job interview questions (paid, make money, moving, best)

[njsocks]

Originally Posted by sunny AZ

I was asked this is another post, actually. What I do is redirect the question, either turning it back on them or changing the subject. Examples:

How long have you been in Arizona?
Oh, feels like forever, especially in this heat. Is this your first summer? Man, wait until August...

Do you have kids?
Kids are great, aren't they? (Pull a picture from their desk). I see you have one. She's cute, how old is she?

What does your husband do?
Oh he's in sales. But he doesn't travel much like a lot of sales people do. Although travel is exciting and I have actually been to a lot of places for events. (I'm an event planner, so this is work related info)

If I need to ramble on a bit, sometimes that works too. They forget the original question. I try to make it sound "chatty" and it comes across very friendly. So I don't seem to be avoiding their questions. I also have some standby stories ready to go, some really good work related ones that are impressive. So if need be, I have been known to randomly launch into one of those stories. Gets 'em evey time.

In an interview, it's my goal to come across as personable and friendly. I feel like a lot of interviewers are just trying to size up your personality, so I let it shine. I don't worry so much about specific answers and I don't think they always care what you say. It's more how you say it!

My track record is that I always do great in interviews when they are face to face. Phone interviews are harder for me, but I do okay there. My challenge is usually getting in front of them to talk. It's hard to get past the resume stage.

Hope that helps!

THANKS sUNNY! I will remember that when someone asks me!

[sunny AZ]

Originally Posted by fisher33

thanks everyone for the advice. they ask about moving when they see my resume. my last position was in sc. they just ask - "i see you're new to the area, when did you move?"

Here is a thought. I don't list the location/address of jobs on my resume. I just put title, company, and dates. Maybe that would help you to avoid the whole "new to the area" question if you left it off.

In my recent interviews, I haven't been asked where any of my jobs were located. I think they just assume my jobs were all in the local area.

[fisher33]

medical university of south carolina is the name of where i worked.... ahhh!! haha, but thank you for the suggestion sunny AZ. even if i just put medical university, i think they would ask. i just need to come up with better lies. so sad to say.

[twixcookie]

A lot of people move, and for a variety of reasons. Any employer who would think it was odd you moved, for whatever reason, is living in the past. It isn't really their business if or why or when you moved. You can offer some simple words, but I wouldn't go out of my way to explain or it sounds like over explaining.

And remember, you can go beyond the scope of the job, you can work your butt off and do extra, but does it really get anyone ahead? I have done that my whole life, played by the rules, and heck, it is the people with connections who get ahead.

[fisher33]

update: didn't get the job. big surprise. they didn't even call. they had the employment agency call me. i told her all about the interview and she said she would call and tell them not to ask personal questions. i'll let you know if they say anything - probably won't.

anyway - job hunting STINKS. twixcookie - i haven't posted in your other thread yet, but you are so right. i can't believe that jerk/pimp/interviewer said all of that to you. i would have given him a piece of my mind right then. you don't need a job that badly.

[fisher33]

do you all think i should fire off a nasty email to the lady who was in charge of interviewing me or just not say anything? i want to give them a piece of my mind....

[sunny AZ]

You should write the nastiest letter ever, just to get it all out of your system. And then DON'T send it. No good will come of that. They will not learn anything that way, they will probably just roll their eyes and dismiss you as a crazy person.

Something like that could come back to haunt you in the future in a way that you might not realize now. I don't recommend burning bridges in this case.

[fisher33]

this will be my last job. i will work for my husband after we move back home. i want to burn the bridge right down. but i guess i won't. man, i'm really resisting the urge though. i have a great letter all typed up. i feel only slightly better having written it. i've gotten every job i have applied for except this one which is part of what makes this so awful. i wanted the one i knew i screwed up. why does that happen?

[sunny AZ]

Well...you think that you wanted that job. But if you did get it, imagine that it could have been really bad. If they are that messed up at the interview, it is probably not a good place to work.

Thank your lucky star that you don't have to see those idiots again.

[fisher33]

yeah but i kind of wish i had gotten it so that i could have "shown em"!! then left them in a year and been like ha. mature of me, right? (: