Why won't anyone let me work for them?

[Johnd]

Eh? Why on earth not?



Disagree. I'd interpret it as crawling.



Disagree. Being young, seth's education is likely to be one of the few things he can discuss.

Agreed Robbie.

As far as the education...it's limited...and he got expelled a few weeks ago. Both bad. So if he can dance around those two issues, I'd say discuss on.

Either way, an interviewer is trained to ask the right questions. And they makes notes of a nonresponsive answer and avoidance. So be prepared for the interview, and learn from your mistakes (interviewing is a process...I'd take what I could from that at your age).

 

[Halon451]

Either way, an interviewer is trained to ask the right questions. And they makes notes of a nonresponsive answer and avoidance. So be prepared for the interview, and learn from your mistakes (interviewing is a process...I'd take what I could from that at your age).

I think that depends on the person conducting the interview. Many times an interviewer really isn't all that trained on asking the right questions and/or how to ask them. Every situation is unique, as people and their methods differ from person to person.

Granted, most people (both interviewers and interviewees) follow the same old pre-fabricated format that anyone can Google these days.

I believe in order to really make an impression, it is essential that one steps outside that box just enough to actually leave an impression on the person conducting the interview. Emphasizing your strong points, while actually showing you have the ability to think on your own will leave the best impression in the end, and the point here is to be remembered after the interview is done; after a stack of resumes have been gone through and (potentially) dozens of people interviewed, you don't want to be lost among the numbers.

And, not enough importance can be placed on confidence and authenticity. Yes, pimp yourself (as some have said), but don't bulls**t. Look them straight in the eye when answering questions and leave them thinking that you can get the job done no matter what.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You should ALWAYS send a personallized thank you letter to the people who interview you as well as a thank you email and thank you follow up call all spaced out properly. Dont let them forget you as there are many people out for the same job. The last qualified person who interviews gets the on the majority of the time because that is who is fresh on the mind of the interviewer.

Out of the 60-80 people I hired the past 5 years I can promise you everyone of them followed up with various thank you method. It sticks in my mind and makes me remember them.

Eh? Why on earth not?



Disagree. I'd interpret it as crawling.



Disagree. Being young, seth's education is likely to be one of the few things he can discuss.

 

[Johnd]

I think that depends on the person conducting the interview. Many times an interviewer really isn't all that trained on asking the right questions and/or how to ask them. Every situation is unique, as people and their methods differ from person to person.

Granted, most people (both interviewers and interviewees) follow the same old pre-fabricated format that anyone can Google these days.

I believe in order to really make an impression, it is essential that one steps outside that box just enough to actually leave an impression on the person conducting the interview. Emphasizing your strong points, while actually showing you have the ability to think on your own will leave the best impression in the end, and the point here is to be remembered after the interview is done; after a stack of resumes have been gone through and (potentially) dozens of people interviewed, you don't want to be lost among the numbers.

And, not enough importance can be placed on confidence and authenticity. Yes, pimp yourself (as some have said), but don't bulls**t. Look them straight in the eye when answering questions and leave them thinking that you can get the job done no matter what.

Yes. Good post.

My point in referencing the interviewer is not to allude to their astuteness...for they may not be. But rather the avoidance of the answer to a question, or worse, a lie. I would do neither, and be fully prepared for all interviews. And earnest. And clean shaven.

 

[majorloser]

Eh? Why on earth not?



Disagree. I'd interpret it as crawling.



Disagree. Being young, seth's education is likely to be one of the few things he can discuss.

Answer to #1: A LOT of people are turned off by shaking hands now days. There's a lot of germ phobes out there and offering them a handshake is offensive. Many from the middle east would even consider offering the wrong hand offensive. I've been interviewing for the past week. About 50+ candidates. Almost every one of them had a cold or was coughing. And you don't think I washed my hands after every interview?

Answer to #2: A handwritten thank you letter is considered an extension of the interview. It allows you to add a little more positive spin to the meeting. It also allows you an oppotunity to have your name brought up again to the interviewer when you may have been forgotten from the long list of applicants. In no way is it considered a desperate move. In your line of work (a professional) it can be the "kiss of death" if you don't follow up the interview formally. Don't know how things are done over there. But a good interviewer will eat you alive in the meeting and the only way you may recover is with the follow-up. The letter needs to be hand addressed and written so the secretary will think it's personal and not junk mail (aka: trash).

Answer to #3: Yes, he needs to put his education down, but he needs a resume that focuses on his skills. It needs to focus on what he can bring to the table since his education and job experience is minimal. Our economy is not the greatest over here. Four year degrees are "a dime a dozen". If you don't put what you can offer the interviewer in the first paragraph or bulletized points, your resume will get ignored.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

You write this:

And then conclude with this:

He hasn't given us any information as to why he can't even secure the most basic retail jobs. The most important things are his looks/presentation/dress and attitude and how they create a first impression. Keep in mind, he's a young kid!! How exactly does he present himself at an interview?

..........is he a new-wave kid with purple spiked hair and facial piercings? Nobody really knows and nobody has really asked how EXACTLY he presents himself, and this is critically important!!! (especially in retail where the job puts him in front of customers)

If he is consistently turned down for retail jobs, the first thing that came to mind for me is...... "What does this kid dress/look like?"

 

[Highlander]

You should ALWAYS send a personallized thank you letter to the people who interview you as well as a thank you email and thank you follow up call all spaced out properly. Dont let them forget you as there are many people out for the same job.

Sorry, but if a thank you note is all that helps you remember a candidate then they were never the right candidate for the job in the first place.

A LOT of people are turned off by shaking hands now days. There's a lot of germ phobes out there and offering them a handshake is offensive.

Tell them to get a life. Jeez, they deserve a slap just for being offended.

Many from the middle east would even consider offering the wrong hand offensive.

Well so would I! Everybody knows you shake with your right hand!

A handwritten thank you letter is considered an extension of the interview...In no way is it considered a desperate move.

Must be an American thing. I know of no one that does that over here.

In your line of work (a professional) it can be the "kiss of death" if you don't follow up the interview formally.

Bah! If an interviewer isn't 100% sure about me as a candidate, a thank you letter should not be the crux that decides whether or not I win the position.

...a good interviewer will eat you alive in the meeting and the only way you may recover is with the follow-up.

Eat you alive? An interviewer should in no way be trying to "eat you alive".

Our economy is not the greatest over here. Four year degrees are "a dime a dozen". If you don't put what you can offer the interviewer in the first paragraph or bulletized points, your resume will get ignored.

I appreciate that your economy is a bit volatile at present, and undergraduate degrees are "a dime a dozen" pretty much in any western society in my opinion, but whilst I agree that it is important to structure one's resume, if the interviewer is not prepared to look further than the first paragraph, notwithstanding that he/she may have many applications to process, then the fault lies principally with him/her, not the applicant.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Always use a firm handshake with a man.

When I was young, it always bothered me that my handshake was weaker than most. I started doing grip-specific exercises (using tools from Iron Mind), and now my handshake is scary.

 

[Rickster71]

This situation reminds me of the 'Tiger Attack at the Zoo' story.
There is more to this story / situation, it will all come out, in time.

Though, I have a feeling he has found a job.
Good Luck Seth.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Oh....

Sorry, but if a thank you note is all that helps you remember a candidate then they were never the right candidate for the job in the first place.
.

 

[highfihoney]

You write this:



He hasn't given us any information as to why he can't even secure the most basic retail jobs. The most important things are his looks/presentation/dress and attitude and how they create a first impression. Keep in mind, he's a young kid!! How exactly does he present himself at an interview?

..........is he a new-wave kid with purple spiked hair and facial piercings? Nobody really knows and nobody has really asked how EXACTLY he presents himself, and this is critically important!!! (especially in retail where the job puts him in front of customers)

If he is consistently turned down for retail jobs, the first thing that came to mind for me is...... "What does this kid dress/look like?"

You might be on to something,i do alot of hiring & the first thing i look for is them big blousey britches kids wear,you know,the one's where you can fit a loaf of bread & a jar of mayonaise in the back pocket,underwear hanging all out,room in the legs for 3 more people,a cell phone clipped to their ear.

Even if their panties are not showing because they have a belt on (the right way) if it looks like after they leave me they undo the belt & let em sag ive made my mind up.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I'll chime in on the thank-you letter: it's considered almost SOP nowadays, and you can hurt your chances by not doing it. At an absolute minimum you should contact the interviewer again if possible, or at least the company, thanking them for the interview and asking if there's anything you can add or clarify that will help them make a choice. It really sets you apart from other potential candidates if you look professional and appear eager to join the team.

 

[highfihoney]

This situation reminds me of the 'Tiger Attack at the Zoo' story.
There is more to this story / situation, it will all come out, in time.

Though, I have a feeling he has found a job.
Good Luck Seth.

Either that or he went on a bender & he's hammered as all he!!

 

[Johnd]

You might be on to something,i do alot of hiring & the first thing i look for is them big blousey britches kids wear,you know,the one's where you can fit a loaf of bread & a jar of mayonaise in the back pocket,underwear hanging all out,room in the legs for 3 more people,a cell phone clipped to their ear.

Even if their panties are not showing because they have a belt on (the right way) if it looks like after they leave me they undo the belt & let em sag ive made my mind up.

Well, Ill take the credit for that highfi...cuz that's the kind of guy I am! But that's not my quote.

Geez you guys are cynical. That province is mine, and mine alone!

 

[highfihoney]

Sorry,im all hopped up on cookies & coffee right now & got a little excited

 

[Johnd]

Either that or he went on a bender & he's hammered as all he!!

Or he's in the pokey!

Or maybe he's just a little smarter than some of us are giving him credit for. Maybe he didn't get expelled, and he's not looking for a job, and this is all some kind of sociological experiment for school. Like bugs under glass. That's what we are!

 

[Johnd]

Sorry,im all hopped up on cookies & coffee right now & got a little excited

Ahh, that's all right highfi, no one expects much from you anyway! (That's just a joke you know, homey).

Cookies, huh? What kind?

 

[Highlander]

I'll chime in on the thank-you letter: it's considered almost SOP nowadays, and you can hurt your chances by not doing it....It really sets you apart from other potential candidates if you look professional and appear eager to join the team.

I've no idea what SOP stands for, but your post's context suggests that it's 'standard' to post a thank you letter following an interview. Whilst doing so arguably leaves a good impresion with the interviewer, if almost all other candidates are following suit, any advantage you had is lost. No?

 

[Johnd]

Robbie:

SOP is an acronym for Standard Operating Procedure.

 

[Highlander]

SOP is an acronym for Standard Operating Procedure.

So close! I'd figured it was Standard ? Practice. Cheers.