Saturday, March 7, 2009

I can do that... so when do I start?

So in hiring at my present job & applying for a new job I have come to the conclusion that people in general have NO CLUE on how to get a job. The caliber of cover letters & resumes are shameful. Which helps in making the good ones stand out. But over all I am saddened at the state of it all. Especially as my job search goes on. I just keep thinking, this is who I am up against & yet I haven't been hired yet? Anyway I PLEAD to all educators to add resume & cover letter writing to their curriculum & teach interview skills as well.

I have conducted numerous interviews where I knew as soon as they walked in & made a few statement that it was not going to be a good fit. Some advice, so respect! In the way you dress in the manners shown, impress in the interview. Yes you can get by possibly wearing regular comfy clothes on the job, depending on what it is, but don't so up in your ripped up metal tee. Don't sprawl out in the chair in some strange yoga like pose with your leg over the arm bar. Don't chomp on gum or answer you cell phone.

Think about what the recruiter or hiring manager is looking for in an employee & show that you can be that. Especially in answering questions in the interview & on the application. Its great that an outside interest is in cavemen, but if it doesn't relate to the industry or job in any way - save it for the water cooler chat during breaks! Also if they are asking a question on an application, realize that they are asking it for a reason. Don't leave big blanks all over the place. You will be passed up. Its ok to say you can discuss this further in face to face or give a brief statement indicating that it may not apply to you (N/A), but try to answer all questions thoroughly. Its shows you pay attention & can do what is asked.

ok so I needed a laugh after all this frustration..I'm guessing so do you! Enjoy!
(& I really hope none of these come into my office anytime soon!)

Job Interview Bloopers

A survey of top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations came up with these stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. The lowlights:

  • Said he was so well-qualified [that] if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent.
  • Stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.
  • Brought her large dog to the interview.
  • Chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles.
  • Kept giggling through serious interview.
  • She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time.
  • Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.
  • Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle.
  • Asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.
  • Announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office.
  • Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview.
  • Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president.
  • Said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
  • Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.
  • Wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police.
  • When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office.
  • Had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him.
  • Bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet.
  • Took a brush out of my purse, brushed his hair and left.
  • Pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.
  • Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer was formal.
  • Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much.
  • While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse, and looked through the photos only, stopping longest at the centerfold.
  • During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview.
  • A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? ... When do l start? ... What's the salary?" I said, "l assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more." I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer.
  • An applicant came in wearing only one shoe. She explained that the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus.
  • His attache [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume.
  • He came to the interview with a moped and left it in the reception area. He didn't want it to get stolen, and stated that he would require indoor parking for the moped.
  • He took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time.
  • Candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one.
  • He whistled when the interviewer was talking.
  • Asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security.
  • She threw-up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.
  • Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk. (Wall Street Journal 1989)
  • Asked if I wanted some cocaine before starting the interview.

The author of these pages claims no ownership of these jokes as his own creation. They are compiled from many sources.

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