Interview #35: Ordering Made Easy!

The title may or may not be a hint of the companies name..

Back in April, I went on an interview for a place that helps market restaurants. I actually applied for this position without knowing it, because I hadn't applied for anything for a week or two and I got a call from them, so I Was like sure!! I apparently applied for a Customer Service position, which I'm trying not to apply for, because I don't want to deal with customers anymore, but I'm glad I did apply for this place because it was one of my better experiences. The place was near another place I went on an interview, but the GPS sent me a different way. It made me a little nervous because I didn't know where it was taking me, but it ended up being fine and I actually got there 7 minutes early.

I got into the building, and I immediately saw two hot guys working next to each other on desks. One of them asked who I was, they got the interview lady, that I  had spoken with the prior week on the phone. I was sat down in a room, I had to fill out some paperwork and the lady said two other people would be in shortly. I finished the paper work and reread some questions and answers that I could talk to them about and then three of them came in, so it was perfect timing!

They asked me questions about the company, and asked me about many questions that I answered either well, or ok. I usually bounced back if I paused for a minute..not knowing what to say, I got back in with something colorful. They asked me about my current job in a store, and what I do there. I told them that I am on the floor, but asked to ring when needed, they told me that at this place, they're adding more people and that they have many doing more than one task. I said to them that I do that already at my current job, so it would be no problem for me, and that I like being a Jack of all Trades. An interesting thing is, they asked me about graphic design programs, as they saw I have the knowledge, I told them what programs I knew and I feel like I did poor on explaining my skills with them. They asked about a customer experience and how I handled it, I told them about this time in August when I had this nasty customer that had an invalid coupon, I told them that I handled it very calmly and did what was needed to be done. I left the part out where I didn't ask for a phone number, and didn't say have a nice day, but like no one wants a lady that nasty to come back! There was one part where I pulled words out of my butt, because what was I supposed to do? It was just a question about a customer that I didn't have an answer to. However, there was one question they asked about dealing with rude customers on the phone, I told them that I've never actually dealt with rude customers on the phone for some reason. They asked what my interests were, I went on about how I went to college for Graphic Design, and how I worked in a mail room and an office. I told them that I enjoy creativity, drawing, video games and tv. In which I told them that I was currently watching Daredevil, which is about a blind superhero and they all seemed like surprised at that, like the blind superhero concept. There were parts where I would ease up and just say something like that, which I think was good because it made me more like a person and not a robot who was just answering questions! At one point, my throat was clogged, so I said, sorry there's a frog in my throat, it needs to get out! And they all thought that was funny, so brownie points for making them laugh on purpose! They asked me who my least favorite manager at work was, and how do I deal with them. I said that my least favorite is the store manager, who is just cranky all of the time, I said that I just deal with it and do what I have to do. They asked who my favorite was, and I said my favorite is the one on my references; I told them that shes such a good person who will go out of their way to help people.
When I told my aunt about this, she told me that I have to be cautious about manager questions, so I'm not sure if I should have said I have no problem with managers... or if maybe I shouldn't have said my favorite was on the references.

I asked them what it's like to work there, they said it's a very relaxed environment, everyone's like friends and are friends out of work too. I said that was just like my current job as well. I asked them questions on how long the company has been there, I was surprised because they said 10 years and I was under the assumption that it was 3. I asked what their favorite thing about the job was, this was interesting, because they had very intriguing answers. The one lady told us about this job where she was looking up people's resume's and would find interesting jobs that she didn't know existed, like one girl she reviewed had worked for a company where she translated documents into different languages. I explained her that my friend did something similar once, my friend Karina, she got a job in an office where she translated things into or from Spanish. She had to leave because the owner was hitting on her, and told her he'd buy her a car if she slept with him; of course, I didn't tell them that part. I asked at the end of the interview, if there was a second interview, or what happens, she said that they don't do second interviews, they still have some interviews to go and will let me know next week if I got the job or not.
I realize now I shouldn't have said that, because it sounds kind of cocky, I should have asked them what the next step was.

The one lady set me out, and I told her it was a pleasure to meet her and she asked if I had work today, I said that I am off and I had made it that I'm always off every Thursday so I can make plans if I have to, like hang out with friends or something. She thought that was cool, I told her it was great meeting her.

I think the interview went very well, it was definitely one of the better ones I've been on. The managers were very relaxed and I got to talk about them like people, they weren't robots. I thought it went very well, unfortunately they told me they'd get back to me in a week and I never heard from them again, it's been a month and a half so I figure I was not hired.. which is annoying-ly weird, because I pretty much was everything they were looking for... they probably hired someone with more experience or something. It was strange too, because I got this very strong feeling like I got the job, I never had that feeling before.. and then a couple of days after the interview, that feeling went away.. it was strange. It's as if some strange psychic force was trying to tell me something!

I'm going to try and add them on Linkedin and see what happens, mainly because I want more contacts!

Lesson Learned: I don't really have one, I guess the best thing to do is you learn more about what to say every interview.

Interview 34: Why does this look so familiar?

Okay, so my 34th interview took place later in the day after my 33rd one. My earlier interview was at 10am, while my later one was at 4pm... it was in a similar area to my 32nd interview, so I already knew how to get half way there.
 Unfortunately, the navigation system messed me up at the last second... Usually, the GPS will say when you'll be close to it, when it says 0.05 miles ahead, that means get ready to turn... when it says the location is 0.02 miles away, that means you need to turn at the next turn.. but instead, the GPS said I was 0.04 miles away, and then instantaneously says I have arrived at the address...By the time it said this, I had just passed the turn to make and OF COURSE, I could not turn around because it ended up being a very long road of just forest on both sides. I had to drive 10 minutes out of the way, just so I could turn around and go back. By the time I actually got there, I was 10 minutes late, and originally I was going to be 10 minutes early. The fun doesn't end there either, when I got to the building, it was a big square that housed about 27 different companies. So, I walked around the entire building, just to find out that the place I was supposed to go to, was right by where I had parked my car.....

When I finally got into the office, I talked to the receptionist, and told her that my GPS made a mistake, she told me that it actually happens all the time. I was seated in the waiting room; it was really all one big room. The Receptionist was at this little dainty desk thing in the corner next to the doors, and to the left were some couches, a TV and a Table, but going forward were the offices.
As I waited, I had noticed that many of their decorations were not only bhuddist themed, but also many decorations that I have seen being sold at my store! I figured maybe they go to the store I work at all the time!
I waited around 10 minutes, and I was seated. The guy asked me a few questions, the usual stuff like where do I see myself in 5 years.. Am I good with a team and alone.. etc..
While I was on the interview, I realized that I wouldn't have been a very good fit. The job was for a consultant, and I would have been consulting people or something. I didn't think I got the job, and I didn't mind because I knew it wasn't the right place for me.

Lesson Learned: GPS systems aren't always correct and can screw you up! Make sure to leave at an even earlier time than you would have normally!

Interview 33: Are you a useless Potato?

My 33rd interview happened back in January, a week or two after my 32nd interview. I actually had two interviews that day, one in the morning at 9 am and the other at 4pm. I was contacted by a recruiter who will be referred to as "B", who said I was a likely candidate for a Jewelry company that was hiring. The early interview I went on, was for a staffing agency called Express Employment Professionals. I was late by like 15 minutes, but it wasn't a big deal because I knew I'd be filling stuff out for an our, in which being on time isn't a big deal. I was late that day, because I was sick and woke up with an absolutely terrible sore throat! I was like this is going to be great!!! I got to the building, and I took a seat and I was filling out their forms, half I didn't have to do because I had already completed them online. I waited a while and noticed outside of the window, was actually a corporate building for McDonalds! I thought to write down the information, so I could check them out as well, as I love McDonalds! However, I was not able to really find out how to apply for a job for that building, so it never went anywhere. When I was interviewed by the recruiter T, she was very nice and very bubbly. She asked me a few questions about my skills with Graphic Design Programs and what my weaknesses are.. she had asked how I was with being late, and I said I'm rarely late, but when I am, it's by five minutes. I told her about how I tried out Randstad, and how they were as useful as a potato, in which she bursted out laughing. She told me about this position near me, a photography company that would be hiring people for Data Entry, Graphic Design, Customer Service and I think Warehouse. I said that I liked three out of four positions, she put me up for Data Entry to just choose a selection and then on the interview with the company, I could make a decision.. She wanted me to call every week so they know that I am available... this particular position would start in mid March. So I called every week and half of the time, I actually talked to B and not T. By the time March came around, I spoke to B and she told me that the company had decided to do their own thing and hire their own employees, rather than affiliate with Express. She told me that she would look for something for me in the area.. that was the last I heard from them for a while, I didn't bother calling them because I WASTED A MONTH AND A HAlF thinking this people were going to help me..Weeks later, in May T texted me about a position, and I couldn't answer until two days later, I called them up and apparently she was busy so I left a message and never got an answer back.. So, basically, they are also as useless as a potato!

  Lesson Learned: I've really started to give up on Staffing Agencies, that's why I declined to go on an interview for two other companies.. I've given up on them, I really have! They are useless and I go on more interviews by applying for jobs directly anyways! Plus, staffing agencies get a part of the cut anyways, you'd make more money getting a job directly.