Interview # 45: Traffic Cone of EVIL!!

So, on my way to this interview... It was the day after a terrible snow storm, and I was going to be there in five minutes.. when I had to dodge this evil traffic cone! It was in the middle of the road, I assume due to the snow storm. I was so distracted about dodging the cone, that I didn't realize I had just passed a red light. I immediately stopped after I was in the clear.. I hope I didn't get a ticket! I took pictures just in case.

The traffic light is shortly after, and on a 40 MPH road!
I got this interview through networking, so this is my first networking interview. As one of the ladies I work with, is friends with a woman who owns a printing company. They're always looking for Graphic Designers.

On the interview, I was actually disappointed in how boring the office looked.. I was surprised that they were graphic designers, since it's just an ugly looking inside, and an ugly company logo. But then again, I'm more about the pizazz!

I had to fill out a form, which took some time, and had some really pointed questions towards people being fired. Like "If you were terminated, why?" "If you left due to mutual agreement with your previous employer, why?" which I didn't understand what that meant, did it mean they understood you were leaving, or what..Some of them were really strange questions.

I was sat down with my co-worker's friend, and her husband. Her friend is very nice, as she had mentioned. I didn't really get to answer many questions, and it was more the husband, who interviewed me. They both kind of just skimmed through my portfolio, and skipped some categories (as I label sections in my portfolio, such as abstract, and drawings... etc.). But at least they were nice, unlike someone from a Previous Graphic Design Interview.
They did give me tips on what I should do for my next interview, which made it sound like they didn't like me at all. But I felt like he was trying not to laugh, or something of the sort. I think they really hated my work, they understood that I didn't have work experience in Graphic Design.. but I really don't think they took it well.
For a moment, the husband asked me some customer service questions out of the blue. I said that you have to put on a smile, and give your best customer service attitude.
They gave me some tips, and then I was on my way.

Normally, I'm ready to answer a million questions, but because it was different this time, and it was mostly about graphic design, I was put off guard. I feel the interview didn't go too well. But this is also why I don't apply for Graphic Design jobs anymore,  I don't have the experience, so no one wants to try me out in the first place!

Interview # 44: GPS can't fool me now!

This company was near the company I went on my 34th interview on. Which is funny because, on my 34th interview, I had to turn around 10 minutes out of my way, to go back 10 minutes and ended up being late.. if the GPS had been correct, I would have been early. So I realized I was getting near that area, and I said, you can't fool me twice! So I was able to enter the building of the place I went on an interview 3 years ago, and was able to turn around to this interview.. which in fact, the buildings were next to each other.

 I got to the building, and realized I went through the employee entrance, so I turned the corner to find a little waiting room. But no one was there! I rang the bell, and no one answered. So I spoke to the lady on the phone, and maybe 5 minutes later, the interviewer came. The interview went well, but it was short, she still covered all the basics. It was about 5-10 minutes. She told me how the company is, she asked about me. I said I went to school for Graphic Design, and decided it wasn't what I was looking for, so I got a temporary office job and then retail. (Which is not true, I still want a graphic design job, but I think I will have to put that on hold for now, since I don't have experience.) She then said, you want to get out of retail to get into an office position (She mentioned she had worked retail as well). I said yes, although I should have said private sector, since it's like a warehouse setting.

 She asked me how I get along with odd people (This isn't a typo, she said ODD not OLD. lmao), I told her I get along with everyone. She also said that everyone is like a family back there, I told her that it's always better when everyone forms a strong bond. She asked if I had questions for her, the third question I forgot and I told her that the question escaped me and I would think about it as I was talking. I had to hand her some papers that I was asked to fill out, and remembered it by then. (I was thinking to myself later, I ask these same questions every time, and I conveniently forget one of them EVERY TIME.)I asked her what it's like to work there, what's her favorite thing about the job, and then the one I forgot was.. who would I report to. But other than that, I think it went well. She said I'd know next week, I told her I would appreciate knowing either way. I think it went okay, except for me agreeing to wanting an office job, and forgetting what I was going to ask her. It was rather short, which concerns me.

 Lesson Learned: Never forget to get there early, you have no idea if the building is going to be trouble to get to. As well as the fact that some places have multiple companies, and could be a bit confusing to find the right company.

Interview # 43: Yak yak yak, why ya talking all the time!?

The title is a reference to the game, Kya: Dark Lineage, which really fits this interview.

As I'm writing this, I already know I didn't get the job, as I asked the lady to send me an email if I got it or not.

 I had applied for a position on a Sunday, and I got an email hours later requesting for an interview. The next day, I got TWO emails in an hour from them, requesting an interview, I was like geez lady, calm down.

 So this is the first time I went on an interview, and forgot my portfolio, with my resume, cover letter.. etc.. I've never forgotten it before! The funny thing is, the last 5 interviews I've been on, the interviewer didn't want to see it, so I was hoping I wouldn't need it. It worked out because she was talking about how people don't like phone calls, and everyone does emails, so I told her I would email my references when I got home. Apparently it was me vs one other person. It was mostly just her talking about the job the whole time.... She went on.... and on... and on... and she even mentioned she talks so much. It was hard to get two words in, because I felt like I was being rude, and interrupting. I just told her that I am on the shy side, but open up and she said that she expects that from everyone, because they don't know each other yet. Then I said three adjectives I would describe myself in. This was the first time, the interviewer didn't write those down.. they always write down my list of three adjectives. She was really nice, I just didn't get to say much.... She asked me salary range, I said around 14, an hour, but it's negotiable. She told me they have vacation days, 401k. She said in a week or two, but I wouldn't start until March because they're updating their systems to Sage, which I later found out was a math program. I am terrible at math, so probably a good thing I didn't get it.

 She told me she wanted to hire a guy, because one of her girls is leaving due to pregnancy, so she wants a guy because they can't get pregnant. I told her I promise I won't get pregnant. Which is rather sexist. Because she basically only hired girls before, which is sexist, and now she only wants a guy, which is also sexist! I don't mind that I didn't get the job because, I felt like the job would have been boring. But the thing is, she did most of the talking, so I don't know what I could have done differently, like other interviews gave me time to comment... but she really didn't.

 Lesson Learned: Sometimes, the interviewer talks too much!

Interview # 42 Planogramming your life!

So I probably got a traffic light ticket, on my way to this job.... So If I don't get it, I should sue! :P jk

 I was interviewed by a girl that was like my age (whom I later found on Linkedin, and maybe they'll add me one day!).

The company was a graphic design company, that creates planograms for stores like Walmart. She asked me why I was leaving, I said I wanted to leave retail, and go to the private sector. (I got the idea from the Golden Girls episode, where they help one of the characters get a job, and they mention the private sector. Which is basically a non government job)
The girl said that, 26,000-30,000 was the salary depending on experience and that there's room to grow. Which in english, is about 14-16 an hour. (I hate when people use what you make in a year, I need to know how much I'm making a week, and a month because my bills are MONTHLY.) For questions, I asked the following.

 • What is it like to work there.
• What is your favorite thing about the position.
• Who would I report to. People get weird with this last question, so now I say, would I report to you, or someone else?

She liked that I had graphic design experience and experience with Zebra systems, which are scan guns, and printers used at my store! She said everyone there is nice and I said it's always good when everyone gets along. I told her to let me know if I get the position either way, she could even email me. I don't think I got the job, since it's been about two weeks. Then I always tell them at the end, if I were to describe myself in three adjectives, it would be creative, energetic and optimistic. At the end I told her that I was shy, but I open up to people once I get to know them. This way if I seemed tense, it would help. I think it went well.

 Lesson Learned: Even if you leave 40 minutes earlier, there could still be many slow pokes on the road, causing you to run a red light and get a ticket for it.