Important questions and answers.

Here are important questions and answers to those important questions.
I would like you to write down these questions (Or print them out) and give them an answer that works for you.

Tell Me about yourself:
(You can tell them about what type of career you are looking for, and you could dive a bit into your hobbies)
EX: My typical response for Art jobs are this...
I'm a recent college graduate for Graphic Design, I'm looking for a position in that field. Many of my hobbies include Drawing, Photography and making Graphics.


Why should I hire you?:
(Tell them your strengths: Hardworking, on the task at hand, highly motivated.)



Describe a time where you had to use teamwork?:
(Retail jobs tend to throw this one at you. Describe a time when you and a bunch of friends/co-workers teamed up to do something productive. Going to the mall with your friends and pointing at a funny looking giraffe doesn't count.)
My first time, I said that I went on a group project with friends who were all in the same photography class. We all went and took pictures together for our photography assignment.


How long do you plan to stay with this company?:
(This one is pure evil, just tell them that you will stay with them as long as you can.)


What do you know about the company?:
(This is simple as long as you know what the company is, if it doesn't, usually when they call you for an interview they will tell you the company by phone or email... if you still don't know the company, enter their phone number in a search engine and it should tell you what company the phone number belongs to)
Write three facts about the company and remember them, or bring the sheet with you until you go into the building.

Fact 1:

Fact 2:

Fact 3:


Why did you apply for this job?:
(This one is pretty simple, just tell them that you were looking for a job in that field because you enjoy the type of work, obviously if you like the work, the better you are with it.)


What are your strengths & Weaknesses?:
This one can be a good kill, I was thrown to the curb once for telling a company my weakness, but another company was cool with it.
(Just list a weakness you have, but then turn that weakness around with what you can do to help make it a strength. For instance, I tell companies my weakness is math, but I can use a calculator to help solve the problem.
Strengths are easier, but I am usually not asked that question. Just list some things about you that are strengths for you.)




Why are you leaving your position at you current company?:
(This one can be hard. If you're applying for a position that is in a different field, like if you are in retail and want to do a clerical job, tell them that you would like to pursue a career in a different field.
If it's in the same field, tell them something that the previous job doesn't have that this job will have. )
EX. My previous employer does not have nice benefits, but this one does.


What do you see yourself doing 5-10 years from now?: 
(This one is also evil, DO NOT tell them your dream job or goal... that is a turn off, they want to know if you will be staying with them or not. Just tell them that you see yourself in a reputable company that values professionalism, growth and advancement.)


Explain a time when you had to show leadership:
(This is self explanatory.)

Interview # 26: Get your floaties, we're going swimming!

My current job doesn't give me enough hours, so I went on an adventure and started to apply for other jobs... a particularly popular pool company took interest in me...this is that interview...

Also, here is some adventure music... you're welcome..

My 26th interview was actually a really interesting interview, I had two interviews on two different days, one on Monday and one on Wednesday, my first interview on Monday was a phone interview on account of the manager having to go to another store.

When I found out I had an interview for the company, I had pictured what the place would look like, so I was surprised when I found out it looked incredibly different and slightly like the inside of a garage.
The only person there was the assistant manager, the manager was out at another store for whatever reason. I was actually really excited that the managers were men; most of the time they are women, and I just think it's a bit refreshing to see male managers rather than all of the female supervisors and managers I have had, as well as interviewers. Male managers and supervisors are just rare, so I thought it was cool that there were some here.
Since the manager was at another store, I was given a phone interview. The assistant manager gave me a phone and showed me to the office room so I could have my interview..
The interview went nicely, the manager even said that I was what they were looking for.. and for someone who hadn't been on an interview for 4-5 months, I think I did well. the manager had no problem that I already have a job and just looking for a second one..
Since he liked me as a candidate, he said he would contact me soon.
I was contacted later that day via phone and was scheduled a second interview on the Wednesday.

I finally got to meet the manager, I was kind of hoping the manager would be really attractive, but he wasn't.
The interview was just as good as the phone interview, they were looking for someone who could be working in the day on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday... which was perfect because I usually work at my job in retail at nights.. so I could go there in the morning and go to my current job at night.
There was one part where he asked me if I was familiar with POS (Point of Sales)... and I said I had no idea what that was, but I do have register experience... in which he said POS was being on the register.
After more of the interview, he said the last thing to do was to call my references, which is something no employer has ever said to me before. I gave him my references after he said he would look at the ones that I put in online, since the one I had printed was evidently a bit longer.
He said after he called my references he would send me an email.

I have no idea if I got the job or not, as it is already Sunday and I haven't heard back at all. I'm guessing I didn't get it!

Edit: It's almost been two weeks and so I will assume I did not get it.


Lesson Learned: Even if you get a second interview with a company, it still does not mean they will hire you.

Let's work in maintenence

My third job lasted a week, and only because I asked to come back to my previous job in a mail room. It was a volunteer job in maintenance and the only reason why I took it was because it was closer to my house and a much easier bus ride; my main goal was to pick up garbage, scrub toilets and vacuum. There was one girl that worked with me, and she always vacuumed, so I had to do the dirty work...(Literally). The place was a school....for bad kids, the kids ages 8-17 would live in the dorms and they had school everyday, our duty was to clean the dorms while they were at school. It originally was a nunnery, which explains the old look it had and the creepiness to it. It was the beginning of August, so it was hot out and it didn't help because of the long walk from the bus, what was worse is that the campus was huge...so by the time I would clock in, I would be sweating terribly. My first day, all I did was pick up garbage around the campus, because they had nothing to do for me that day. I actually spoke to the woman at the desk and she asked me how I was liking the job and I made sure to say something neutral, so I said "It's something I haven't experienced before" or some jazz like that... in which she replied something like "Well, not all jobs you'll like". The way she said it and how it came out just sounded rude and I was as polite as I could be, I think she could have taken it a nicer way.
The second day, I had to clean the dorms... I would just spray a little bit of cleaner on toilets while my associate at the time would vacuum, she would tell me what to do.. but I feel like me being there was just an excuse so she didn't have to clean the toilets....
The dorms were very creepy and empty, some of the kids would have posters up or items of significance to them. One kid had a Chucky doll in their room, which was not a pleasant thing to see when you turn the lights on....
What I really liked was my break time, I would take an hour break instead of a half an hour break... because the campus was so big and staff were in other places far away, I would just sneak off to a table outside and read a japanese comic for a half hour and eat the other hour... of course if someone saw me I would pretend that I was working... it was just such a bad job, that I really needed an hour break, even though I was only supposed to have a one hour break.
Either the second day or my third day, there was nothing for me to do at some point, so the woman in the office let me help her move her office supplies around; which was actually the most exciting part about the job, I am an office person so I really liked it....even though it was only for like 20 minutes and then they found some maintenance job for me to do... I was like "Why can't I do this instead?!" XD
I also had to help pick up debris from one of the dorms... As well as help one of my associates at the time with the flowers she had planted the previous year.
The third and last day, was interesting as although I hated the job so far... I actually got to the point where I was getting used to the job... I still hated it... but I got more used to it so it didn't bother me as much... I had made a call to see if I could go back to my previous job at the mail room and I was able to.
I got one of my friends to tell the people at the school that I got employment somewhere else.
I stayed with the mail room for another month until they let me go.

The maintenance position was one of the worst jobs I've had so far and I hope I never have to do anything similar again.

I give this job a 3/10.