You know what’s fun? When halfway through a job interview you realize that not only are you incredibly under-qualified, you actually really don’t want the job. In fact, you would rather be pretending to work at your desk than sitting in a strange office, fielding such open-ended questions as "Tell me about yourself," from a woman who looks like a frog with a bald spot.
You contemplate getting up with no explanation and running down the hall (she’ll never catch you) or asking for a bathroom break and then sneaking off to the elevators (you’ll never see her again). Then you realize you don’t have the balls for something like that.
You begin your more appropriate plan to insinuate that the interview is a huge waste of time.
“You know, do you actually think I would be any good at this job? I don’t have a lot of experience and I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.” You throw in a yawn for good measure.
Unfortunately, a secret sheet of job requirements exists, on which “Blonde” and “Has scuffed shoes” ranks higher than “Enthusiastic” and “Hard-worker.” This is the only explanation for why the woman continues to chat with you for an hour and a half.
You go back to an office that wants to know why your dentist appointment went so long. Even though all you want to do is eat a bag of M&Ms, you have to pretend you are unable to eat due to the aftereffects of novocaine and some time-consuming procedure.
This week is an absolute failure.
Wednesday
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35 comments:
I, too, have lived that lie of 'overqualified-ness" during an interview -- so much so that I actually got the job. And am doing it right now. And after one month still have no clue exactly what I am meant to be doing.
Good luck. Maybe you fooled them. Trust me, it can happen.
This is so right on, right now. Amen to it all.
I had an interview once, set up by a head hunter, and the dude failed to inform me that the woman interviewing me had a full beard, unshaven for at least a week. As if interviews aren't hard enough, telling the circus freak bearded lady about your outstanding work habits while wishing your beard looked that nice...
Let's not forget the, "And where do you see yourself in 5 yrs?" What you honestly want to say is, "Horribly rich, traveling the world looking for the best cabana boy to bring me an umberella drink, and certainly not working HERE." But instead you say something more like, "Finishing my Masters while working full time to become your next CEO."
GAG.
I had an interview once where I was asked what my favorite sport was (obviously they were looking to pigeon hole me into "team player" vs. "solitary worker bee") and capped it off with "could you talk someone into doing something that they really didn't want, or that they thought might harm their product?"
Yeah, I got the job.
An HR exec called me for a job whose salary was in the range of $165,000!!! I spoke to the guy but in a few minutes he realized I still had another 20 years before I'd be qualified for it. Didn't seem so from my resume.
Still he went on for a good 15 minutes, boring me out of my mind. Wonder if I can put that on my resume - "got called for very high-paying job".
Ah, yes. "Overqualified," a left-handed compliment if I've ever heard one. I got the overqualified line a few weeks ago.
"Don't get us wrong...we love you and think you would be a wonderful fit for our company...but considering your journalism education, we think you are a bit overqualified for the role of receptionist."
Thankfully I don't have that problem at my new job. Playing video games at EA. Erm...
It certainly is no one's business why your dentist appt was 1 1/2 hours. That sounds reasonable to me. Have to get there and back, wait at the office, usually takes an hour to clean teeth or do a filling. Some one is being too nosey for their own good.
Next time look desperate to get the job. You'll be out so fast you'll have time to go shoe shopping before your 'dentist appointment' is over.
next time, do a afternoon interview and then just go home from there... tell them at work you were in too much pain to come back to work or to really talk (you can send an email from home to make it more believable)...
too bad on the bad interview...
CB
Applying for and getting jobs for which you are underqualified is a necessary requirement towards the fulfillment of the Peter Principle. It is your responsibility to continue to climb that corporate ladder until you arrive at a job which will pay well, where there will be no threat of being fired and for which you have neither aptitude or interest. Go get'em! Yawn...
Hey howdy, that DOES sound fun. *eyeroll* Week's almost over, CB. Almost over.
CB,
Loyal reader here, almost a year. So much so that I have started to advertise on your blog.
I'm building a new website,and would love for you to read tie first page, especially in light of all the "pretending' references in today's post.
Then you could delete this post, as I'm sure you don't want folks promoring themselves in this forum.
http://showpig.squarespace.com/
Once I was in a job interview and realized I would rather swallow drano than work with these people. They asked the question, "If you could improve three things in yourself what would they be?" Ahhhh...my out! So I was honest. I thought I had really sealed my fate when I got the damn phone call and was offered the job. Life and people can be very unpredictable.
If you get the new job, will you have a chance to write in your blog?
some other guys in LA were saying the same thing about an interview...wierd
www.twoleftturns.blogspot.com
The very best way I know to turn down a job you are underqualified for and don't want is to ask for a salary that would make it worth it.
You get turned down, it's OK. You are offered the job and ... well ... yu did name a very high figure right ?
PS : my all time best interview question was "Well, How can we make you take this job?" ...yeah I took the job.
Ps to the PS : word verifcation is asking me to type in "rumzmy". I thought you should know.
Mary's comment reminds me of my own experience about 6 years ago. After several unsuccessful interviews just out of business school, at a half-dozen consulting firms, I began to think maybe I was just not cut out to be a consultant. In fact, at that point I had pretty much decided to shift into reverse and go back to the industry I worked in prior to school. However, I had one remaining interview at a "Big 5" firm already scheduled, so I decided to follow through with it because, hey, interview experience is worth at least something.
For the first time, not having any emotional investment in whether I was offered the job or not, I began to be somewhat cavalier about my answers. Why do you want to be a consultant? "I'm not really sure I want to be a consultant." There must be some reason you're here. "Well, other than the money, I would be an opportunity to work on challenging problems..."
Two call-backs later, I got the offer.
Don't feel bad CB- I've only had one office job and I quit yesterday :-p. It was ok- the chatting that is (and there was a lot of it ;-)). But the actual job was pretty dull and I basically started missing hours and, well, let's say that the manager decided to have a talk with me asking me if I wanted some time off to think things over.. I told him that yes, that would be nice and the next day (yesterday), I basically quit. I'm very happy to say that my relationship with the manager is just peachy keen; he even invited me to come visit ;-).
Ofcourse, I didn't actually need the money from the job; my father still pays for the things that I need. It was nice having a job, but living in mexico, the sad truth is that the job only paid me about half of what I spend (and I don't even pay rent; I live on my father's land).
Anyway, I'm hoping that I start making money with a friend of mine who's a philosopher and teacher. He really is a great talker; he covers what I think of as the big topics: love, interpersonal relationships, psychology, history, philosophy, religion, politics. I have yet to find a point of view of his that is discordant with mine.
Ok, so maybe he was a bit too sensitive when a guy stole some coconuts from his coconut tree, but he made some pretty snazzy comments in his defense when he did it ;-). Oh, and he finally realized that he was being a bit silly about the coconuts; as the guy who stole his coconuts said to him later "you're not using them" (evidence of which was clear; he'd cut some down after the stolen coconut incident and left them on his porch. There they sat until they rotted :-p).
Things could get pretty interesting with him.. I know a psychiatrist who I believe has his own TV show who's interested in working with him and a woman (friend of a friend) who's going to start a TV show and has expressed interest in having him participate as well.
P.S.- I know that this post was a bit long (362 words, not counting this little P.S.). CB or others, if you think that I'm posting posts that are too long, I will promise to only post posts that are as long as you specify ;-).
Oh, something I think I should mention CB- your blog is first class. I have yet to find one I like better. Ok, so I only read your blog and the blog of a friend of mine, but hey, best out of 2 is a start ;-).
And my friend has a pretty good blog (unfortunately, it's in spanish though, so I doubt anyone here would be able to understand it :-p).
I actually have a blog of my own (a tiny one on blogspot and another 2 elsewhere). I like to think my blogs are good, but I'm hardly what I'd call unbiased on the subject :-p. Even with my bias, I'm not sure where my blogs rank.. which doesn't sound too good for my blogs :-p.
All the best CB; and one day if I get into "The Industry" (hey, it -could- happen ;-)), you may well be the first person I'll contact ;-).
Oh and don't knock the people who want to help you with the industry even if their names don't google; you may be their first project, but never underestimate the power of someone with a dream to realize their dream. And really, what have you got to lose but a little off time? And I don't know about you, but I'm a bit of a sap when it comes to talking about myself (I admit it, I like it when my ego is petted; it makes me feel wanted ;-)).
I'm beginning to think I'm posting too much this morning, but here goes :-p...
CB, maybe the woman who was interviewing you is a closet lesbian and you're the first breath of fresh air she's had in a long time.. I know that running out on a person may seem like the best move, but personally, I think I'd feel sorry for someone who keeps on talking to me even if it's clear that, job wise, there's no reason for it.
Or maybe she actually thinks you'd be good for the job. You're always underapreciating yourself, but others aren't fooled ;-).
Next time, just keep glancing at your watch, and eventually ask: "So, is this gonna take much longer? Because I have an IVF transfer scheduled in an hour. My girlfriend and I are gonna be mommies!!"
Wear a delightfully short skirt to your next interview. Even if you don't get the job, you'll walk out knowing that everyone will remember you.
Been to such interviews, I was just thinking in my head, it will be so rude to stand up infront of this man and walk away. I barely made it thru before he realised I wouldnt really like the job.
Being interviewed for a job you realize you do not want does suck -but let me tell you, being on the other end of that sucks pretty bad too - I mean when you are the interviewee and you realize the person isn't right for the job. Most people are so earnest and hopefull, qualified or not, that it makes it really tough to make that call and dash their hopes. I try not to give false hope during the interview if I already know they are not "the one", but I am a friendly, chatty person and I think some people blur the "I really connected, she loved me!" with "I'm the most competent person for the job!" and have the wrong idea.
WOW -- I have been there, done that. In the past, I've just been honest, saying, "Hey, thanks, but I don't think this is the best move for either of us" (or other such expression) and try to cut the interview short. No sense either of us wasting the next hour and half of the other's time. The usual reaction is they offer me more money. It's wierd.
I do believe that Scott is, perhaps, retarded.
I've actually been in this position, but in acting- I got called in for an audition and I recognized everyone in the waiting room from film and/or TV. I was so distracted from being like "oh! SHE'D be so awesome in this role," I totally forgot to get into the "you-molested-me" creepy zone that was neccessary. It was a mess.
jesus christ scott, WTF
Sounds like your hitting the dentist a bunch.
Also use the "chiropractor" thats easier to fake, and can be faked many different ways, and we all know they suck people into going like 3 times a week, you can use it a lot.
the very.
In the end, it is alway about scott.
reverend: Unfortunately, I'm a very honest guy; I never made up a single excuse; I pretty much called it like it was. Usually I was tied up (I'm a fairly busy person), but there was one time when I wanted to talk to a philosopher friend of mine.. I knew that it was job time but I just didn't care :-p.
doomu: lol :-). Aw c'mon, I did talk about CB a -little- bit, heh heh ;-). And the other time I wrote, I wrote some things for some other commenters too...
sea change: ouch. I read the last entry in your blog. I love cats too (I have a wild one that likes to look into my eyes).
been lurking for a while now. I simply have those interviews only i dont have the balls to walk out. I have those dumb questions what are your weaknesses bah!
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