Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Job Interviews. They suck.

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:02 PM
Original message
Job Interviews. They suck.
Why do potential employers ask canned questions like "which past job do you consider being your worst and why?" Like, how about most of them? I live in Florida, HELLO! How about when I worked for the manic-depressive psycho editor with daddy issues who liked to sue people and keep her renters security deposits just coz? Or the research company who gave out "report cards" once a week.

I can't wait for my interview next week with a guy who sounds suicidal, or at least like he's lost the will to breathe. Who in hell invented work anyhow?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
datasuspect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:04 PM
Response to Original message
1. questions like that are an opportunity for you to show the positive approaches
you have used in stressful situations.

in other words, they are testing your skills as a bullshit artist.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:06 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Thing is, they know it, I know it. Just tell me how bad it gets here and let me tell you
how much of a pain in the ass I can be at times and get on with it. Hire me or don't.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Parche Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:14 PM
Response to Original message
3. And What Are Your Weakest Skills
Or what would you improve about yourself.......:wtf: :wtf: :hi:

Why do they say those things.................:hi:

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:21 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. Obviously "tolerance at job interviews" is one of mine.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
formerrepuke Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:14 PM
Response to Original message
4. Surely you know that many of the 'canned' questions are TRAPS!
If you actually admit to having had a previous job that you disliked= 'Malcontent'; 'Complainer'

If you actually admit having previous co-workers or supervisors you had 'issues' with= 'Not a team player'; 'Doesn't get along well with others'

If you actually admit that there were elements of a previous job that you found unfulfilling or unpleasant= 'Lazy'; 'Unreliable'

It took me a few years and several failed interviews to learn that, for some interview questions, There is only one correct answer: The answer they want to hear. Interviewers from HR actively seek any reason to screen you out, and will do so without much provocation.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:18 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. I know I know, god knows I know.
It's just so canned and they know you're making shit up. I hope they don't offer me the job because then I'd have to turn them down and I hate that.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LeftyFingerPop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:17 PM
Response to Original message
5. "which past job do you consider being your worst and why?"
That would be easy for me to answer.

"Oh, that would be the time I ran a pool hall as a teenager that was so rough I feared for my life every night, and one night the owner came in drunk, accused me of trying to make time with his daughter, and threw her prosthetic leg at me from across the room".

I kid you not...this really happened.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:19 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. That sounds like my life so I believe every word of it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LeftyFingerPop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:24 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. It makes a good story now....
but it scares the hell out of a teenager let me tell you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:27 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. I'll bet. That would make a great movie scene.
My worst job, altho I thought it was cool at the time, was working in a biker bar the night before they changed the drinking age from 18 to 21 in Mass. People were getting the crap beat out of them in the parking lot and Hell's Angels were hogging the entire bar. It was insane.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LeftyFingerPop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #10
13. Yikes!
we used to have a few biker bars around here.

I give you credit...those places used to scare the hell out of me.

I used to hang around with a kid whose dad was some kind of big deal in the Hell's Angels.

He used to tell me some stories that no kid should hear.

I'm glad all that stuff has calmed down around here.

Or maybe it still exists but I don't hear of it? :shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. My poor niece grew up dealing with HA parties, etc.
I can only imagine what she witnessed. But you know, when my mother was sick with cancer, the prez of the club used to drive her to the supermarket every week so she could food shop. I have mixed emotions about them because I grew up with some.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LeftyFingerPop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:37 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. I know what you mean.
This guy's dad and his friends were all friendly guys, just very rough in their manners and actions. I have mixed feelings too. If the stories were true, which I'm sure they were, then these guys were not to be messed with. But they treated me good, and a few of then used to chat with my dad.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:41 PM
Response to Reply #17
18. Most of them are psychopaths, but when you knew them as kids, it's hard to accept that they'd
kill you and bury you in the marshes without a second thought.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LeftyFingerPop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. You make it seem like...
killing someone and burying them in the marshes is "wrong". :rofl:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #19
20. OMG, we should form a "club"
:rofl:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
billyskank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:29 PM
Response to Original message
11. That's a fucked up question.
I was always told, totally avoid being negative in job interviews. Specifically, if you are looking for a new job because you hate your old job, on no account vent in the interview about how crappy your job is!

Which is more or less what that interviewer was asking you to do.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
graywarrior Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:30 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Well, he didn't fool me for a second.
I fell in line like a stepford worker. I just don't want the job. Period. Unless they pay me what I want.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
truedelphi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:33 PM
Response to Original message
14. Who in hell invented work anyhow?
Like my son said back when he was eight (as I was struggling trying to find a pair of panty hose without any runs, and the usual rush to work etc)

"It's a shame they can't see what a good person you are and JUST mail you the check, mOm."

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
15. Job interviews are like No Child Left Behind
There are people who interview well and people who don't. Having this skill doesn't mean you'd be good at the position for which you're interviewing, and vice versa. Potential employers need to realize this and throw away their cans of questions and acceptable responses.



In the meantime... Job-Interview B.S. Bingo.



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 03:02 PM
Response to Original message
21. ever notice that HR are the only ones with reinforced office doors?
:tinfoilhat:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
underpants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Dec-27-07 03:05 PM
Response to Original message
22. Answer:"Well it could be this one"
Look don't take and crap from them. If you start doing that they are going to expect it
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun May 05th 2024, 08:10 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC