I feel like a "fake person" in job interviews!! (company, resume)

[gold dust]

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

I HATE the game. What's the purpose? They're not finding the best candidate this way. They're finding the best BS'er.

YES! I feel the same way. I am horrible at BSing. I hate interviews. I am a real and practical person. I don't like to sit there and talk about what I do, I like to DO. I hate it when people can go on for hours, talking about themselves. I have no interest in doing that and torturing anyone. lol

[sincere1782]

I definately can relate to that. I have had numerous interviews where I have spent 70-100 dollars in gas to travel to interviews being all upbeat and excited, because I really want the job, only to be rejected and broke when I return home. The job process is crazy. I really want to work for a non profit organization or anything dealing with social services but if it is going to be this tough then i might have to find another avenue. Being yourself doesn't bring forth much anymore these days.
I've heard stories about employers not even hiring at the moment they are posting positions due to freezes. Employers already knowing what they are looking for before you even walk through the door. Remarks like "you need to network because in reality "It's all in who you know." ect.. All I can say is be positive, and do a lot of praying.

[LoneStarJerry]

In some ways I'd almost rather skip the interview and just let them try me out for a week as an employee, heck I'll even work that week for free. If they like me then bring me on with a salary, and if they don't like me or I don't like the job then goodbye.

Interviews have definitely gotten old and trying to impress people is never fun.

[Ron.]

I am the same way, I can't stand when people blow their own horn. I really liked the part that I underlined.

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

I am a very capable person. Intelligent, resourceful, educated and experienced but I am human. For the most part, I do my job and do it well but they want to see resumes where you blow things into mega importance that really were just every day occurances.

I've always hated it when people blow their own horn. Makes me think they are not capable and just blowing smoke. I'd rather be real but real won't get you hired.

For example, I'm switching from engineering to teaching and they want to hear how I have all the answers. Well, no, but I'm highly capable and WILL figure it out. How could I have all the answers? I haven't done it yet. And any new graduate who tells you they do is full of it. That kind of self deception is determental to everyone involved IMO. But I can't be honest and say "I don't know but my track record shows I'm resourceful enough to figure it out."



(can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine?)

[maf763]

What would be an alternative way to hire if not through an interview process?

I've had to hire several people for positions that are very people-oriented, and an interview gives me an opportunity to see their interpersonal skills, which is probably more important than how much you know or have done. I'd rather hire a good team player who can learn than a loathsome wretch with a lot of experience, as well as someone who knows what they don't know instead of someone who thinks they know everything.

Also, confidence is a good thing, bragging/arrogance/phoniness is not. And even if you aren't right for a position, making a good impression has networking potential that can lead to other opportunities.

(btw, I've been trying to work the term 'loathsome wretch' into conversation for a while now, glad I got a chance to do it.)

[gold dust]

Originally Posted by j760

In some ways I'd almost rather skip the interview and just let them try me out for a week as an employee, heck I'll even work that week for free. If they like me then bring me on with a salary, and if they don't like me or I don't like the job then goodbye.

Interviews have definitely gotten old and trying to impress people is never fun.

I was thinking the same thing today! Just let me work there for free for a week and I'll show you what I can do.

[gold dust]

Originally Posted by maf763

What would be an alternative way to hire if not through an interview process?

I've had to hire several people for positions that are very people-oriented, and an interview gives me an opportunity to see their interpersonal skills, which is probably more important than how much you know or have done. I'd rather hire a good team player who can learn than a loathsome wretch with a lot of experience, as well as someone who knows what they don't know instead of someone who thinks they know everything.

Also, confidence is a good thing, bragging/arrogance/phoniness is not. And even if you aren't right for a position, making a good impression has networking potential that can lead to other opportunities.

(btw, I've been trying to work the term 'loathsome wretch' into conversation for a while now, glad I got a chance to do it.)

For people oriented positions, an interview is useful to view interpersonal skills, I agree. But to ask them "trick" questions to get them describe their interpersonal skills in that same interview when you can SEE what those skills are just by talking to them is wasting time, I think. I bet some interviewers may do this ....

[PG77]

These employers will ask you all these questions and tell you that you need to do this and do that, and 9 out of 10 times you won't even be doing anything that they are asking you about. It's a joke!

[Ron.]

PG,

At every interview that I have had, they ask the dumbest questions I have ever heard in my life. I often times wonder if they have read my resume, sometimes they have flat out told me they did not read my resume.

It sucks. I don't not envy anyone that can go to wlrk day in and day out for thesake of "paying bills". I'm 34 years old and I refuse to go through my life like that. I hope I live a long time, so I need to get another game plan because this jumping through hoops bullsh#t is not working!

Originally Posted by PG77

These employers will ask you all these questions and tell you that you need to do this and do that, and 9 out of 10 times you won't even be doing anything that they are asking you about. It's a joke!

[HDL]

And I agree! Many times the job description is so short, I have no idea what I will actually be required to do . And where I live currently, many of the employers that have job openings in my field are so small, that finding out about them can be extremely difficult because they either don't have websites or if they do, they are the 'bare bone' type .

I've found it very challenging to sell myself or get excited when I have no idea what tasks I'll be doing on a regular basis or even what the work environment is like ! Maybe we should all go into acting and put all this pretending to work ! LOL !!!