I've been going on lots of interviews for a full time job lately - hence my irratic blogging. And while for the most part they've been interesting and at times fun, sometimes I come away from the experience with a ferverent prayer - that I won't get the job. Like "Dear Lord, please let me have not been too personable...please let my experience not match up to their requirements...please let my fly have been open the entire time."
Normally a job candidate is nervous and hopeful that the job is perfect for them. Not me. I have been through enough crap jobs in my life to know that there is no such thing as a perfect job. Even if I WAS in my ideal perfect job - getting paid vast amounts of cash to write or possibly sleep with George Clooney or Pierce Brosnan, or both - there are going to be drawbacks. For example Pierce may be a bit of a blanket hog or George may have back hair. Eww. Can you imagine that? Actually, it would still be hot on some level.
I degress. Badly. My point is that I'm not going in to interview with huge expectations. I just want to find a nice place to work that is relatively close to midtown, allows me to leave at 5:30 so I can get to acting class and/or Happy Hour on time, and pays my bills. So WHY do they ask me "what is it about this job that interests you..and be honest?" Be honest??! Uh, I just told you guy. I hate being homeless?? Time Warner gets pissy when you stop paying your bills? I'm interested in it because you're hiring and clearly if you've got my ass in here all dressed up in a suit then I must on some level be interested. "I need a job." How's that for being honest.
I also love the "what do you want to be doing in 5 years" and "what are your best qualities" questions. 5 years? In 5 years I want to be far far far away from anything resembling a corporate job, and my best qualities are that I can look unbelievably stressed and busy when in actuality all I am doing is IMing and serfing Ebay for theatre tickets. What possible use are those questions? How come no one ever asks "How do you feel when you find out that there is free food in the conference room but all that is left is egg salad sandwiches." or "Do you still office supplies?"
I guess the answer is to keep on interviewing, being honest, and hope that when that call comes in to sleep with Pierce Brosnan, that I'll be ready.
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2 comments:
Maybe not *that* honest, Gayle! But I know the feeling. Unfortunately, I have been told too many times that I have to decide what I want be be doing in 5-10 years, and I don't really know. Do I really have to grow up???
Also, thanks for putting my search for my next assignment in perspective. I guess I have it good - multiple offers for jobs, none of which I really want, but I have to choose one.
Good luck!
The worst question they ask on job interviews is not "what are your best qualities" it's "what are your worst qualities". This forces you to say something like, "Sometimes, I really just am too much of a perfectionist", because you're not going to say, "well, I have a tough time dealing with authority and I like to surf the web and IM all day...".
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