There is a company that I had applied for in August, and I never got back to them because, I could barely tell what the lady was saying on the phone. Three months later, I decided that I'd apply for the same company again. I could tell what her phone number was, and a few other things, but I could not make out her name. I decided that this time, I was going to call her back, and hope I can tell what she's saying!
She told me to hold on, and she'd close her door. After she did that, I could hear her loud and clear, I was shocked. She conducted a phone interview with me, she asked all the questions, what I did in my previous positions, what I was looking for in a job. She asked where I worked, and I told her that I still work there, and that I was on break when I called her. I also said this so she doesn't take a million years to talk to me, and know that I'd have to get back to work soon.
The phone interview was pleasant, until the very last question. She asked me a question that I did not know how to respond to.. The question was something along the lines of "Describe the perfect position", or "How would you describe the perfect position"... I don't remember how it was worded, but I just didn't understand the question. So there was lot's of silence, and me whispering (What do I say, what do I say..) She probably heard me, and thought I was asking someone for help.
I figured out, that I would say the perfect position is where I could be in a good environment, with good people.
Not to mention, it was a customer service position, and my perfect position would be a Graphic Design job, so obviously I can't say that.
After that, she seemed to get kind of snotty. She told me there are several positions, and she's doing phone interviews to sift through everyone, and she's not the actual hiring manager. I told her that it was a pleasure to talk to her, and she said good luck, and hung up the phone without saying bye, or anything. I found it to be rather rude.
Now I know not to apply for that company again, no wonder they had two ads within a span of 2-3 months!
Friday, October 27, 2017
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Interview #38: Market your life better witch!
I just wanted a Halloween-y title.
This interview was a pleasant experience, it was for a marketing company, not too far from my current job in retail. They apparently help out solar companies, as well as medical offices. I believe it would be helping out with appointments, when it comes to the medical offices, and trying to get people to switch to environmental friendly lights, for the solar companies.
I was sat down into a room, where there was a big meeting room, that had similar phones/ gadgets to my 36th interview, so while I was waiting, I was reminiscing.
The lady sat down with me, she was more relaxed than most interviewers in the past, (Except the last one, that guy was relaxed too).
The lady asked me to fill out a form, so I was filling it out quickly, because I didn't want to use up all of her time trying to make artistic letters. I fill out the paper, and the lady tells me about the company. So this is the third time, this year, that I didn't get asked what I knew about the company. All three places were smaller, so maybe that's why... but I'm so used to writing down three facts about a company, that when they automatically tell me about the company, it's like I remembered those things for nothing! But hey, at least I don't have to remember those things afterwards. There are two sides of the company, they either help try to sell customers energy efficient lighting, which they will eventually need, as everyone is using LED lights now. The other side, is, I believe appointment setting for various doctor's offices... so it's two sides of a coin, and she specified that some people might like/do better with one, or the other.
The lady asked me about my Graphic Design degree, I told her that I had gone to school for GD, but there were no jobs for it. She asked me if I wanted to pursue a job in Graphic Design, and I said that if anything, I'd do something on the side. She asked if I wanted to go back to school, I said yes, but a long time from now, once I'm financially stable.
She asked me how my friends would describe me, in three words. I'm glad for my 36th interview, as they asked me to describe myself with three adjectives, so now I'm always prepared! I just told her that I was out-going, creative, and Goal-Oriented.
She asked me about how I won the donation drive at my job, this was because I would always ask for donations, while on register. I explained later, that I didn't get as many donations, once I started working on the floor.. but I still get many, when I have to ring, such as yesterday, I got 25! Which now that I'm thinking about it, was 15, but I did get 28 the other day. I explained to her, that I'm a bit competitive, and I like to get donations.
As she was talking about the positions available, I told her about how I was taking two calls at work, and how I felt so alive being in an office.
She asked me how I deal with customers, I told her that I deal with them, as you would with anyone else, and you smile!
Overall, it was a nice interview. But I did forget to show her these two print outs, that I have of winning a "Smile award", at my job, and getting employee of the month.
She told me that tomorrow was the last day she's having for interviews, so if I got the job, I'll know tomorrow. I told her to let me know if I got it or not, as I like to know where I am at. I told her that I promise, that I don't bite!
Lesson: I chickened out, and did not ask her to give me a task to demonstrate my abilities, or show her the papers. So I think I need to learn how to work on that!
This interview was a pleasant experience, it was for a marketing company, not too far from my current job in retail. They apparently help out solar companies, as well as medical offices. I believe it would be helping out with appointments, when it comes to the medical offices, and trying to get people to switch to environmental friendly lights, for the solar companies.
I was sat down into a room, where there was a big meeting room, that had similar phones/ gadgets to my 36th interview, so while I was waiting, I was reminiscing.
The lady sat down with me, she was more relaxed than most interviewers in the past, (Except the last one, that guy was relaxed too).
The lady asked me to fill out a form, so I was filling it out quickly, because I didn't want to use up all of her time trying to make artistic letters. I fill out the paper, and the lady tells me about the company. So this is the third time, this year, that I didn't get asked what I knew about the company. All three places were smaller, so maybe that's why... but I'm so used to writing down three facts about a company, that when they automatically tell me about the company, it's like I remembered those things for nothing! But hey, at least I don't have to remember those things afterwards. There are two sides of the company, they either help try to sell customers energy efficient lighting, which they will eventually need, as everyone is using LED lights now. The other side, is, I believe appointment setting for various doctor's offices... so it's two sides of a coin, and she specified that some people might like/do better with one, or the other.
The lady asked me about my Graphic Design degree, I told her that I had gone to school for GD, but there were no jobs for it. She asked me if I wanted to pursue a job in Graphic Design, and I said that if anything, I'd do something on the side. She asked if I wanted to go back to school, I said yes, but a long time from now, once I'm financially stable.
She asked me how my friends would describe me, in three words. I'm glad for my 36th interview, as they asked me to describe myself with three adjectives, so now I'm always prepared! I just told her that I was out-going, creative, and Goal-Oriented.
She asked me about how I won the donation drive at my job, this was because I would always ask for donations, while on register. I explained later, that I didn't get as many donations, once I started working on the floor.. but I still get many, when I have to ring, such as yesterday, I got 25! Which now that I'm thinking about it, was 15, but I did get 28 the other day. I explained to her, that I'm a bit competitive, and I like to get donations.
As she was talking about the positions available, I told her about how I was taking two calls at work, and how I felt so alive being in an office.
She asked me how I deal with customers, I told her that I deal with them, as you would with anyone else, and you smile!
Overall, it was a nice interview. But I did forget to show her these two print outs, that I have of winning a "Smile award", at my job, and getting employee of the month.
She told me that tomorrow was the last day she's having for interviews, so if I got the job, I'll know tomorrow. I told her to let me know if I got it or not, as I like to know where I am at. I told her that I promise, that I don't bite!
Lesson: I chickened out, and did not ask her to give me a task to demonstrate my abilities, or show her the papers. So I think I need to learn how to work on that!
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Interview # 37: Cars, Cars, Cars!
So I had applied for literally 20 jobs on Sunday, and I got a call from this company for a customer service position that I had applied for. I set up an interview, and they wanted to see me on Thursday, I told them that was perfect because I'm off on Thursdays.
I didn't actually understand what the company does, and I still don't 100% get it, but they appear to contact car dealerships, to help market their cars, as well as show customers prices for cars.
My phone was telling me it was going to take 28 minutes to get there, even though I've been on other interviews in the area, where it was only 20-22 minutes.. so I thought that was weird. I left 40 minutes early, and got there in about 20 minutes.. so I had plenty of time to do whatever. When I got there, it was this huge building, and I started to worry I was going to get lost. As when I went on an interview in the past with a similar building complex, I did get lost.. and I didn't know where I was! The inside was very fancy, and I noticed that my college had an office there! Which is super weird since it's closing down completely in a year! Using my amazing map skills, I figured out where the office was located. (Which did take me time because the office I was going to said GL next to it, I figured it meant "Ground level", you can't trick me for too long! )
Now the funny thing is, I was practicing all these lines I was going to say, but the guy never asked them! I always write down three facts about the company, and just like my last interview, the hiring manager was the one telling me about the company. (So I wrote all that down for nothing!), but I did mention that it was to my understanding that they have an office in L.A... so after that, he figured I reviewed the website (I didn't really understand what the company was about, but I digress).
He did most of the talking, I explained that I had went to school for Graphic Design, and that it wasn't going anywhere so I went into retail. Which in reality, I do want a graphic design job, but I still want out of retail, and because I don't have experience, none of the GD jobs want me. He explained that the position wasn't a Graphic Design job, where as other companies have liked me for those skills.
He explained to me that the hours are 11-8, with an hour non paid lunch (Meanwhile, I really want normal 9-5 hours, and I don't like having to stay for non paid time.), as well as working two saturdays a month, I hate working saturdays! I'd prefer to work sundays, they're such a bore! He said that as they hire more people, they might take those hours, and eventually I could have 9-5. I told him I was still interested, even though that was a big turn off. He seemed glad, like other people must have turned it down after that.
He asked me how I deal with negative customers, I said I deal with them as I would anyone else. I told him that I'm a very positive person, and I don't really get angry, or sad. He said that it can get very busy, and I told him about one of the supervisors at work, who once said, once you've worked there, you can handle anything! Which is very true. I think I accidentally got arrogant, and said that this job would probably be a piece of cake. But he seemed to understand what I meant.
When I told him that my main goal was to get into a company that values professionalism and growth, and also so I get out of retail, he said he didn't blame me... it sounded like he wasn't a big retail person himself. I said that I much more prefer talking on the phone, than face to face with random people.
I asked him some questions, and he really had lot's to say about them. I'm so used to having questions to ask the hiring manager, that I remember them really easy. I asked him "What needs the most help", What's your favorite thing about the job/company", and "What is it like to work there".
He seemed to like me, and he even said that as well. He was much more laid back, and normal, over other people who were more prim and proper. But I was still very shy, but atleast opened up at certain parts.
He said that I'll know by the end of next week if I get a second interview with the CEO, I explained to him to just let me know, even if I didn't get the position, just to know where I am.
I'm very on and off about this right now. Like the guy is nice, and the people in the office were nice, although all men.. I get along with women better, we just click. Like it'll be nice to get out of retail, but I don't like the weird hours, but at the same time, the weird hours can allow me to look for something else while I'm there... there were some interesting companies in that building, and there are plenty of interesting companies near there as well.
I'll just have to wait and see, but I'll still be applying for other jobs as well.
Lesson: Sometimes you have to go the path less traveled, get out of your comfort zone, and apply for a job that's a bit different than what you'd normally go for.
I didn't actually understand what the company does, and I still don't 100% get it, but they appear to contact car dealerships, to help market their cars, as well as show customers prices for cars.
My phone was telling me it was going to take 28 minutes to get there, even though I've been on other interviews in the area, where it was only 20-22 minutes.. so I thought that was weird. I left 40 minutes early, and got there in about 20 minutes.. so I had plenty of time to do whatever. When I got there, it was this huge building, and I started to worry I was going to get lost. As when I went on an interview in the past with a similar building complex, I did get lost.. and I didn't know where I was! The inside was very fancy, and I noticed that my college had an office there! Which is super weird since it's closing down completely in a year! Using my amazing map skills, I figured out where the office was located. (Which did take me time because the office I was going to said GL next to it, I figured it meant "Ground level", you can't trick me for too long! )
Now the funny thing is, I was practicing all these lines I was going to say, but the guy never asked them! I always write down three facts about the company, and just like my last interview, the hiring manager was the one telling me about the company. (So I wrote all that down for nothing!), but I did mention that it was to my understanding that they have an office in L.A... so after that, he figured I reviewed the website (I didn't really understand what the company was about, but I digress).
He did most of the talking, I explained that I had went to school for Graphic Design, and that it wasn't going anywhere so I went into retail. Which in reality, I do want a graphic design job, but I still want out of retail, and because I don't have experience, none of the GD jobs want me. He explained that the position wasn't a Graphic Design job, where as other companies have liked me for those skills.
He explained to me that the hours are 11-8, with an hour non paid lunch (Meanwhile, I really want normal 9-5 hours, and I don't like having to stay for non paid time.), as well as working two saturdays a month, I hate working saturdays! I'd prefer to work sundays, they're such a bore! He said that as they hire more people, they might take those hours, and eventually I could have 9-5. I told him I was still interested, even though that was a big turn off. He seemed glad, like other people must have turned it down after that.
He asked me how I deal with negative customers, I said I deal with them as I would anyone else. I told him that I'm a very positive person, and I don't really get angry, or sad. He said that it can get very busy, and I told him about one of the supervisors at work, who once said, once you've worked there, you can handle anything! Which is very true. I think I accidentally got arrogant, and said that this job would probably be a piece of cake. But he seemed to understand what I meant.
When I told him that my main goal was to get into a company that values professionalism and growth, and also so I get out of retail, he said he didn't blame me... it sounded like he wasn't a big retail person himself. I said that I much more prefer talking on the phone, than face to face with random people.
I asked him some questions, and he really had lot's to say about them. I'm so used to having questions to ask the hiring manager, that I remember them really easy. I asked him "What needs the most help", What's your favorite thing about the job/company", and "What is it like to work there".
He seemed to like me, and he even said that as well. He was much more laid back, and normal, over other people who were more prim and proper. But I was still very shy, but atleast opened up at certain parts.
He said that I'll know by the end of next week if I get a second interview with the CEO, I explained to him to just let me know, even if I didn't get the position, just to know where I am.
I'm very on and off about this right now. Like the guy is nice, and the people in the office were nice, although all men.. I get along with women better, we just click. Like it'll be nice to get out of retail, but I don't like the weird hours, but at the same time, the weird hours can allow me to look for something else while I'm there... there were some interesting companies in that building, and there are plenty of interesting companies near there as well.
I'll just have to wait and see, but I'll still be applying for other jobs as well.
Lesson: Sometimes you have to go the path less traveled, get out of your comfort zone, and apply for a job that's a bit different than what you'd normally go for.
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