interview tips

[DoggyLady]

how can i ace that interview?

i have had 4 interviews so far, but i didn't do well.

my problem is that i don't really like the jobs i'm applying for, but i need the money to survive.

i have to be pretend to be a good office worker, talk about KPIs, deliverables, etc.

(The real me belongs in the arts and expressions.)

in the interviews, they tend to ask questions like

why did i quit in 2005? I replied that i went for a sabbatical overseas to pursue a dream and to take a language immersion program for self interest, and to challange myself to experience life alone in another culture.

why did you do a career switch to music teaching and now switch back? i said that this is free lance job, but family situation cause me to need stable income so i am switching back .

are these answers fine? i think they are afraid that i might quit again.

[90802]

my problem is that i don't really like the jobs i'm applying for, but i need the money to survive.

i have to be pretend to be a good office worker, talk about KPIs, deliverables, etc.

This is the biggest problem. A decent interviewer will be able to see right through you faking the funk.

why did i quit in 2005? I replied that i went for a sabbatical overseas to pursue a dream and to take a language immersion program for self interest, and to challange myself to experience life alone in another culture.

Do some searching online, I'm pretty sure there's a way you can put a positive and corporate interest spin on this. Maybe it's the way the language taught you a new way to think, or...I don't know.

I'm sure there are people that have done the same thing and have made it look good for them.

why did you do a career switch to music teaching and now switch back? i said that this is free lance job, but family situation cause me to need stable income so i am switching back .

First, do you plan on quitting again the first chance you get? If so, you may want to consider using a temp agency (some even get long term assignments).

If it was a freelance career, tell them all about how it helped you understand business better, or something.

Even if you've heard this 1,000 times, it's still worth repeating:

They (whoever interviews you) don't care that you need the job for your family situation. They don't care that you wanted to experience a new culture and language.

All they care about is themselves, so figure out how you can turn every answer around to show them how your unique experiences will benefit them.

Do some brainstorming, internet searching, and see what you can come up with.

[DoggyLady]

Originally Posted by 90802

This is the biggest problem. A decent interviewer will be able to see right through you faking the funk.



Do some searching online, I'm pretty sure there's a way you can put a positive and corporate interest spin on this. Maybe it's the way the language taught you a new way to think, or...I don't know.

I'm sure there are people that have done the same thing and have made it look good for them.



First, do you plan on quitting again the first chance you get? If so, you may want to consider using a temp agency (some even get long term assignments).

yes. once I have built up the expertise in music or dance or counselling and can make it my livelihood, i will leave. i dunno how i am going to get there to make my music/dance/whatever a livelihood yet, but it's my eventual goal.

i just feel i'm not cut out for office job.

If it was a freelance career, tell them all about how it helped you understand business better, or something.

Even if you've heard this 1,000 times, it's still worth repeating:

They (whoever interviews you) don't care that you need the job for your family situation. They don't care that you wanted to experience a new culture and language.

All they care about is themselves, so figure out how you can turn every answer around to show them how your unique experiences will benefit them.

Do some brainstorming, internet searching, and see what you can come up with.

[Peek]

Try sitting in the others chair.
What do you expect of a candidate?

I take a lot of interviews every now and then and always I'm looking for a person who is making my live more easy! In the setting I consider the best job description.
Simple as that.

Go with love,

[Peterw]

Can't you temp/contract. Then you can put your cards on the table.

If you want a permanent job (even temporarily) you're going to have to research the company, have career aspirations and really convince them that you are better than the other candidates they're interviewing.

Interviewer: "Why should we employ you over someone else offering to work for less money and more hours?"

You: "_____fill in the blank_____"

[Clint Cora]

I agree that you have to see it from their point of view. Not only what you say but your body language will give it away that you only want to be there as long as some bills are paid, then you will leave. You can try to refocus the conversation on the skills picked up and then as a result, how you can benefit the organization. Remember, it's all about what you can do for them, not the other way around.

But I do agree with the other post that given where your heart is, maybe a temp position might be better since no firm has to make a long term commitment to you (and this is only fair since you obviously don't want to make a long term commitment to them).

Would it be possible to find any admin jobs in the arts communities in your region? I would think that maybe theatres, museums, art schools all need some form of office help.

[DoggyLady]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

I agree that you have to see it from their point of view. Not only what you say but your body language will give it away that you only want to be there as long as some bills are paid, then you will leave. You can try to refocus the conversation on the skills picked up and then as a result, how you can benefit the organization. Remember, it's all about what you can do for them, not the other way around.

But I do agree with the other post that given where your heart is, maybe a temp position might be better since no firm has to make a long term commitment to you (and this is only fair since you obviously don't want to make a long term commitment to them).

Would it be possible to find any admin jobs in the arts communities in your region? I would think that maybe theatres, museums, art schools all need some form of office help.

i don't think those "admin jobs" can pay for what i need to pay for.

[NAL]

I have had many interviews for both temp & perm jobs. After over 1.5 years I am still unemployed and essentially blacklisted from most companies & staffing agencies in the Boston MA area.

I don't know what I am doing wrong on interviews -- I dress nice in a nice grey suit, research the position, company, talk about how I can apply my skills to the role etc then I get rejected for a vague reason like they 'found someone with a better background', latest is that I am 'overqualified' & other very contrived and made up BS reasons IMHO

Latest rejection was for a 3 month temp job. The company (according to recruiter) hired someone 'recently out of school'. He gave me a real 'smarmy' I am sorry, will keep looking etc... I know his attitude & the reason the company gave were completely contrived. No one will ever ever tell you the "Real" reason you didn't get the job or the "Real" reason you were fired or laid off.

I am going to try to relocate and find work probably around Washington DC where supposedly Unemployment rate is 3.5%. It probably will cost $10,000 just to sublet a place for a few months.

[Clint Cora]

Originally Posted by NAL

I have had many interviews for both temp & perm jobs. After over 1.5 years I am still unemployed and essentially blacklisted from most companies & staffing agencies in the Boston MA area.

I don't know what I am doing wrong on interviews -- I dress nice in a nice grey suit, research the position, company, talk about how I can apply my skills to the role etc then I get rejected for a vague reason like they 'found someone with a better background', latest is that I am 'overqualified' & other very contrived and made up BS reasons IMHO

If you really want to up your interviewing skills and make sure there are no deficiencies, you might want to try mock interviews with video with friends who are good at spotting these in an interview situation. This way, you can see for yourself what you are like in an interview.

[Clint Cora]

Originally Posted by DoggyLady

i don't think those "admin jobs" can pay for what i need to pay for.

I would suspect that the pay rate is higher than not working at all. Plus don't forget that when you are in certain positions, especially if they are connected to a field that you like in the arts, you should not just think about the pay. It's the possible connections you can make that may enable you to get opportunities right in your field of interest.

[Bradman]

I'm afraid I can't give you any advice - I've had interviews for jobs I really wanted, thougth it went well, and didn't get the job. I think what you need to do is make them think you will bring a good asset to the company, and have a good personality, that's what they generally look for.

[Bradman]

Originally Posted by NAL

I have had many interviews for both temp & perm jobs. After over 1.5 years I am still unemployed and essentially blacklisted from most companies & staffing agencies in the Boston MA area.

I don't know what I am doing wrong on interviews -- I dress nice in a nice grey suit, research the position, company, talk about how I can apply my skills to the role etc then I get rejected for a vague reason like they 'found someone with a better background', latest is that I am 'overqualified' & other very contrived and made up BS reasons IMHO

Latest rejection was for a 3 month temp job. The company (according to recruiter) hired someone 'recently out of school'. He gave me a real 'smarmy' I am sorry, will keep looking etc... I know his attitude & the reason the company gave were completely contrived. No one will ever ever tell you the "Real" reason you didn't get the job or the "Real" reason you were fired or laid off.

I am going to try to relocate and find work probably around Washington DC where supposedly Unemployment rate is 3.5%. It probably will cost $10,000 just to sublet a place for a few months.

Do people really get "blacklisted" how does that work anyway - I'm asking because I'm beginning to wonder myself.