topic Re: job interview in Community Chat

job interview

fuzzball76 — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:13:54 GMT

You ever been lucky enough to get a job interview or a shot at a promotion and realize that it is pointless and for whatever reason you ain't got a shot in heck at it? Do you cancel it or do you actually go through with it, knowing that the bosses bff,girlfriend, niece who just graduated from college, and I don't want to start an argument but a diversity candidate. Lets have an honest and CIVIL discussion please.

Re: job interview

DiAnne — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:15:51 GMT

Go through with it. It is good practice!

Re: job interview

MaggieMack — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:17:04 GMT

I've never been in a similar position, but would consider it good "practice" for the one that comes up that you might have a shot at. I think I learned something from every single interview I tried. Practice makes perfect.

Re: job interview

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:17:26 GMT

I viewed every interview as a learning experience. Each interviewer had their own technique and quirks. The more you are exposed to, the better prerpared you are at the next opportunity.

Re: job interview

GCR18 — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:23:13 GMT

I had a similar experience, but I went through the interview process before I found out. I think it takes the stress off knowing that it's like a practice run. I'd do it and ask for feedback on how to improve next time.

Re: job interview

nomless — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:26:20 GMT

Do the interview. I once did an interview that resulted in my getting a different (and better) job.

Re: job interview

Pandalady — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:43:38 GMT

Once, I had an interview for a teaching position. I had my confidence because I had prepared for that interview, since it was going to be in a different aspect of teaching than I was in currently. All was right with the world, then...

I arrived early so I took my seat and proceeded to wait my turn. A gentleman came in. The office staff, said, "oh, Mr. ___________, you had a phone call here wanting to know if you still intended to interview with us." A little while later, the principal emerged. Remember, my time was next. This principal immediately walked to HIM and began talking about how excited she was that he would consider her offer of an interview. The secretary told the principal about the phone call he had received. The principal told the gentleman not to return the call until they had spoken because SHE wanted a chance to impress him of what they could offer to him.

Then, she looked at me, almost as if I was a "fly in the ointment" and said, "Oh, yeah, Mrs.________, I almost forgot you were here".

I did go on with the interview. At that point, I felt as if I could have shown up in my PJ's and curlers and had just as much of a shot as I did at that time. Needless to say, that gentleman got the job.

Although that was a unusal experience, I was still proud of myself for the preparation I had done. I agree with the other wonderful posters here who have given the advice to not give up and go through wtih it for practice.

Re: job interview

SoX — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:41:01 GMT

Well it's been a while, but speaking from the diversity candidate's corner, I'm well aware of what it felt like ... ever more so, because of the hiring practices back then.

My resume went into the circular file more times than I care to remember. Had no choice but to keep on keeping on. Good thing I did, too ... found not one, but two great jobs in my field over the course of my career.

Re: job interview

Sooner — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:48:33 GMT

I did that once--didn't have a snowball's chance. GOT the job, worked there 30 years. One thing for sure, if you go in with a bad attitude and thinking you don't have a shot, you will NOT get the job. At the time, I was not optimistic, but had no idea who I was up against and by gosh I beat them out!

Go to the interview--pray first!

Re: job interview

chrystaltree — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:03:21 GMT

Go through with it, no one gets every job they apply for. You will learn from the experience and the practice will help you a great deal the next time you apply for a job. You will develop some much needed self confidence.

Re: job interview

151949 — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:05:37 GMT

I have never wanted to "advance" in my job - I liked it where I was and did not feel a need to change. I did the same job for 38 years and then made a lateral move to a different department where I would have less physically trying position doing dialysis, because I was having a lot of health issues. That was a mistake for certain , I should have stayed in my old job and toughed it out. I worked at that gosh awful dialysis job for 6 years though and then retired early and went on SSD. I can just imagine the frustration of trying for a job and not getting it if you were looking to advance. Esp. to lose it as the OP said to someone less qualified but more connected. Maybe in my subconscious that was why I never tried - I just did not want to be dissappointed. I had a love/hate relationship with my job as most people do, but I always got good reviews and got my full raise each year so I felt I was doing a good job and just hung in there.

Re: job interview

missy1 — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:12:57 GMT

I had very few interviews in my adult life (I stay awhile at jobs). I go in for the experience, but so nervous. I don't know what to say. Now a days, the odds are against you when you are older. I try my best.

Re: job interview

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:11:34 GMT

That's easy, you always go there and do the interview. As others have said, it's all a learning experience.

My daughter has gone on job interviews she figured she'd probably not get, guess what, she got the job.

She's had amazing jobs. She actually worked for the circus (had a 3 ring circus set up in the company). She's worked at many very interesting jobs.

Always go for it.

Re: job interview

Still Raining — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:40:29 GMT

Go ahead and go just for practice. You never know what might come out of it either. They might remember you when another opening comes up.

Re: job interview

Snowpuppy — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:06:43 GMT

OP, if you are savvy enough to know that someone has been pre-selected and if you're over 25 and don't need interview experience, then I wouldn't bother.

At some point, I began to look at what men & women do differently in the workplace. I don't waste my time or theirs by applying. It's pointless and I don't want to look like the donkey chasing the carrot by being given the "courtesy" interview.

Re: job interview

Venezia — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:18:36 GMT

I agree with Snowpuppy. I wouldn't waste my time at an interview, if I knew that the "successful candidate" was already chosen (and it happens a lot, because some places have to go through a set of "hoops" to adhere to policy or law).

At an interview a few years ago, I just wanted to ask "Why don't you just tell me who's already got the job and I'll pretend you interviewed me?" I didn't, of course, because you just don't. But that one still irks me to this day. It was SO obvious! Shortest interview I every had! And I was very qualified for the job.

Re: job interview

jlkz — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:23:10 GMT

@fuzzball76

I n one of my former careers I was a career counselor at a well known company for all levels of management.

Take the interview even IF the job is " pre-wired " because you don't know how long they will be in the job: it could be a pass-through for them to get certain titles or experience under their belt for long- term career progression.

Too, the interviewer may be so impressed with your preparation and presentation that he / she will remember you for the next time an opening occurs OR keep your contact info in case they leave the company and need a great candidate in their new company.

Go prepared and be positive because you never know where it will lead. I have had many clients land phenomenal positions in this very situation. A few even got a higher level position because of their credentials and attitude.

Re: job interview

nomless — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:35:20 GMT

Consider this: maybe there is a pre-selected candidate who will get this job. If you interview anyway, you might impress them so much that you'll be the pre-selected candidate for the next job that comes up.

Also consider - maybe you're wrong about there being a pre-selected candidate, maybe there isn't one and maybe you have a good shot at getting the job. There's no downside to interviewing, but there could be a downside to not interviewing.

Lastly, it sounds like your interview has already been arranged. If so and if you pull out, that will speak volumes in a negative way. You don't want the bosses to see you as a person who doesn't follow through.

Re: job interview

ROMARY — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:31:39 GMT

'Practice makes perfect!' (Quote from someone, sometime, somewhere......)

Re: job interview

Tadaki — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 20:33:43 GMT

@fuzzball76 wrote:
You ever been lucky enough to get a job interview or a shot at a promotion and realize that it is pointless and for whatever reason you ain't got a shot in heck at it? Do you cancel it or do you actually go through with it, knowing that the bosses bff,girlfriend, niece who just graduated from college, and I don't want to start an argument but a diversity candidate. Lets have an honest and CIVIL discussion please.

You would be canceling based on an assumption. You could be right, but there is no way to truly know what someone is thinking or planning to do.

That being said, if you are so let down by it that you can't do your best, it might be a good idea to cancel. The only thing is if you cancel, might they count you out for other opportunities? It's a tough call.