What Does It Take To Get A Job?

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Pekka
provost, just keep the faith . I even got to a job interview not too long ago. That means to me that I am qualified for it, and they know it too, they just want to make sure I'd 'fit in' to the place. Ok, so everything was going fine and the last question was 'What is your goal with in our company? How do you see your future in here?', and I thought I'd make a joke and answered 'Your job'. It was a joke and I thought it was funny. I swear it ruined my sure shot. She looked like she got something in her throat and that was it.

Never crack a joke at a job interview.

[Sten Sture]

Take a low paying temp job to build some practical experience, meet some people with contacts, and establish professional credibility.

Almost all of the entry level people we hire come from within the industry ranks, but lower level positions. I bet it works that way in most fields.

[Bereta_Eder]

FFS Pekka

5 stars for humour

a bit less for appropriate setting for said humour

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Caligastia


Do you think Provost should apply your suggestion to his jobhunt?

If anyone here watches Mr. Show with Bob and Dave, speak now...this was one of their funniest bits.

And if he's having no luck otherwise, I guess it couldn't hurt...well, that is unless...um, nevermind...

Never crack a joke at a job interview.

There are some places where one should never, ever crack jokes, and this is probably one of them. Topping the list is U.S. Customs.

[Bereta_Eder]

BTW Pekka, it was funny but the woman might actually thought of taking it seriously...

private companies executives are extremely weary of "new blood".

I remember when me and a bunvh of other youngsters turned in for work they "seniors" were divided into two groups: that that tried to keep us down, patronize us and tried to show who is the boss (without having any reason) and those who encouraged us, guided us and worked with us.

Thing is, things like that are remembered and those youngerts may someday turn up higher than the "seniors". It is obvious who those youngers will help and who they won't. So I think the first category of "seniors" are either too stupid or too insecure. Either way they are digging their own graves

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by paiktis22
private companies executives are extremely weary of "new blood".

I think you meant to say "wary".

[Bereta_Eder]

propably. I mean suscpicious, reserved, feeling a bit threatened etc.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

My managers are insecure big time, not too stupid but waaaay insecure, anyway I'll be in Provost like position from September - actuall not, I will still have the job until Jan, but I think September is a good time to start looking for something new.

[Bereta_Eder]

The best attitude is to show that you dont give a fig about being fired or not That's what I do That dont mean you dont care to do your job well of course.

Just that you dont care about being fired. That way their hold on you slips like a silly clown's hand hanging from a slippery iceberg

[MikeH]

If you've only had 4 interviews out of 50-100 jobs you need to make sure you are applying to jobs you are qualified for and make sure your CV isn't really bad.

If you are properly qualified for the advertised requirements and have a really good CV your ratio of interviews should be a lot higher than that. I was getting interviews for about 1 in 3 jobs when I was looking. Only sent off about 12 applications in total but all for jobs I matched well and I always did an individual covering letter for the job. Based on a template but individualised for the role.

I also occasionally tweaked the CV for certain jobs.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Well - I bet good amangers are hard to find - I mean to work for them, I did have one or two at the beginning- one got promoted and the other left the company for a higher position elswhere. So the low range managers that are left are incapable of moving forward, and they get stuck where they are + that goes hand in hand with insecurity, - and at the end screws up the people underneath, who wish they had a better job - actually better environment as you never know what is going to happen next good mood/bad mood... this and that.... dooh, anyway I have a strong felling we will get outsourced by Jan. 03

[Gibsie]

Well I don't know what the problem is- I ewnt for three jobs in your industry and got the third. But then I was kinda guaranteed it, so err, I'm no heLp.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Originally posted by MikeH


I also occasionally tweaked the CV for certain jobs.

You overclocker

what do you do by the way, have any jobs down there in Reading

[Bereta_Eder]

Heed Mike.

[moomin]

Re: What Does It Take To Get A Job?

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
It seems endless...and pointless...what do they want? Blood?

It's difficult to tell, but here are a couple of things you should be doing unless you are already - take this form someone who sits on the other side of that interview table 2-3 times a month.

1) Is your Corporate Bullsh!tese up to scratch? No, really - it's not that anybody believes that you or they actually think anything you say in this mode, but it will show a) you're willing to play the game, and understand the rules and b) gives a fair bit of info on your actual abilities otherwise. A consumate CB:er will probably fit right in with the other important corporate decision processes: spin doctoring, blame shifting and backstabbing. A jerk who can't even get the simple protocol of "I'm interested in furthering myself in this field by meeting new challanges while applying my abilities to the benefit of this company" right will not be an asset to the group when the next round of cuts begin.

2) Polish you suit look. If the pics you where showing around here are any indication, you need to be shaving a lot more, talk to a good tailor about measurement and try really hard to look comfortable in the thing, not like it was the transultimate sacrifice of self-esteem to wear it. Can't do that? Fine, then ditch the suit. I'd go with a guy who was properly dressed and casual in, say, chinos and white shirt anytime over an uncomfortable guy who obviously is never going to wear the thing he's in right now once I employ him.

3) Check your wit at the door. Being funny and charming may land you broads and make you a pub success story, but it won't get you any jobs. In an interview situation for a highly skilled job the employer is looking at you and trying to determine if you're serious and disciplined enougth to do the job. We understand you're a human being too, but frankly, that's not what concerns us at the moment. Because if you aren't, it's not our loss. A bloke who can't keep his funny stories out of an interview is just vying for the position of office prankster, and god knows we got enough of these clowns already.

4) Don't mess with formalia. Nuff said', although you'd be amazed how many people screw this up.

5) Don't lie, unless you're good at it. Most nerds looking for IT, bio, financial or similar work aren't, although they often imagine they are.

6) Read up on the damn company before the interview. This should probably be a subpoint to #1, since succesfull candidates will amaze us buy showing of that they are skillful enough to adabt their CB to the circumstances and have actually done their homework - so there's an offhand chance they may put as much effort into their work once they're on the pay role.

Got all that? Fine, and the best luck to you. Incidentally, if you're willing to resettle to Sweden drop me a PM - I know of a few places here that would probably be willing to hire the right person with a solid bio background.