IrkedJust have to vent. I have been job searching lately and applied for this GREAT job at a fabulous local company. I was AMAZED the HR person called me and expressed interest in me. She set up a phone interview a week later with me, her, and the manager whom I'd be working for. I was caught off guard when they called, as they had only given me 15 minutes' notice they would be calling. I got this sinking feeling right from the start of the stupid phone interview that I was failing miserably. For one, I am not a bubbly, vibrant, energetic person so that comes across over the phone. Also, I can't stand stuffy business-like men who talk really aggressively over the phone, asking me all sorts of questions and using "corporate" language. It is really nauseating. I tried to be very professional and courteous over the phone, act interested and personable. Well, at the end of the interview I had the sinking feeling that they didn't like me. You know how you can just tell??? I thought I would be perfect for the job. Apparently they didn't. I just got an email today from the HR lady, telling me, "Although we were impressed ... ladedadeda ... thanks for your interest ... good luck ... " I got a form letter from her, basically. A very nice form letter. Very nice and fake. I am sure they WILL NOT keep my resume on file, or consider it for future jobs, or ask me to interview for other jobs. So why do they write that in their form letter???!!!!! It is so fake and useless. Ever since the phone interview I have been feeling like a failure, and cringing every time I think of it, replaying all the stupid things I said in my head. I wonder if I will ever get a good job as I don't interview well at all. I have a lot of good qualifications. I just bomb at interviews. I think it is my inherent personality - introverted, extremely laid back, low energy. The email I got today from that woman was so depressing. I thought for sure I could have that job if I wanted, as she was very interested in me. Once again, I failed. Does anyone have experience with phone interviews? Are they common nowadays? Are they just used to weed out people? I really hate phone interviews. Well thanks for reading this vent!! I can't stand stuffy business-like men who talk really aggressively over the phone, asking me all sorts of questions and using "corporate" language. You need to get over that. That is the business world. If you want a corporate job, you're going to deal with "corporate" people every day. You're going to need to learn to speak corporate language. And of course they're going to ask you all sorts of questions- this is an INTERVIEW! It is all about questions! I think it is my inherent personality - introverted, extremely laid back, low energy. It is ok to be introverted and laid back, but you cannot be low energy. You have to come off like you're going to care a little about the job. You have to sound like you're going to give it your all. Low energy doesn't say that. It sounds like you need some confidence building. I highly recommend www.toastmasters.org. They're inexpensive, they're everywhere, you can sign up this weekend and start attending next week. They're very supportive, you'll become a better speaker and be more confident in all kinds of situations like this. You'll start learning that corporate speak thing and that "aggressive" thing won't see so bad- plus they're great networking! People from all levels and all kinds of companies are members!
Good luck! Tess
I remember when I was job hunting. I applied at so many different companies that I lost track of what positions I was applying for. One such company was the Walt Disney Company and I know I totally flubbed that initial call. At the time, I applied for something like 20 different positions ranging from Television Technical Advisor, Director, Producer, Media Relations and so forth. When Disney's recruiter called me, it was a shock because I had applied for the last 30+ months and nothing! But suddenly I received this call and I totally forgot what positions I had applied for. I was in the broadcasting industry so I know a lot of about television and production (behind the cameras). Next time, I will probably ask, "I applied for so many positions with your firm, what the exact position title again?" This way I can be assured I will not flub the next opportunity. "I was AMAZED the HR person called me and expressed interest in me. She set up a phone interview a week later with me, her, and the manager whom I'd be working for. I was caught off guard when they called, as they had only given me 15 minutes' notice they would be calling." You should always be ready to interview. Always. Your resume and job notes should be at hand at your desk or wherever you will take the call. They called you 15min. in advance, that's plenty of time to pull up your resume and the job details on your computer for a quick review. If you want a job, it's your responsibility to be ready. What? You didn't save a copy of the job posting or the requirements? Are you serious? Are you trying to be clueless? "Also, I can't stand stuffy business-like men who talk really aggressively over the phone, asking me all sorts of questions and using "corporate" language. It is really nauseating." Good thing they called you for an interview and didn't waste your time by asking you to drive to their stuffy, corporate office. Now that you know it's a business with people who walk and talk like businessmen and not a nursery, you can safely drop all interest and go apply somewhere else. This much you should have discerned from doing research on the company when you applied for the job. What? You didn't do any company research? Are you flipping coins to decide on where to apply? "I tried to be very professional and courteous over the phone, act interested and personable. I got a form letter from her, basically. A very nice form letter. Very nice and fake." You're complaining about fakeness when you yourself claim that you tried to "act interested" to people you "can't stand". It's quite obvious that your unpreparedness and bad attitude about the job and the people who interviewed you showed in your voice. I don't understand why you even care that you weren't offered a job at a company you seem to detest. You should be happy. Most job seekers are dying to get any kind of response after an interview. Even though you felt the email was really lame (or "fake"), be happy that they took the time to let you know you are no longer in the running for this position. About the rest of your posting - you need a SERIOUS attitude adjustment. If you want to work in the corporate world, you need to understand the corporate culture. That includes relating to stuffy business persons. Your negativity came through to them during your phone interview and that's what cost you the job that you would be "perfect" for. They obviously don't think you'd be perfect for it. The other posters gave you very good suggestions for interviewing. Take these suggestions seriously and PREPARE for your next interview. Save the job advert and your customized cover letter and customized resume, so you'll know what to say. Do your homework and be ready for the next perfect-sounding job. Getting a job is work. If you don't care enough to do the work, you won't get a job. WB It seems to me that this was just a case of them not being that into you... If they were that inflexible that they didn't schedule an interview at least 24/ 48 hours ahead of time, then they weren't really that serious about hiring you to begin with. HR might be required to interview X number of candidates to satisfy company policies... Just chalk it up to a learning experience and a chance to practice interviewing. I have to say that I feel your pain though. I hate job searching so much... I've gotten screwed by the process so many times it isn't even funny. As for some of the comments of the boards, I have to say that I'm disappointed by their tenor. Instead of providing good, solid advice, some of the comments seem nasty. Frankly, just because someone is po'd about a bad interview experience doesn't mean that they're always negative people in need of serious attitude adjustments. Totally agree. Rejection is an ego shattering experience, no matter how nicely it is phrased. I agree that it is always better to hear back than to never hear back, but that doesn't numb the sting any. Rejection is painful when it is a job that you don't want, but when it is the job of your dreams, that really smarts. Anyone who disagrees probably hasn't interviewed in a while. Best advice I can give to the OP is to put this behind her, stop blaming herself, and keep looking. Grape Pudding received excellent and realistic advice and feedback. Just because someone comes to a venting board to complain does not mean that people cannot offer their opinions. How they express themselves depends upon their posting style and experiences. Does anyone who is sensible really want to come here to just vent and not receive any replies at all except for validation? Does anyone who comes here to just vent prefer to remain uninformed, not enlightened and in some cases - totally ignorant? For the most part - people receive good advice here and they receive it for FREE. It's objective and sound and can prevent some of them from making serious mistakes if they pay attention. I sure wish these Forums had been available when I began a job search right after the Pratt and Whitney layoff in 1993. Perhaps things would have turned out better for me. I support everyone on this Thread who has tried to help the OP by offering intelligent advice and not just "Tea and Sympathy! Good luck, Grape Pudding!
Bunzo accydiva said:
Thank you for making excellent, inisightful points, accydiva. The OP started out her post with 'just have to vent.' That means something to those who are in a place where they can listen vs. react. While the majority of 'tough love' posters have good intentions - no doubt - sometimes they are unable to step back and hear where a person is at and not who a person necessarily is. The latter takes time and more than one or two posts.grapepudding, I am a strong introvert so I have some understanding how this 'process' of applying for jobs, interviewing, etc. can seem so overwhelming, superficial, etc. There are some good resources for us 'out there' and when I get a chance, I'll post them if you are interested. "...sometimes they are unable to step back and hear where a person is at and not who a person necessarily is. The latter takes time and more than one or two posts. " This is still a board about job searching, and it really doesn't matter who someone IS. Getting and keeping a job takes professional savvy, not just passion and being a nice person. People here are their own worst enemies because they seem to think their passion and who they ARE matters more in the workplace than their professional judgement and discretion. The OP made some very naive and foolish assumptions about his/her job situation and wanted to vent, hoping to hear some reassurance. You KNOW that last part is true. S/he is also free to ignore the good advice posted here. But no amount of dedication to a noble calling like working with sick children will compensate for good judgement and professional smarts. Frankly, if people are feeling misunderstood, they need to learn to develop a thicker skin, or communicate better through writing. | |
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