So my 36th interview, took place in the beginning of the new year, 2017! It is for a company that sells medical equipment to veterinarians. I had applied for an Office Assistant position.
This was actually my first interview that I obtained by applying on Zip Recruiter, as I hadn't really used the site before. (I've never gotten an interview using jobr, yet though.)
I was first contacted, and spoke with a woman over the phone. Funny enough, her name was Elizabeth, the same name as someone I work with at my current job. It took me a while to get in contact with her, as the number she left... was an automated voice message saying to choose an extension... she didn't leave an extension! First, I decided to choose the Customer Service line, which went to voicemail.. but it had Elizabeth's voice as the message. Then, I tried the department for "other" calls, and it was Elizabeth's voice again.. I finally chose another line and Elizabeth picked up... which was weird that all of their departments would be the same person! When I talked to her, she asked me a few questions, such as, what my graphic design experience was, and if I was bilingual. (I'm not, but I told her that I knew a few words). I scheduled an interview for Wednesday, (It was Monday).
The company is very close to where I went for my 32nd interview, so I pretty much knew how to get there.. in fact, it was only a road or two down! I still somehow managed to get lost, but in my defense... I was using a GPS the first time, and this time I used my phone's GPS, which actually wanted me to take a longer route, so I did half the route of what I remembered from the first time, and the other half of using the map feature on the phone. I actually did better getting to this area the first time, over the second! Ironically.
I have to say, the company has great, convenient parking! There's 7 parking spaces right in front of the building, and the doors to the offices are like 5 feet away. It totally beats retail parking! (On busy days, you may have to park all the way in Narnia, and this has happened to me plenty of times, and has even made me late before!!!)
When I got to the building, I was 10 minutes early. I tried entering the building, by pushing the door that was locked, and not the one next to it, that was open. I met with Elizabeth, and she had me stay in a room for about 10 minutes. I originally thought that I was being interviewed by her, but she told me I had to wait for the manager. I studied some lines to say while I waited, and eventually the manager came in, who was a girl.. and I was so happy because I'm more comfortable around women than I am with men (Which may be ironic since the only times I've ever been on second interviews, were with male managers). Elizabeth stayed in the room (In the corner), to accompany the manager, but she did not say, or do much.
I greeted the manager, and she started off by telling me about the company. Which was surprising because they always ask ME, what I know about the company... and in fact I had a list of things I was going to tell her, what I know about the company.
Some of the following questions may be out of order....
Her first question for me, was, why did I go to school for Graphic Design, but get a job in retail? I told her about my situation, where I got an associates in Graphic Design, and afterwards the school wouldn't let me advance until I started paying them. Which is how I worked in a mail room, an office and currently retail. I told her, that I got the job in retail to get some kind of money, and I ended up staying with them to help them out, and get my drivers license, as well as a car. She asked me if I remembered any of the Graphic Design skills from school, I told her that of course I knew... as I'm always on my computer doing something. (I do occasionally use my graphic design program, but not as much as I used to, as working retail is very draining for me... I never have motivation to do anything anymore, and because of the weirds hours, I don't have a set routine to do productive things..) She asked If I had any work, I showed her a demo page that I printed up.. and told her about my portfolio, which I haven't had much time to update. (The irony is, if I had a normal 9-5 job, I know I'd have time and motivation to fix these things.). The thing that bothered me was, I applied for an Office Assistant. So I wasn't exactly prepared for them to ask for my work, in fact, I have no idea where my physical portfolio is! I just have my online one currently. But if I had applied for a Graphic Design job, I would have been prepared.. they sucker punched me a bit, so that's also why I wasn't prepared for that.
She asked me if I was bilingual, I said I knew about 20 words in Spanish, and 20 words in Japanese, which her and Elizabeth seemed to find funny. I told her that I was always willing to learn.. and I explained a time where it came in handy. As an example, I told her of the time when I was on register and I asked this lady for her phone number for return purposes. The woman didn't know what I was saying, so I said "telephone" in Spanish, she understood that and told me her number...so I was able to utilize the few words I did know in the real world.
The Manager asked me what I do/did in the positions I've held in the present and the past... I told her, in the office I did things such as filing, faxing, scanning documents and I also put together cover letters and looked for jobs for people, as the company I worked for was a bit of a job agency for the poor.
She asked about my current position, I told her that I was full time home department, but I also help out on register, and anywhere else that they need me. She asked how I felt about answering phones, I told her that I love to answer phones, and I'm always the first to grab the phone at my job.
She asked me to describe myself in 3 adjectives.. now this idiot (Meaning me) does not remember what an adjective is, so I was freaked out because I'm like.. what if I say something that isn't an adjective? My problem is that I didn't want to learn in school, but once I was an adult, that's when I wanted to learn all of these things...
I told her that I was Kind, Energetic, Calm.. and she said that Calm and energetic canceled each other out.. so I chose hardworking.. because honestly, this is what it's all about...I'm just trying to let them know that I want a job.. seriously, some of these questions interviewers ask are insanely unrealistic!
I was told about the job position, the job title would be Office Assistant, but it would be a bit of everything. Office work, Customer Service, Shipping, Inventory, Graphic Design.. etc..
I told her that's just like my job now, I help them where they need help. A jack of all trades.
She told me a bit about the job, she said that they don't like drama and how they are a small company and they aren't looking for drama. I didn't care for this part, as I felt the need to defend myself for something that I am not... I told her that I'm calm and easygoing. I had a tendency to repeat the same phrases a million times in this interview, it wasn't on purpose.. but I was like "what do I say"?!
I was asked about a time where I dealt with a problem customer, I told them of a time last year.. where there was this rude lady.. by accident, I got sassy when I explained this story.. but I was only sassy when playing the customer...I told them of a time where this lady had a coupon that didn't work, and she was rude about it, so I got the supervisor over.. and how her friend magically appeared and she was nice to the friend, but not to us...I rang her up as anyone would, and she was on her way... I didn't go into detail, but there was so much more to that story that I left out.....
She asked how I was with stress, this was one of those cases where I had to lie through my teeth. I told her that I am great with stress, and that I work harder when stressed. This is lie, if I get stressed, I freak out and have mini panic attacks.. in which I am 100% less productive. But seriously, whose going to tell the truth with some of these questions?! If someone wants a job, they're going to make stuff up to get the job!!!
She told me more about the job, and it's people.
When she asked me if I had an questions for her, I asked the following.
* What is your favorite thing about the company?
She answered that work is work for a reason, we're not going to have fun doing spreadsheets.. but her favorite part is the people.
Which I thought was a dumb answer, because you can have fun working! The people part was good though.
* What area could use help? She pretty much said every department could use help... and she mentioned something about eventually hiring a part timer, I don't know if it was when I asked this question, or if she mentioned the part tier at a different time.
* I asked her what a typical day was like, she went in about how everyone has to work together and everyone chips in.. and there's not time for complaining, or something like that. Something she said, made me go in defense mode and I mentioned that I always get along with everyone, even if I don't like them. Such as the guy at work, who complains about everything. He complains about the job, the people, the managers, everything under the sun. I told her that I treat him with respect, and she asked if he liked me, I said yes.. and that the only person he doesn't like is the one manager, because she pushes his buttons.
She made a comment about how there's no room for complaining in the company.. etc..
She seemed to be really sensitive about drama, which was annoying because I felt like I had to defend myself.. it's just like, I get it.. you had a bad apple, but not everyone is like that, just note it once, and move on.
She asked me if I complain about people, I said no, and then she asked If I ever complain and I said no. Obviously this isn't true, but I don't complain often, and when I do.. it's with a friend.
At the end of the interview, she said that she liked that I was punctual.. so I suppose someone else was late.
I told her that I wanted to let her know of one last thing, that if she hired me, she would not be disappointed.. that I am a hardworking, detail oriented individual that always takes the extra mile.
I told her it was a pleasure to meet her.. and as I was leaving, I pushed the locked door, like I did when I was coming in.
At the end of the interview, I felt a bit discouraged. I did like the atmosphere and the people, but the constant bickering about "Drama", "Complaining", and having to lie about complaining or stress, really just turned me off. If I don't get the job, I honestly wouldn't mind that much, because they really didn't pitch their company that well. It's like sure, no one wants drama.. but to just constantly complain about complaining... is...well ANNOYING!!
Lesson Learned: My lesson that I learned consists of two parts.
First: Was that I needed to create a cheat sheet, I need to take a sheet and list three things to ask an employer, along with other things like good answers to questions and the like.
Second: Was, I have no choice but to try and work on my graphic design portfolio, I may not have the time or the motivation to do it.. but it's clear thats a big reason why companies want me.. I can't get a job with weird, outdated or lame artwork.. or even lack of content.
