Is doing this necessary to get past an interview?

Continuing from this deserving-ly locked thread, I decided to get off my ass and start looking into getting past the last roadblock to getting hired; the interview. I started reading the idiot's guide to job interviews, and stopped at the 3 fundamental things it says you should know, other than realizing that the employer doesn't care about you, that they want to use you for their own benefit, and that you have to play up to that to get hired. Anyways, here are the 3 important things that the book claimed that you should know.

1) Do your homework. Research the industry in general and the company in particular beforehand.

2) You may end up knowing more than the interviewer. Be prepared to educate him on his needs, wants and desires.

3) Each employer needs different things that all employers want from their employees.

Are these really necessary to in getting hired at some place like Mc Donald's or Walmart?

Employment is, at present, the employer's market, not the employee's. Play it safe; if you can do those things, do them. Maximise your chances of success.

How do you do 2 and 3 in an interview. You know, when the interviewer asks a question such as "How would you sell your favorite product/meal to a customer?" And how do you avoid response lag (long pauses between question and answer); a nasty sign that blows your cover?

I would assume you rehearse your answers before hand? L Ike you would do before a public speech?

Anyway... I don't know, those seem rather dependent on the type of job you're interviewing for. Knowing about the company before hand seems like a fairly good idea, to give you an idea of what working there will be like. But if all you're going for is a burger flipping, cash register operating position I would think that you would just have to present yourself as you would try to at work; smiling and seem friendly.

From what I remember of my interview, it was about 20% walking through my senior project, 20% working through a presented problem to demonstrate how I think, and 60% schmoozing

As for other less specialized jobs, I've found the most important part is to present yourself as the kind of person customers would be cool with. Relaxed, friendly, and cool-headed. The employer knows that a trained monkey can do a job like that, but frankly nobody wants to do business with a cranky jerkoff or zoned-out wonkus.

edited 15th Sep '11 10:01:44 PM by Pykrete

I'm amusedappalled at No.2. I can just visualise the people taking No.2 too literally and losing out on interviews because they came across as condescending and smarmy. The times I've thought I knew something a job interview panel member didn't, I've chosen to keep my mouth shut about it at interview. Nobody likes a smartass, and if you do get the job it's easier later to get a better gauge of how best to share your knowledge and resources.

I know it's tough and you obviously have to go in prepared, but my big piece of advice, especially if you haven't done many job interviews yet is: don't over-think it and keep second-guessing yourself. I know that's easier said than done.

If more people believed this then I know the self-help/instruction guide industry of the world would crumble, but in most things there is no single magical formula for success. Points No.1 and No.3 are WAY more valid and appropriate than No.2 in terms of job interviews, but use common sense too. If all they need/want to know at interview is that you'll show up on time, are competent enough to do the work required and won't make a headache out of everything, then you'll get that vibe, and there's no need to over-compensate and feel like you need to tick off every box in Job Interviews for Dummies or whatever.

edited 15th Sep '11 10:06:44 PM by raisingirl83

If it's for something like mac-shack, just being polite, smiling and not looking like a total idiot can probably get you hired.

Something more advanced would require homework. Knowledge of the companies history, while completely pointless, shows that you cared enough to research it.

I was asked why I wanted to work that that particular store and I hate bullshitting. I don't remember what I said, but it was something on the lines of that I heard they had a good reputation for being fair with their workers (which is totally false, because those dicks didn't bother asking me if I wanted to work bookkeeping at FOUR IN THE GODDAMNED MORNING) to which I honestly would have answered "You need an employee, I need a job."

If you don't have a lot of work experience or achievements to bullet-point, you just need to be able to sell yourself really well when they ask questions about your personality, strengths and weaknesses, etc.

Trust me, if you're half way intelligent you're pretty high on the priority list for most fast food jobs. The one I had and kept in high school was fortunate enough to be under construction when I applied, and I just walked right in and had an interview with the general manager.

If it's Mc Donalds or Walmart, what they need is someone who takes direction really well, and is stone cold reliable. You definitely should mention how good you are at those, whether or not they ask. That's what #2 actually means.

I'm beginning to think that, at least for entry-level jobs, getting hired is more a matter of luck than interview performance.

Before I got my current job as a clerk, I applied and went for several interviews, felt the interviews went very well, but didn't end up getting hired. Then I got hired on the spot without so much as an interview, to start work on the very next day.

It's true that the interview is only one factor in the hiring decision, and often not the most important one.

It's been my own experience that books like that are aimed at corporate type jobs, most often office jobs. Still, as other tropers have pointed out, there's some good advice. I don't know about other areas of the country, but here in Denver it's hard to get hired at Mc Donalds if you're white or obviously no longer in school, even if you have experience and the right attitude. The assumption is you'll leave for a better job. Also, there's a lot of illegal immigrants here, and occasionally you read about "fast food place X' getting busted by Immigration.

I'm not white nor an immigrant, but a black guy who's out of high school living in Denver, too, but still got dismissed for being too ambitious. From what I've seen, this is only somewhat true; I did see lots of whites working at some in certain areas, who were clearly though school.

Anyways, it looks like I'll just try those things from the book out to be safe. I also need to practice faking it.

Got some news and a question. A job opening came up at a hospital/healthcare center. Here's what it says.

Job Information

Job Number: 5411231 Internal Job Number: Not Given Date Posted/Updated: 09/19/2011 Start Date: 09/26/2011 Job Title: Floor Technician Job Location: Commerce City Wage: 9.00 - 10.50 per hour Job Experience: 1 year Job Type: Regular Hours Per Week: 40 Shift: First Job Classification: Full Time Close Date: 10/30/2011 Requirements Minimum Age: Not stated Driver's License: None Endorsements: None Background Check: Yes Education: High School Graduate Drug Test: Yes Consider Ex-Offenders: No Benefits Paid Holidays/Year: 6 Health Insurance Available: Yes Paid Vacation Days/Year: 5 Incentive/Profit Sharing: No Paid Sick Days/Year: 6 Job Description Immediate opening available:

Company is a 105 bed , skilled, long term care center located in Commerce City, seeking the services of an exceptional Floor Technician.

Reporting to the Director of Housekeeping and Laundry, this full time, m-f position provides floor care throughout the facility which includes washing, buffing, stripping and waxing.

Previous experience as a floor technician in a healthcare facility is preferred. Full benefits will be made available to the successful candidate.

If interested please contact Al Campbell, Administrator, by e-mail.

I'm supposed to apply by email, but... I have no idea how to do that. I have no resume, as I have no job experience, though I do have revelent experience. What do I say?

A resume is just you typing up your relevant experience in some readable format — it's not something that "officially" gets built by your past employers. For entry-level jobs it's almost all relevant education and any volunteer work you may have, because they know you have to start somewhere.

Take a look at some of these.

Applying by email is usually along the lines of locating the appropriate contact, then emailing them your resume and a cover letter of some sort.

Also...is it even legal for them to say they won't consider ex-offenders?

edited 21st Sep '11 4:01:50 PM by Pykrete

I think it's industry dependent. Nothing stops anyone from chucking the resume in the trash when they find out, but most businesses aren't allowed to visibly discriminate on such grounds (and usually put a disclaimer saying they won't).

This being a hospital, though, I'll bet they have the rights (and not without good reason).

It depends on the state, some allow employers to discrimminate on the basis of criminal conviction, others do not. This is a helpful reference.

Wrote a rough draft of one, and will send it in before 5 PM (here in Colorado, anyways). I'm worried about the near total lack of experience; I know what washing, buffing, stripping and waxing are and how it's done no thanks to Youtube and a janitor's website, but haven't actually done anything like that. I can't think of anything revelent besides my chores at home, which include sweeping, mopping, vacumming wooden, carpet, plastic and stone tile floors. Should I give it a shot anyways, even though I don't have the experience?

You know, if you want, you could post your resume here, and we could offer suggestions for you. Just take all advice with a healthy grain of salt...

I'll do that with the next one, because I sent the first one away. If I fail to get hired this time, I'll show the new resume here before sending it off.

One good thing to do is think of any friends who have jobs at places you are qualified to work, and then ask them if they are hiring.

Who you know isn't everything, but it helps a lot. That's how I got my current job, albeit it ain't a great one.

Hey, it looks like another dish washing job requires a cover letter. The cover letter is what gives off the first impression and compliments the resume, and requires research in the company/position and explaining why your interested, right? Since I really don't care for the job, this is where lying about your motives, interest and personality come in, right? (but not experience or qualifications).

I just had my first interview for College work placement today. I don't think it went that well, I wasn't very prepared....but it was short notice and a special workshop about them is only happening tomorrow...

^^

I've never used a cover letter for any of my jobs.. Not even the management one with a grocer or my current supervisory job with a security company.

It seems more of a desk job thing, I wouldn't bother with a cover letter for a dishwashing job, just a small resume(no more than one page) is all that is necessary.