I've decided that job interviewing is not my forté, which stinks for me because you need good interview skills (knowing how to sell yourself and tell the employer what they want to hear) to get a job. It all seems like a big game, and I don't like playing it. I wish I could just go into an interview, look the employer in the face, and say "Look, I don't want to play interview games to see if I can say exactly what you are wanting to hear, becuase I can't read your mind. I just know that I need a job, and no matter what job it is, I will work hard, be dependable, and do good things for your company."
So you can probably guess I've been through a few interviews (I think today made #4). The first interview was a while ago, and the lady called me and told me I did well but needed more experience. The secod and third interviews, I was told I would be called in a couple days, and I heard from neither. This last interview, I was told I will be contacted next week, Wed or Thurs, but based on my track record, I won't hear from her, either. It's all just a bit frustrating. The last couple interviews, I walk out and immediately start pounding myself: "Duh! Why did I say that?" or "Dang it. I should have said this." For example, today the lady asked me, "Where would you rate your personality and energy?" and I said "8.5" and so she said "why?" Well, it's obvious she wants to hear about the good things about me....why I have energy and about the good qualities of my personality. It's always easy before or after an interview to know what kind of answers they are looking for. But in the middle of it, it's hard to think about it. And so, of course my mind immediately thinks "Give the reasons why you are NOT a 10" which obviously caused me to focus on the bad instead of the good. DUMB!!!!! Rrrraaarr.
But anyway, last night, I found myself being rather frustrated with the whole job and interview thing, especially about the fact that people GIVE ME THEIR WORD that they are going to call me and then don't. So.....I wrote a letter. haha I don't think I will send it to either people who didn't call me back, but it helped me a little with my frustrations, and so I figured instead I would post it on my blog. So, here 'tis.
To _______:
I recently had an interview with you for ____ position. As I left the interview, I was told that I would hear from you in a couple days. I was just wondering why I never heard back from you. I actually decided the job wouldn’t work out for me anyway, so it’s ok that I obviously didn’t get the job, but I was writing to see why you never called, since you told me you would. It’s kind of upsetting for someone to give you their word, especially a prospective employer, and for him/her not to follow through with it. Please don’t forget that the people who come in and interview are real people, not just emotionless nobodies, you know what I mean?
Am I upset? Yes, a little bit. It makes me feel less like a person and more like something inanimate that gets shoved around without much thought. But, I guess my main reason in writing is for the sake of future prospective employees who come in for interviews. You are in charge, so you can do whatever you want, but I would like to challenge you to think about the people you are interviewing and remember they are nervous, excited, and hopeful, and when you give them your word about something, I think you should keep it. Regardless of whether they are getting the job or not, if you say you will contact them, then it seems to me that is exactly what you should do. Otherwise, you are not only leaving them hanging, but you are turning yourself into a liar by not keeping your word.
My hope is that down the road, when you are interviewing, you will think twice before you tell someone you will call them, especially if you have no intentions of doing so.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kim Birchfield
I know it sounds a little mean, but I was really frustrated, and I still am a bit. Job searching is much harder than I anticipated. I know I need patience, but my wallet doesn't like the sound of that, and my nerves don't like it much either. The fact that I can't get jobs at places that pay $6.00-$7.00 an hour really scares me. What else am I supposed to do? I'm doing the best I can. I think I have a good resume......I think I am capable of any job that is thrown at me.....and I am willing to do whatever it takes.....and I'm honest. What else do they want from me?
ANSWER: The right words, the right look, and the right expressions during an interview. It just doesn't seem fair.....that would be like basing much of college entry on one standardized test or something. Oh wait....they do that, too.
So you can probably guess I've been through a few interviews (I think today made #4). The first interview was a while ago, and the lady called me and told me I did well but needed more experience. The secod and third interviews, I was told I would be called in a couple days, and I heard from neither. This last interview, I was told I will be contacted next week, Wed or Thurs, but based on my track record, I won't hear from her, either. It's all just a bit frustrating. The last couple interviews, I walk out and immediately start pounding myself: "Duh! Why did I say that?" or "Dang it. I should have said this." For example, today the lady asked me, "Where would you rate your personality and energy?" and I said "8.5" and so she said "why?" Well, it's obvious she wants to hear about the good things about me....why I have energy and about the good qualities of my personality. It's always easy before or after an interview to know what kind of answers they are looking for. But in the middle of it, it's hard to think about it. And so, of course my mind immediately thinks "Give the reasons why you are NOT a 10" which obviously caused me to focus on the bad instead of the good. DUMB!!!!! Rrrraaarr.
But anyway, last night, I found myself being rather frustrated with the whole job and interview thing, especially about the fact that people GIVE ME THEIR WORD that they are going to call me and then don't. So.....I wrote a letter. haha I don't think I will send it to either people who didn't call me back, but it helped me a little with my frustrations, and so I figured instead I would post it on my blog. So, here 'tis.
To _______:
I recently had an interview with you for ____ position. As I left the interview, I was told that I would hear from you in a couple days. I was just wondering why I never heard back from you. I actually decided the job wouldn’t work out for me anyway, so it’s ok that I obviously didn’t get the job, but I was writing to see why you never called, since you told me you would. It’s kind of upsetting for someone to give you their word, especially a prospective employer, and for him/her not to follow through with it. Please don’t forget that the people who come in and interview are real people, not just emotionless nobodies, you know what I mean?
Am I upset? Yes, a little bit. It makes me feel less like a person and more like something inanimate that gets shoved around without much thought. But, I guess my main reason in writing is for the sake of future prospective employees who come in for interviews. You are in charge, so you can do whatever you want, but I would like to challenge you to think about the people you are interviewing and remember they are nervous, excited, and hopeful, and when you give them your word about something, I think you should keep it. Regardless of whether they are getting the job or not, if you say you will contact them, then it seems to me that is exactly what you should do. Otherwise, you are not only leaving them hanging, but you are turning yourself into a liar by not keeping your word.
My hope is that down the road, when you are interviewing, you will think twice before you tell someone you will call them, especially if you have no intentions of doing so.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kim Birchfield
I know it sounds a little mean, but I was really frustrated, and I still am a bit. Job searching is much harder than I anticipated. I know I need patience, but my wallet doesn't like the sound of that, and my nerves don't like it much either. The fact that I can't get jobs at places that pay $6.00-$7.00 an hour really scares me. What else am I supposed to do? I'm doing the best I can. I think I have a good resume......I think I am capable of any job that is thrown at me.....and I am willing to do whatever it takes.....and I'm honest. What else do they want from me?
ANSWER: The right words, the right look, and the right expressions during an interview. It just doesn't seem fair.....that would be like basing much of college entry on one standardized test or something. Oh wait....they do that, too.
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