curious interview
Yesterday, I had an interview for a part-time position credit/collections position. The first question was if I had taken CPA track classes at my college. I explained that those did not exist when I went there. But, I mentioned that I do have a CPA license. From there, I started getting asked where I grew up, where I went to high school, what my grades were, if I went to college directly after high school. I also got asked what I want to be when I grow up. I was not asked what skills I could bring to the job, or asked about what I had done before. They want to check my references to make sure that I can keep things confidential. It was also suggested that I could to a three day trial period. Has anyone heard of such a thing?
I am very leery about taking a job on a three day trial basis, and my other concern is that they don't seem to know what they really want the person who takes this job to do. It went from being part-time to full time in a few years. I am not at all interested in part-time. I am interested in working something like 8 AM to 1 PM, and they wondered if I could vary my hours and work 8 to 1 and then 11-3. I guess I have never come across something like this before and I am not sure what to think.
Thanks
Flexibility is a huge deal especially with part time jobs. I would think that if you are working a job in which payroll would be involved, then the 11-3 shift on the days when payroll would need to be entered would be reasonable. This way, it would give the employees the opportunity to make sure that their times worked are correct and to get any corrections needed authorized by their manager or supervisor.
So, when you came in at 11:00, everything would be ready for you and you wouldn't need to track this person or that person down because their times didn't correspond with what you thought or what was listed as usual for that person.
I would presume that working 11-3 would mean that you wouldn't have the need to stop working to have a lunchbreak since most companies require at least 6 hours of work to scheduled inorder to have a 1/2 hour lunch. This would mean that you would have peace and quite during the usual lunch times of the full time employees and could do your work without being constantly bothered by someone.
For an interview to be solely based on your answers to personal questions such as where you grew up doesn't sound to me like one that was serious. If the interviewer really needed to know that information, you could have provided them with the telephone number and person to contact to get your transcripts. Or even to offer to get them yourself.
I also got asked what I want to be when I grow up. Did they really ask that? Idiots. At that point you should have said, "Not you, babe" and left. (not really, but I just had to say it)
I have heard of working on a trial basis, but three days is not nearly enough to base a hiring decision on. If it weren't for their other nonsensical questions, I would say that they mispoke and it is really a three week trial period. Which would make slightly more sense. Still, I was always led to believe that a minimum probationary period was three months. Which, at the companies discretion, could be moved to six months, then nine months, and then one year. After a year, it was either hire or fire.
Well, I was offered this job today. My hours would be 8:30 to 1, people seem normal, job seems similar to what I have done before. However wages are a little lower- I was offered $16 to start and $16.50 after 90 days. I would not be paid for holidays. On my previous position, I was making $16.60 an hour and was paid for holidays. I would like to counter offer for $16.60 an hour to start and then $17.10 after 90 days. Wondered if this seems reasonable.
Thanks
Cosmosa,
Comgratulations on your job offer!!!
Unless they told you that their offer to you was firm, I don't see anything wrong with trying to negotiate the slight increase in pay. All they can do is say no.
Just a side note: You are really lucky theat they aren't offereing you that much less. Every position but one out of the dozen that I have been offered in the past almost two years has been for between 5 and 15% lower than what I made at my previous positions. Nobody wants to pay you what you were making before, let alone the 10-20% increase they claim you should be getting to switch jobs. These people preaching that on these boards need to get real!!!
Good luck on your job negotiations!!!
I had a bit of a mess this year. I left a job of 4 years paying $16.60 for $17 an hour, but the job was significantly closer and the savings in gas was huge. Unfortunately, that was a bad environment, and when I was called about a temp to perm paying $18-$20 an hour, I interviewed and got the temp to perm paying $18 an hour. Unfortunately, the $18 an hour job got cancelled on me, and here I am. I left the job of 4 years in August, so I haven't been out of work too long. I do suspect I was underpaid, though, as the company of four years was only giving raises of .30 per hour, when they gave raises. There was a wage freeze the past year and indications were that it would continue again this year.
I think the days of 20% increases are gone. I was close to 10% when I went from the $16.60 to $18, but obviously, that didn't work out.
I am a nervous wreck right now, waiting to see what happens!!!
I am hoping that you will find something that works for you!!!
Update:
I got the job and the company accepted my counteroffer. Today is my 40th birthday, so I guess this is kind of a birthday present !!!
Cosmosa,
Congratulations!!! That's Great!!!!!
You are in the same line of work as me, except for the fact you have a degree and CPA, and I just have 20+ years experience. But, maybe it's a sign things are picking up.
Go out and celebrate your double good news!!!