A New Job

[wanderer03]

While at my county's CareerLink office, I managed to make a great connection. Normally, I'm not one to strike up a conversation with a stranger, instead preferring to keep to myself but curiosity got the better of me. I noticed that there was a new security officer in the waiting area and I did security work while going through college. So I asked the officer if the new company was hiring to which he said that they're desperate for people. They had just taken over the county contract.

He turned out to be a friendly, although somewhat chatty guy. I was surprised to find that he has a master's degree in Psychology. Times really are tough and I told him I have a degree in Criminal Justice. Well, I applied to the new company and I have an interview on Tuesday. Strange but I'm actually excited about this. They have second shift openings at the county courthouse which is perfect for me. The hours are 4pm to 12pm and the courthouse closes for business at 6pm. So, I will really only have to be around people for about 2 hours before just peace and quiet.

Sayonara to my old job at Sam's Club! It'll feel good to be outta that nightmare.

 

[DC1346]

Sayonara to my old job at Sam's Club! It'll feel good to be outta that nightmare.

I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure you already know this but get to the interview EARLY and bring a copy of your resume.

How are you on your job interview skills? I teach employment skills as part of Culinary Arts.

HR directors like to see how fast people can think on their feet. Could you answer the following question? "Tell me about your greatest weakness."

This is a trick question because applicants need to present themselves in a positive light while always answering all questions as honestly as possible.

"I don't have any weaknesses" would not be the correct answer because we ALL have weaknesses.

"I have a hard time being punctual" would be a red flag to an HR director because no one wants to hire an employee who can't get to work on time.

The trick to this question is being honest but turning it around to make it a positive ... so one possible answer might be, "I used to have a problem with getting to work on time so I set my watch ten minutes ahead so now I'm never late."

I hope I'm not coming off as condescending but since I'm aware that other people will read this thread, I'm actually writing to a larger audience and not just to you.

Good luck with the job interview. This really sounds like a great opportunity.

 

[wanderer03]

You're not condescending at all! This has been the strangest job application I ever filled out. It was short, sweet, and to the point. This company must have just been awarded the contract and are just desperate for bodies because they asked for virtually no details of work history other than companies and dates. They just wanted to know if you have a high school diploma. This could be a red flag from an employee perspective but this job will be almost infinitely better than Sam's Club. Also, after completing the job application, I got a robo phone call asking interview questions and recording my answers. I'm guessing if they got this far, they're going to hire me.

 

[DC1346]

Don't forget to do a follow up. This is a trend I've been following over the last few years and I've even read a few posts on this site in which job applicants have lost out on jobs because they DIDN'T DO A FOLLOW UP.

So if HR says, thanks for interviewing with us, we'll get back to you ... DON'T WAIT. Give them 24 hours and if you don't hear from them CALL THEM BACK because HR people sometimes say they'll call you but don't because they're waiting to see how aggressively you'll pursue this job.

When you call them back, be nice. Thank them for the opportunity to have interviewed and ask if they've made a decision.

I wish you all the best ... and yes ... this sounds like a much better opportunity than Sam's Club. It also sounds less stressful.

 

[wanderer03]

Thanks. Will do

 

[AsheSkyler]

Good luck!

 

[wanderer03]

I'm a bit nervous as I haven't really worked in a while. I hope I don't have problems fitting in. Mostly, I hope I have an easy going supervisor.

I haven't done security work since college. I'm hoping that it hasn't changed too much and I can slide right in.

All this uncertainty ....

 

[Ste11aeres]

The trick to this question is being honest but turning it around to make it a positive ... so one possible answer might be, "I used to have a problem with getting to work on time so I set my watch ten minutes ahead so now I'm never late."

wanderer03 I've heard this advice, and in all honesty, I don't like it because if I was the interviewer, I would interpret it as the person either 1) saying they don't have any weaknesses (I used to have this flaw, but now I don't, in fact it's a strength) or 2)if it seems like it's a current weakness, it could still affect their job performance.

What's better is to list a weakness that wouldn't actually affect the performance of the specific job you're applying for. For instance, when I was being interviewed for a assistant-or-floater (I forget which) preschool teacher position I said (in perfect honesty) that my greatest weakness was that I hated creating lesson plans. Well, guess what? Lesson plans weren't one of the duties of that specific position! The lead teacher for each classroom was the one to put those together. And the interviewer even commented on that, saying that she liked that answer because lesson plans weren't part of the job they were hiring for.

 

[wanderer03]

I'm unlikely to get trick questions for a low level security job. They really only want warm bodies. Security is really only an insurance reduction. I've been through security interviews before and they have been a joke.

 

[wanderer03]

The security profession, sadly, deserves the stigma. Clients don't want to pay so they get the quality that they are willing to pay for. Since margins are slim, security companies cannot afford to be picky.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I'm unlikely to get trick questions for a low level security job. They really only want warm bodies. Security is really only an insurance reduction. I've been through security interviews before and they have been a joke.

I hate trick questions, anyway. I mean, unless the job has something to do with being verbally quick on your feet or handling tricky questions (a speech writer for a politician?) what do such questions reveal about whether the person would be a good employee?
Or, perhaps some interviewers have a nasty sense of humor, and are amusing themselves at the interviewee's expense.

 

[Mia]

I hate trick questions, anyway. I mean, unless the job has something to do with being verbally quick on your feet or handling tricky questions (a speech writer for a politician?) what do such questions reveal about whether the person would be a good employee?

They really don't have anything much to do with the job per se, they are mainly about making you uncomfortable or anxious to see how you react under stress and in uncertain circumstances.

Common interview questions, and there's usually some that have nothing to do with the job. I'm referring to the business world though. I've had most of these questions during job interviews:


What would you say is your biggest weakness?

• 
  Don’t tell them your actual weaknesses. This isn’t a confessional or a therapy session.
  
  The real question: How self-aware are you? Can you look at yourself objectively and spot areas for improvement. More importantly, can you deliver a convincing answer to a difficult question in a pressure situation?

Why should I hire you?

• 
  Don’t tell them they should hire you because they need someone to do the job – or because you need the job. (Apparently many people say this.)
  
  The real question: Are you confident in your ability to excel in the role? Do you have any special abilities or accomplishments you could highlight that show how you stand head and shoulders above other applicants?

If you were an animal, which one would you be?

• 
  Do name an animal. It feels silly, but you have to name an animal. However that’s not the real question.
  
  The real question: How quickly can you come up with a smart answer to a question you weren’t expecting to be asked? How are your creative thinking skills? Your communication skills? Can you explain the metaphor for how your chosen animal represents you in a way that applies to this job?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

• 
  Don’t tell them where you see yourself in five years. They do not want to hear about your grandiose plans for high office or superstardom. (You and I know you’ll get there.)
  
  The real question: How does this role fit in with your overall career goals? Will it be a good move for you so that excelling at it will benefit you professionally as well as us? Or is this just an unrelated job you’re taking now to pay the bills while hoping for something else to happen?

Do you have any questions for me?

• 
  Don’t ask the questions you really want to know: how much does it pay, when can I take vacation time, are the hours flexible?
  
  The real question: How much do you really want the job? Are you already thinking about how to contribute? How serious are you about working here and being a part of the team? Have you done your homework?

 

[Ste11aeres]

• Don’t tell them where you see yourself in five years. They do not want to hear about your grandiose plans for high office or superstardom. (You and I know you’ll get there.)

• Ha! that's never where I see myself in five years

 

[wanderer03]

Sadly, I was not selected. I thought my interview went rather well and we discussed shifts and uniform details. Oh well! :-/

 

[DC1346]

Sadly, I was not selected. I thought my interview went rather well and we discussed shifts and uniform details. Oh well! :-/

That totally sucks. Did they at least say why? Constructive feedback could be useful in terms of finding some other employment.

 

[wanderer03]

That totally sucks. Did they at least say why? Constructive feedback could be useful in terms of finding some other employment.

Employers don't generally provide feedback because it opens them up to discrimination lawsuits. I could honestly care less what some bottom feeder like ABM has to say anyway. I've seen their security and it lives up to the Paul Blart stereotype.