No one can speak honestly to the questions you get asked. You have to give the answers they want to hear, not an honest answer. Went on my first interview in 13 years today. Forgot how much I hate doing this song and dance.

quote:

this song and dance.

Just remember that is all it is.

Sing and dance to get the job.

ETA - just as ridiculous are resumes and the minimal amount of attention they get.

I think my initial scan takes about a second, sometimes less, rarely more before you get the thumbs down.

"Always exaggerate your estimates." -Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, Rule #5

And...

"There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman." -Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, Rule #27

H&K-Guy

I've decided to keep the job I have (which took me over two months to find), because I'm too old to go begging for jobs and having to go through the dog and pony show.

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:
No one can speak honestly to the questions you get asked. You have to give the answers they want to hear, not an honest answer. Went on my first interview in 13 years today. Forgot how much I hate doing this song and dance.

Don't disagree with feeling that you have to give teh answers they want to hear. Just fight the urge to get too comfortable with the interviewer in these situations.

A good share of my interviews have included one-on-one interviews, followed by panel interviews, panel interviews, written tests, and simulator rides, or flights in the actual aircraft, followed by drug tests, thick stacks of paperwork, background checks, credit checks, driver history checks, transcript reviews, etc. The current one started with a resume and application, followed by a phone interview, then a face to face online interview, then flown to the company for personal interviews and tests, etc.

My current job, from time time of the interview to fully online, was 11 months, with multiple checks and reviews along the way, each a jeopardy review which was either pass or go home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo0KjdDJr1c

Recall a job interview that I thought was a lock. A chief nurse I’d worked with introducedme to a lady that ran a county service. We hit it off, she like my resume and the nurse’s recommendation. The last step was a panel interview.
The interview was pretty basic. I felt good. However, the next day the boss called and said I’d been turned down!
Why? “You scared them. You answered the question, then looked at the, as if you expected more. They felt challenged.”
Finally, it came out that the real reason was they saw me as their new boss. That is hold them to high standards. Which was what the lady had planned.
Which she warned me.

I once worked for a contractor as a truck driver and wasn't happy with them. Saw a different company was looking for a driver so I pulled in with the dump truck, the owner laughed when I asked about the position. He said you have the job as you were the only one who showed up in a truck, said here fill this out...Easiest interview I have ever had.

Our 5-year-old grandson was turned down for admission to pre-school. The reasons given in the rejection letter were"he knows too much, and didn't interview well." Didn't interview well? WTF? A five year-old? I can picture him sitting there in the interview with his little business suit, with power tie on. "Where do you see yourself in five years?" "Third grade?"

Seeing this dumb shit is why I'm trying to get into the HR field now. I just want to eliminate all the time wasted and stupidity.

I finish my MBA in June and I'll have around 17 months of BI Bill left. Already looking into Masters in Human Resources program at a local private school.

I once took a job as Program Director for an FM Radio station in Pennsylvania. Station was owned by two sisters who knew very little about radio.
I had about 15 years experience.

I lasted three months.

I have blown off several job offers when I reached the point they wanted me to take a form of the MMPI test.
You know - Ask the same question over and over with different phrasing in the hope you can weed out the psychos?
And every one of these jobs was for minimum wage and part time.
Pass. Ridiculous.

Most of these job interview processes are thought up by people that have no real experience with the job they are hiring for. They also have no real work experience to begin with and come up with a bunch of questions to make themselves feel important.

It's kind of like everytime a new middle manager gets hired, they have to instantly change every procedure that has worked perfectly for that company for the last 10 years, into an overly complicated mess.

quote:

Originally posted by ltbarber:
Our 5-year-old grandson was turned down for admission to pre-school. The reasons given in the rejection letter were"he knows too much, and didn't interview well." Didn't interview well? WTF? A five year-old? I can picture him sitting there in the interview with his little business suit, with power tie on. "Where do you see yourself in five years?" "Third grade?"

That's just ridiculous.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Seeing this dumb shit is why I'm trying to get into the HR field now. I just want to eliminate all the time wasted and stupidity.

I finish my MBA in June and I'll have around 17 months of BI Bill left. Already looking into Masters in Human Resources program at a local private school.

If HR is your target, spend the time and bucks to get SPHR certification. Masters in Organizational Management also gets you into HR.

This is why I'm pretty close to going 1099 and in business for myself. I just don't do the W2 thing very well and I'm getting too old to play well with others.

OMG 34 years culinary experience. All I hear is you have too much experience. We don't know where we would put you. The 1099 idea is where I am headed

I wish I could get an interview...

I agree. It’s a stupid game to play. Interviews really are the dumbest thing ever.

However, There’s nothing better than a hiring manager that realizes how stupid the interview process is. That’s the type of manager I love working for.