Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You realize that properly done interviews are made very stressful on purpose right?

I went to two gov job interviews last year and one spent an hour asking me pretty much the same question over and over again just in a different way each time, and the other was two people very busy taking notes and not really engaged in observations. Both were I guess at a level of seriously making a decision on a hire but neither was really made stressful on purpose.

I personally really hate interviews cuz I've never had one ever where the hiring crew seemed serious to me. Or it could be I'm just good enough for simple office clerk type jobs.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by krayzie

I went to two gov job interviews last year and one spent an hour asking me pretty much the same question over and over again just in a different way each time, and the other was two people very busy taking notes and not really engaged in observations. Both were I guess at a level of seriously making a decision on a hire but neither was really made stressful on purpose.

I personally really hate interviews cuz I've never had one ever where the hiring crew seemed serious to me. Or it could be I'm just good enough for simple office clerk type jobs.

That would have been a behavioral interview and is a whole new realm again. They were paying attention believe me.
When I say "stressful" I don't mean they are screaming at you or poking you with sharp sticks but simply not making you feel real comfortable. One of those tricks can indeed be not seeming to pay attention and writing stuff down.


A few years back I interviewed for an OSHA Inspector position. It was a behavioral interview and I found it hilarious. Since I had been using the same methods for years I knew exactly what they were looking for and totally played them. I was one of 50 people out of 5,000+ applicant to get offered the job and I ended up turning it down because it was a 30% pay cut from what I was making in automotive.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by krayzie

Wow that means they really don't fucking care about people.

Exactly, and pretty much what I told them.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Exactly, and pretty much what I told them.

I would hope it was an agency doing the prescreening. If it was the actual employer and they went through enough people to warrant an automated system then you probably didn't want to work there anyway.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I would hope it was an agency doing the prescreening. If it was the actual employer and they went through enough people to warrant an automated system then you probably didn't want to work there anyway.

Nope, it was the employer, and not a large one. I have found that smaller employers do sometimes have some of the quirkier ideas about what a good hiring practice is.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

In reality with many prescreen you may as well be talking to an automated system anyway!

It was more the arbitrary time limit than the automated questions. The very first question was (paraphrasing) "Describe in detail the positive contribution you made at each of your previous employers. Be sure to give specific details of each, and how it was a significant contribution....GO!".

Maybe it was meant to test your quick thinking skills, not sure, but this was for a Sr level position so applicants would typically have way more than 2 minutes worth of information to provide. Made me wish I was the FedEx Guy so I could answer by reading my resume in two minutes.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Cole

I'm in charge of hiring a few poor souls to be my paid slaves this year. Can't wait. Want to be doing Skype at the very least, but may devolve to phone calls to see if I actually want to invest any appreciable time and effort into some people.

I find Skype (or similar teleconferencing) a useful tool for prescreening, particular for long-distance hiring. Just be careful what's in the background! I have seen some things I probably shouldn't have in the past this way. My favorite was a toddler running across the door behind the guy, buck naked, with the Mom in hot pursuit.

Had it been the Mom that was buck naked, I might have hired him...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

It was more the arbitrary time limit than the automated questions. The very first question was (paraphrasing) "Describe in detail the positive contribution you made at each of your previous employers. Be sure to give specific details of each, and how it was a significant contribution....GO!".

Maybe it was meant to test your quick thinking skills, not sure, but this was for a Sr level position so applicants would typically have way more than 2 minutes worth of information to provide. Made me wish I was the FedEx Guy so I could answer by reading my resume in two minutes.

That completely and totally negates the purpose of those questions. As I said above the answer doesn't matter it is the observed reactions that do. Didn't you even say that you could go back and change your answers?
I can see an automated system that asks you to explain your past work history and such but when getting into those questions then it is worse than useless.

[dvasqu01]

Noodle boy is back lol.


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[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by dvasqu01

Noodle boy is back lol.


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Parole again? Don't make them send you back this time.

[dvasqu01]

I won't I'll stop humping poles then


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[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by dvasqu01

I won't I'll stop humping poles then


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Well that all depends

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Didn't you even say that you could go back and change your answers?
I can see an automated system that asks you to explain your past work history and such but when getting into those questions then it is worse than useless.

Yea, you could re-record once. Like I said it was the most bizarre thing I experienced in a job interview. I didn't have the interest in finding out why they thought it was a good idea. It was enough for me to know I didn't want to work there.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Yea, you could re-record once. Like I said it was the most bizarre thing I experienced in a job interview. I didn't have the interest in finding out why they thought it was a good idea. It was enough for me to know I didn't want to work there.

Ya I would have walked away as well. That is one weird set up and things probably got worse from there.