I just got a call for a second interview. During the highly awkward conversation with my maybe-future boss, he told me that I was the strongest candidate he had met.
I was slightly taken aback since I have been anything but enthusiastic during this process. Don’t all companies want over-eager team players?
Apparently not. Apparently, much like dating, some people want you to be a disinterested bitch.
What I Have Learned About Applying for Jobs
When a company calls, do not call them back for two days.
When scheduling an interview be sure to choose both the date and the time, forcing other people to accommodate you.
Reschedule at least once.
Show up ten minutes late.
Do not print your resume on “resume paper”.
Do not write a “Thank you” e-mail after meeting with the prospective employer.
Even if I do not get the job, I’ve learned a lot.
Wednesday
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24 comments:
I sent actual handwritten thank-you notes, got called back for a second interview and then never heard from them again. Maybe your way is better.
Why are you so down on yourself? You are obviously a smart, talented and effective young lady, or they wouldn’t have called you back for a second interview. Either that or you have great boobs.
I think fancy resumes could be important if you are applying for a very highly paid, executive position requiring impecable credentials. But for an ordinary job, they are ridiculous. I occasionally hire new employees and laugh heartily when someone drops off some overblown production.
Depending on your skills and the match to the position, your aloofness may be coming across as confidence. You are not desperate (and you still have a job - that is amazingly reassuring to a potential employer).
Eagerness can be appealing too but the skills have to be there.
I think you got lucky. I work as a recruiter in an investment bank and am responsible for the screening/hiring of all junior financial personnel. I don't know what industry you are in, but I can tell you that all the things you mentioned (except the date/time thing and the quality of the resume paper) would reflect badly on a candidate here.
Interesting things to note...
Congrats!
yeah the You need me more than i need you attitude is a very powerful psych to potential employers and mates alike.
Though I did send a thanks to a job that I had really hoped to get after they hired someone else. they fell through and I will have been there for 3 years in May. So that courtesy does reap a certain benefit.
I had the EXACT same experience with the last job I interviewed for. I wasn't sure I wanted it and thought "if they offer me enough money, what the hell, I'll take it." I also took two days to call them back, made them meet me near my office because their office was too far away for me to sneak away to, and didn't send thank-you e-mails/notes. Long story short... they offered me $20k/yr more than I was making and here I am. It could be the extra money talking, but I actually like it better than any job I've had before. I'd still like to win the lottery and retire, but more money and a tolerable job will suffice in the interim.
I recently had a job interview where the interviewer could not have been less interested in me. I forgot to bring an extra copy of my resume and she didn't have the copy I'd originally sent. She didn't ask me about my current job or my past jobs or why I thought I would be good at their job. I got the job, and to this day could not tell you why.
Congrats! Its about time something good started happening for your career! Lots of Luck!
On one interview I went to a few years ago, I asked the interviewer if they liked their job and she strait up said, "No its boring here." She also had gang signs tatooed on both of her wrists. If nothing else interviewing does kind of spice things up in the story-telling department ;) Goodluck, no matter what you should keep up the writing!
Ww. I totally do all the wrong things.
In our line of work. . .so true. so so true. You forgot to add "obnoxious level of honesty" to that list :)
Send 'Thank You' notes? Must be an American thing. Keep blogging!
Interesting ... the first real interview for a real job I had out of university I did none of those things and got the job ... and I was one of many who was interviewed. I guess different things work for different people.
Hummm. Sounds like the stereotypical "rules" of dating to me. I guess if you act like you could do better, the other party's interest is piqued.
The last time I was interviewing, I decided that I was sick of the whole thing and that I needed to remember that it was just as important for me to like them as it was for them to like me. Once I took this attitude, I found that interviewing and job searching was a lot easier, and I got a lot more response, and eventually, the perfect fit for me and the team I'm on at, the coolest company. And also a 15k/year raise.
What I've learned is this: relax, be yourself, and make sure you want them.
I got my last job, in part, because I was so hard to get. I had been working CRAZY hours at another agency, and absolutely could not meet at any of the times my new employer wanted to meet. It almost became a joke the number of times I had to call and reschedule. The result is that she thought I was such a hard worker and so dedicated (which I was, but really, I had no choice) that she couldn't wait to hire me.
Good luck with everything!
And when you get offered the job, tell them you want more money and not to call back until they have doubled their offer.
I dragged my ass into a second interview once, 20 minutes out of my way, failed a written french test (even went so far as to write a note at the bottom excusing my poor written french) and they didn't even have the courtesy to call and tell me I didn't snag the job. I pretty much guessed I didn't get it when I left the office, laughing, as I handed the test over to the secretary --- but a basic phone call confirming my failure would have been nice.
Que sera, sera, I guess.
Who knew interviewing was like playing hard to get with a boy you like? Don't call back immediately, reschedule, etc. Well done CB for seeming like the perfect unattainable employee/date.
Its so true... Just had an interview for an uptight engineering postion...
I showed up 5 mins late, with a lip ring still in (usually remove it for the stiffs) and acted as if it was a waste of my precious time being there...
I've never seen someone so interested in hiring me... Too bad I turned it down... He didn't get the msg.
Wow. I'd like to know what some of the weaker candidates did. Maybe they wet their pants or threw up during the interview.
Hi nice blog .I need to post resumes .can anybody send links of that sites.
Thank you.........
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