dumb-dumbed my way out of two jobs! Haha
Had two meetings for work today scheduled, both on opposite sides of the city.
Thought I had it all good to make it to both.
The first interview was a "test" that the HR department wouldn't tell me anything about.
I got there and the test took 2 hours.
I rushed through it and I'm pretty sure did an awful job in an attempt to make it to the second interview, which I ended up missing.
Hopefully they'll be okay with rescheduling, if not I just dumb-dumbed my way out of two jobs! Haha
Not even 4 hours to my new job and I can't really sleep. Went sleeping early and woke up in the middle of the night. My new roommates iron left a stain on my favorite shirt so now I need to wear something else.
From all of the interviews I had, I landed the job at the one I thought I did quite bad. It was the one I expected an offer the least from.
From all of the interviews I had, I landed the job at the one I thought I did quite bad. It was the one I expected an offer the least from.
Curveball questions are interesting, and in some cases the most important. I interviewed for three hours in one sitting for the job I have now. The project manager who hired me asked roughly 20 questions in 15 minutes about my resume and the kind of work I did for China Geological Survey and the different labs I worked in.
And then randomly in the middle of the rapid-fire rundown.... "How many basketballs would it take to fill up this room?" Looking back, I think that was the most important question I answered in three hours.
Hope you did ok! I'm heading to work now myself haha. I should be hyped instead of nervous but the unknown is always kinda scary. I feel it should be ok.
Sgt.EntryEnass
Banned
Feels like the first day of grade school.
Syphon Filter
Member
Is it bad to apply with the same resume each time? Will it be better to apply with a specific resume for each time i apply?
EmptySpace
Banned
gosh i am really nervous about tomorrow. it's 10 pm and i'm trying to jot down possible answers.