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 #31: Trust me, I'm not a Doctor!

My 31st interview was actually a week ago! January 21st, 2016. It was for a Doctor's Office, that I had accidentally applied for. See, what had happened was... the previous week from the interview, I decided that I was going to apply for some jobs! But I didn't notice what I was applying to. I was just randomly applying for jobs, without paying attention for what they were for, my only concern was where the job was located. So, I ended up applying for a job that was for a medical receptionist, that also requested working at two different locations. For starters, I'm not a big fan of driving, so going to two different locations that are 30 minutes apart, is not my thing... But also, I am not a fan of Doctor's office's as they give me the heebie geebies!
So, I went on this interview, not wanting the job and not thinking they would even want me.
However, my friend Donna lives 5 minutes away from the interview site, so I figured I would stop by her house afterwards, making the trip there actually worth something. (Since the interview was 40 minutes away from my house).
I got the to the office and I had to fill out paper work for a little while, there were two girls also filling out paper work and I thought "My competition!". I didn't think they would actually want me, so I was a bit honest with certain questions on the sheets.
I was in the waiting room for an hour and a half, and I had noticed that the receptionists were sometimes rude to the patients! I was like, what the fetch?! I work at a store that has some of the nastiest shoppers you could ever imagine and I've never been mean, nasty or rude to them! I'd love to see these receptionist girls in a store! They'd get fired in a heart beat for being rude! But this also got me fired up, thinking if I get this job, I'll be so nice to the patients that they'll love me!

So, an hour and a half later, I am called in and they apologize for making me wait so long (The office manager had to watch an important video that was apparently, an emergency.)
I was interviewed by the office manager, and the manager for their social media accounts.
They tell me that I was exactly what they were looking for, they were not interested in me being a receptionist, but in fact.. they liked me for my Computer knowledge and Graphic Design skills! I was like... say what now!? I was totally shocked! Here I thought I was just one of the 50 people that applied to be a receptionist and thought my fate would be undecided,  and not hired by them.
They wanted me to help them with their facebook account, other social media accounts and even some graphic design!
They asked me a few questions about my skills and background, and I told them that I have a blog and that I have 500 followers on twitter.
They wanted to see my blog and my portfolio, so I gave them my blog link and they told me to send my portfolio link to them via email.. which is weird, because now that I think of it.. I could have told them the link in person.
They wanted me to go on a three hour trial as a receptionist, to see if I like the job or not. I just had to find out when I was free, and I told them I would call them on Friday to see my schedule, when I'm available. They however told me, that the three hour training would be non paid and that if I did take this position, it would be part time. But even though I was looking for Full Time, this was the experience that I really needed!
On Friday, I called them and found out they had already left for the day.... I'm used to people working 9-5, not 8-4.. I called them at 4:30, on my lunch break at work.
I was told by the receptionist to call them on Monday, which would be when the office manager would be back. I called them on Monday 15 times, just to get that dreaded busy tone! At the end of the day, I got an email from the office manager stating she was sorry for not getting back and that she would schedule a meeting soon. I didn't hear anything for two days, and then I got a phone call from another company, about an interview.. so I decided to focus on that company instead, since these guys decided  to drop off the face of the earth! I didn't get that job, but when I got home from interview 32, I found out the head Doctor of the Doctor's Office, added me on LinkedIn! Does that mean they are still interested in me? I have no idea! But I want to wait and see if they will reply to me!

Lesson Learned: Sometimes it's good to apply for jobs you wouldn't want to do, because they may be looking for something that you are skilled in! My old supervisor, when I worked in an office once told me, to apply for places that aren't hiring. This is because, some places are looking for talent, but they just haven't looked for anyone yet! This was basically the same thing, they were looking for someone besides a receptionist, but they weren't going out of their way to find someone!

Social Networking

With Social Networking being a big part of the world these days, it's always good to get yourself out there more. Lot's of employers check social media sites to see who you are and what you're all about.

I suggest creating a Business account for social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
It's also good not to use your usual account, as employers could find something about you that gives them a reason why they do not hire you in the end.

Your business account should only have things related to your coursework, job experience and other things like that. They should also apply to what you do as well... like if you're an artist, post some of your artwork!
Show examples as to why you would be best for any job in your field.

A blog is also a good thing to add as well.

Here are some social networking sites I know of...

http://www.facebook.com
 http://www.myspace.com
 http://www. twitter.com
 http://www.Chime.in/
 http://www. littlemonsters.com
 http://www. tinierme.com

It's also good to have a website/portfolio as well.