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 # 41 : I'm doing you a FAVOR Beeeetch

Okay so my 41st interview was in a general area that I've been on other interviews for, so I basically knew how to get there. The only thing is, the GPS made me do a U-turn, and made me wonder if  I could have went a different way.

The place was hidden behind trees, so it could be very easily missed! This company is a wedding favor company, that also makes other things related to bar ware, baby showers, and the like.
The position is called Graphic Data, which entails of placing images in Adobe Illustrator, to print out onto items. So if you want a mug that says "Butts", on them, they are one of the companies that can do that!

I was there 20 minutes early, and went in the building after 10 minutes. I spoke with the man, who took me right away.. I'm so used to waiting 10 minutes, that I'm surprised when the interviewers takes me right away.
I sat down with him, he was a very friendly guy, I was really expecting like a macho man (Don't ask).
He told me about the company, and explained it is a part time position. I told him that it's a great opportunity, so I wanted to pursue it. He was concerned that if I get the job, how I would balance it out with my current job. I told him that my current job, I could just work nights, and then work at this company in the morning.
Everything went well, and then he sent me to the Graphic Design department... *This is where it went down hill.*
I met up with the girl in the Graphic Design department, named C. I was sat down at a chair, and didn't know what I was supposed to do. They wanted to see my experience with Adobe Illustrator.  I haven't used Illustrator since 2011, and I wasn't a big fan of.. I always liked Adobe Photoshop better!
So, It was a series of steps.. make this red, make this centered, make this blue.. etc.. kind of like a short assessment on how well you know the program.
I ended up half-assing most of it, except for make the invisible layer, visible, that I knew how to do.. But I couldn't find the layers, and then clicked on something, and the girl told me not to click on certain things.. and then I realized that the monitor next to it, was actually connected.. and so the layers, were on the other screen. I mentioned to her, that I didn't realize it was on the other screen. The Illustrator I used to use, was nothing like this! She was clearly annoyed at me, and she said I could ask her for help, I told her that I was stubborn. I told her that I like to play around with things, in order to remember how to do things.
She then gave me a sheet of paper, that showed how they do things.
I hope I at-least got brownie points for knowing other things, such as knowing how to change the colors on text.

I was then sent back to the guy, and we went over a few things. He asked me how it went with C, I don't remember what I said. He mentioned that he would call me on the number, on the resume. He asked if I had any questions, I asked him "What's a normal day like", "Who would I report to", "What needs the most help", he wasn't too keen on what needs the most help, and I've noticed people aren't' really responding to that question well, so I have to find something new to use. I told him that if I described myself with three adjectives, I am Outgoing, Positive, and Creative.
I also mentioned that I was going to download a free trial of Adobe Illustrator, so I can play around with it. Hopefully he'll say that to C, and give me a chance. But who knows.. It was a really positive interview, well until the hands on training...

This interview was my worst fear coming true! I'm always afraid that I'll end up looking like an idiot, with a program, because I need time to get used to it. I've also realized that at my current job, there is a list printed out, on how to log into the computer system, to look up prices. All I need to do, is explain to someone in the future, just write down the steps for me, and I'll continue to follow them until I know how to do them by myself!

Lesson Learned: Sometimes the interviewers will look to see how well your experience is with a program, and test you.

Interview # 40: I'd like to mail YOU!

Interview # 40, is very interesting. I was applying fore warehouse/assembly line type of jobs, because why not, I really hate retail, and I'm ready to slap a bitch.
So, I applied for a position that said it was for shipping and packaging, but what I didn't know was... it was actually for a mom and pop shop version of UPS and FedEX. 

So, I get a call from an unknown number at 8pm, and I don't answer it, because I don't know who's calling.
I just got a new phone, and it translates voicemails into text, which I didn't know was a thing.. but shortly realized it was for an interview?! I thought, why would someone call for an interview at 8pm?! I didn't call back, as I didn't know what the job was at the time, and had to look it up... in which they proceeded to text me 20 minutes later, I feel that's a bit of invasion of privacy/personal space. Like ho, I don't know you. But when I read that it was like a UPS kind of place,  I was like, why not?

On the phone, I told the guy that I love working with customers, but wanted a more clerical environment.. since it involves computes, printers, copy machines... etc
We ended up setting up an interview for 6 pm, on Thursday.

The GPS sent me the wrong way, but I ended up finding the place just two minutes before I was supposed to be there, traffic got crazy right around that time.

I get into the store, it's this tiny store that looks, and smells like an auto parts store, which really confused me. I was given a paper to fill out, it asked what schools I went to, what my jobs were, what are my references.. These kinds of papers annoy me, I literally have a resume, a cover letter, and a reference sheet that explains all of this! But no, I have to take 10 minutes to fill these things out, and what annoys me is I do this online with numerous jobs, wasting my time, because I never get contacted after that!!
So I fill out the form, and I start the interview. I told the man that I love challenges, and I'm always telling people, give me a challenge. When he asked why I was leaving my job, I said I was looking for a quieter atmosphere.. in which he responded that it gets crazy there. But little does he understand how crazy my store gets, we could literally have 20 people on line, and 1 cashier... Like this tiny little mom and pop shop is nothing compared to that department store!!
He told me that they don't have benefits, which I told them that I have a health insurance plan on my own, and not by my current company.
When he asked if I had questions, I said "What is it like to work here", and he said that he pretty much just told me, that was a mistake on my part. lol 
Then I asked who I would report to, he said his wife, who was at the counter.
Overall, it was a lame experience. I wasn't feeling the job, mainly due to how ugly it was, and we were obviously on two different playing fields. He did thank me for dressing up however, and I mentioned to him that the GPS sent me the wrong way, he said that happens all the time!

Now I kind of want to apply for UPS, because they're hiring, ans their stores actually look much nicer!

Lesson Learned: Sometimes accidentally applying for a job, can lead to interesting opportunities. While, sometimes it falls flat on it's face. Never be afraid to say, this isn't for me, but also, never be afraid to try something new!

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.

Keep applying

The best thing to do when applying for a job, is to keep applying... even if you have an interview. Just keep applying; I didn't do this for a long time and I would just get turned down interview after interview.
But, once I got an interview. I would stop applying for jobs, I think it was a bit of thinking I would get the job and so I wouldn't have to apply anymore. But that's not the case, not for me at least and not for many other people either. By stopping, you're just slowing yourself down and hurting yourself by getting a (possible)  failure. You have to continue until you win, you can't stop for anything... well except if you get the job, then you can stop; unless you need more than one job.
If you do by chance get a job and still have interviews, just call or email the company back that you've obtained something else. I've done this before for a company that I found unsavory; had I known what the company was, I would never have applied for it. So, when they posted their website after emailing me with their interest and I checked it out. I found that I would NOT have enjoyed it there at all, because it was a religious company and I do not agree with religion, so I wouldn't have been very pleasant working there.
So, I just told them that I obtained employment... now I just have to make sure I know what their ad looks like on craigslist lol.
I also said that for the school I voluntarily worked at for a week.

One thing you must remember about interviews.

Here's some good advice about interviews, you may go on a bunch. But you MUST remember that you will survive, just like Gloria Gaynor! :D

Just remember, that it isn't YOU who needs them it's THEM who need you!

You can't let interviewers get you down, no matter how many times you fall! I've been on over 20 and I have not given up and I will never give up! I know I can get a job and with the experience in each interview, you learn things... like what to do and what not to do, as well as what you need to tone down and what you need to do more of.

"Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?

Oh, no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive, I will survive, oh"

You will survive! Obviously the people who didn't hire you, weren't meant for you! You'll get the job that you were meant to have!