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Okay that’s good to know. How easily can I turn the interview into a conversation (with legitimate questions of my own) with that in mind? Doing that always seems to work out for me and it gives me some sense of equal footing if both of us are conversing.
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Oct 26, 2020 02:53
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buglord posted:Okay that’s good to know. How easily can I turn the interview into a conversation (with legitimate questions of my own) with that in mind? Doing that always seems to work out for me and it gives me some sense of equal footing if both of us are conversing. I don't know public sector stuff, but your instincts are good here. Getting your interviewer talking and chatting is usually a good sign.
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Oct 26, 2020 15:21
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How is this answer for the question to, "What is your greatest weakness?" ? This would be for a secretary: In a totally new environment, I can be shy when I'm working with entirely new people. It used to take me a fair amount of time and effort to really open up to my coworkers in the past, especially because I was the new guy and everyone already had established friendships and relationships with their coworkers. In my more recent positions, however, I've been more proactive with reaching out to people within and outside of my department, and even began listening to a few introvert success podcasts which had really helped me to work on this. I applied what I had learned to great success and it's really changed the workplace for me in the past few years. I'm still a little more on the quiet side, but I am proud of what I've done to address it.
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Oct 28, 2020 22:18
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Just an internet stranger's opinion but I would try to avoid any discussion of introversion or disorganization for a secretary position, due to the basic functions of the job (even though you gave a clear outline of how you're working on it). Maybe something along the lines of "when competing and equally important tasks are necessary and due, I have a tough time deciding who to prioritize over another when the situation isn't obvious." Something along those lines - when everyone expects things at the same time I have a hard time letting anyone down.
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Oct 28, 2020 23:06
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Yeah that was my concern. I was considering this because I wouldn't have to make as much stuff up when interviewing and I figured it would sound more natural if I was honest. I'll make up something and craft a story around it. Thanks!
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Oct 28, 2020 23:12
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In my opinion this is fine, because it shows that you recognised a weakness and took successful steps to improve. I'd leave out the direct references to shyness and introversion though as you don't want this to be something that you get biased against for. Maybe lean into the angle of "I'm a bit of a quiet person, but it's because I'm usually getting stuck into my work" or something like that.
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Oct 29, 2020 01:03
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Sorry if im hitting this thread up so much. I retooled the answer and also have another interview response What is your greatest weakness? In prior jobs, I had trouble bringing myself to ask for help. I like taking ownership of my work, I like lightening the load for my coworkers, but at times I hesitated to ask for help when I needed it. At Bug Eaters Inc., my supervisor had approached me after I had made a preventable mistake and told me I needed to learn how to ask others for assistance when I needed it. It was a difficult change to make; I ended up listening to some audiobooks on career development and applied what I had learned by asking people to lend me a hand more often. I discovered that people are generally quite receptive and willing, and as a result my quality of work has gone up and there was a noticeable easing of the workload too. Heres the other, this is one I historically screw up for a variety of reasons you could probably guess and that im too scared to admit here. Tell me about yourself. I’ve had success in my current role as an admin assistant at Jorts United. As an example, I’ve drafted correspondence to employees and outside agencies on issues that require tact and professionalism, done plenty of data entry and file system organization to better organize the company, set up hardware and software for employees and provided some limited training to get them up to speed, even did a bit of HR work where I dealt with sensitive employee information after their termination. That leads into what I feel is my core strength, which is flexibility. Like Jorts United, my former jobs hired me on for a specific purpose, but before long I was branching out helping solve other problems and learning as I go. At Bug Eaters, I was intially hired on as a lab technician but was soon tasked with managing inventory for our plant and was trusted with placing large orders to keep our production in motion. My prior employers can all attest to me wearing many different hats and making everyone's day a little easier. How does this line up with what you're looking for today?
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Oct 29, 2020 03:32
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buglord posted:What is your greatest weakness? I expect to much of myself and others. Also, whores. -Jimmy Carr
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Oct 29, 2020 03:43
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buglord posted:Sorry if im hitting this thread up so much. I retooled the answer and also have another interview response In my line of work "Don't ask for help" is a real red flag. It might be less so with other business lines, but I think that might be worse than "shy". I like your "tell me about yourself" though. It's short and sweet, and hits some typically good points. Make sure you have more examples or can elaborate if pressed, I'd probably do that if I got an answer like that. Being able to give more examples would be extra special bonus points.
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Oct 29, 2020 04:36
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CarForumPoster posted:I expect to much of myself and others. Also, whores. Also, quote:Q: Are you a racist or have you ever been a member of the BNP?
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Oct 29, 2020 04:53
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My greatest weakness? Two: my nuts and my solar plexus. One good hit to either and I'm out.
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Oct 29, 2020 05:06
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Mines my glutes and hammys
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Oct 29, 2020 05:29
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buglord posted:How is this answer for the question to, "What is your greatest weakness?" ? This would be for a secretary: Unironically asking that question is the surest sign of an incompetent interviewer and a poo poo would-be boss. No useful information is ever gleaned from the question because every savvy interviewer comes prepared to bullshit the question. Unless the interviewee is dumb enough to answer it honestly. The fact that you're asking here how to bullshit that question demonstrates how predictable and stupid the question is. Don't overthink it. Just have a standard throw-away answer. The reason you're seeing poo poo-post comedy answers to your post here is because that's the appropriate response to the question.
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Oct 29, 2020 12:26
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Lockback posted:I like your "tell me about yourself" though. It's short and sweet, and hits some typically good points. Make sure you have more examples or can elaborate if pressed, I'd probably do that if I got an answer like that. Being able to give more examples would be extra special bonus points. Dik Hz posted:The fact that you're asking here how to bullshit that question demonstrates how predictable and stupid the question is. Don't overthink it. Just have a standard throw-away answer. Yeah I agree it’s BS and I hate interviewing in general because my experience with it has mostly been advertising yourself vs actually conversing. If I were hiring, I’d never ask these sorts of questions because it seems unfair and unproductive for both of us to spend time on them. I’m also hard pressed to get this govt/municipal job because I’ve been unemployed for almost 2 years now. Normally I’m a little more lax with this but the stakes are pretty high for me at the moment. How common are the “why do you want to work here?” questions? I can work on an answer for that in a bit. I am working on actually important questions too, like recalling my prior experience and how that would prepare me for this job, how my personality and work ethic lines up with this sort of work. That’s easiest because it’s actually something I can answer honestly and convincingly. I just always trip up on the dumb boilerplate questions because I end up having to fabricate some dumb answer on the spot.
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Oct 29, 2020 13:00
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BIG FLUFFY DOG posted:My greatest weakness? Two: my nuts and my solar plexus. One good hit to either and I'm out. dong too big, people can always tell im packin regardless of what kind of trousers i wear and its frankly distracting (for them)
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Oct 29, 2020 15:40
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Star is a decent framework for prepping behavioral interview questions: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situation,_task,_action,_result Prep really shines in concision. So make sure you aren't adding too much unnecessary detail or losing impact by going on too long in the middle. I never ask those "what is your weakness" questions for reasons covered already but I do like to ask about a failure or disappointment. Not really for the thing itself but just to see if they're willing to get real and if they have some introspection. Obv also don't get too robotic about it. I've interviewed people who are obv working from a script and it sucks. Often that is viewed as "over preparing" but in reality it's still underprepared. So don't make that an excuse or worry not to prep well. It's a hard balance to make your points but be conversational. Statistically, interviews are terrible predictors of performance and riddled with biases. So, also try not to let it get under your skin.
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Oct 29, 2020 15:59
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I've got an upcoming 3rd round interview on Monday. I think that the first part of the meeting is a final interview and if it goes well I'll have a second part where I negotiate with HR on salary, benefits, etc. From what I've been told by some friends that use to work at this company the time off amount isnt negotiable, the benefits are all cafeteria so you just pick and choose, leaving only salary to negotiate. The pay range for the job is really wide, it goes from $100-150k. I would be starting out in this particular field so I dont have that much leverage I dont think beyond the time spent interviewing me. Am I totally dumb if I throw out $110? Or do I just take the minimum if they start there? No matter what its a pay raise for me, and I'd be getting more vacation time.
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Oct 30, 2020 19:56
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I don't really have any input, just to say good luck. Can you do that job remotely from a houseboat?
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Oct 30, 2020 20:18
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if you have friends that worked there why don't you talk to them to anchor your salary ask?
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Oct 30, 2020 20:31
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Moneyball posted:I don't really have any input, just to say good luck. Can you do that job remotely from a houseboat? At least right now yeah, but these fatcat idiot bankers wont give me a loan for one or let me use my current landhouse as collateral for a boat loan.
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Oct 30, 2020 20:38
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Don't go to the minimum. If the range is 100-150, I'd ask for 175 and negotiate down from there. If you really have no idea you can ask them to give their market rate for someone in your position, though I'd assume they'd either bat it back to you or just anchor low. Don't start low and try to claw your way up. If you trust that pay range start on the upper end or even above the upper end. They won't throw away a candidate because the candidate asked for 15% too much.
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Oct 30, 2020 22:05
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Interview went well. As one of you stated, government sector job interviews are pretty rigid and there’s little opportunity for follow up questions from them. I did insert my personality and flair where it fit, got them nodding and agreeing, laughing a few times. I’d like to think I differentiated myself. Should I send HR (who emailed a few times prior about process questions) a short thank you email? If so, I’d imagine I’m only expressing my graduate (she wasn’t present for the interview and probably doesn’t know my qualifications)? And also if so, how many days do I give it? Semi relatedly, do any of you guys have (audio)book suggestions on career development, interviewing, job hunting? Preferably audiobook format, as that allows me to listen alongside chores, my evening walks, mindless exploration videogames. If it’s something really groundbreaking for you personally and isn’t in audiobook format, I can be convinced too! e: speaking of gratitude, thanks for helping me out with all my q’s. SA has been the best source of internet advice for me. buglord fucked around with this message at 00:17 on Nov 7, 2020 |
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Nov 7, 2020 00:15
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Thank you emails usually don't do much but every once in a while a person expects them so may as well send it. You can send it whenever. Just keep it short and just send 1. If you have the emails of anyone else in the interview CC them, otherwise you can say "Please extend my thanks to x, y, z."
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Nov 7, 2020 00:29
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Are there any resources or good ways to hire a headhunter? I have no connections that can get me hired and I'm about ready to just pay someone to find me a career.
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Nov 9, 2020 21:44
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Vprisoner posted:Are there any resources or good ways to hire a headhunter? I have no connections that can get me hired and I'm about ready to just pay someone to find me a career. Didn’t know headhunters work both ways. I thought about hiring a personal assistant to submit applications for me but if someone can do more that would be interesting.
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Nov 10, 2020 02:05
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Vprisoner posted:Are there any resources or good ways to hire a headhunter? I have no connections that can get me hired and I'm about ready to just pay someone to find me a career. What kind of job are you looking for?
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Nov 10, 2020 02:51
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drw posted:Didn’t know headhunters work both ways. I thought about hiring a personal assistant to submit applications for me but if someone can do more that would be interesting. I’ve heard of people doing this with up workers or pa services like https://getmagic.com/
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Nov 10, 2020 02:59
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drw posted:Didn’t know headhunters work both ways. I thought about hiring a personal assistant to submit applications for me but if someone can do more that would be interesting. You can also find local contractors companies in your area and connect with them. It's usually lower pay but it gets you a job and usually there are opportunities for coming along full-time.
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Nov 10, 2020 03:11
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Dik Hz posted:That's not really a thing unless you have some specific skills and are further along in your career. I'm assuming you're entry level, or else you would know that. I'm a recent computer science graduate, so I'm looking for any position that would pay at least 35k annually and use my degree half a gently caress. I've been job hunting for two years so I'm just getting pretty tired and desperate.
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Nov 10, 2020 17:06
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something is severely wrong here if you are actually a CS person and cannot find a job. i checked post history and it looked like someone was going to take a look at your materials, did that work out?
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Nov 10, 2020 17:11
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Yeah, the advice was totally sound. I condensed my resume down to one page and was working on how to get some more projects on git. The latter ran into snags due to lack of free time and not really being able to pin an idea down since I was instinctively chasing whatever technologies companies were asking for. Some time after that I was able to finish my CS degree and so I was pushing the "recent graduate with a 3.0 GPA!" angle hard as well. Sorry for all that being so scattershot, but plans have been falling apart and I've been throwing stuff at the wall nonstop to see what sticks.
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Nov 10, 2020 21:29
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Do some basic redaction and toss it back up. It'd be better to get more eyes on it.
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Nov 10, 2020 21:45
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Trimmed it down to most relevant experience.
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Nov 11, 2020 00:44
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Vprisoner posted:Trimmed it down to most relevant experience. Honestly, your resume is fine-ish for an entry level recent grad. I don't think it's the primary thing holding you back. Have you tried temp agencies? They can be a good way for a recent grad to get their food in the door.
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Nov 11, 2020 01:27
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Vprisoner posted:Trimmed it down to most relevant experience. Not bad. I’m on phone so grain of salt on this: You have a lot of white space which you can probably use to improve scanability. I like the layout but my eyes didn’t know where to go to see your highlights. Your highlights as you know are: -actual bonafide CS grad from a real school -have worked on project that made money and had customers Lead your summary with: Computer Science Graduate (3.0 GPA) with 3 years of web development experience. Nitpicky: NSF abbreviation should be in parenthesis Vprisoner posted:pay at least 35k annually Also I’m thinking about ending my python intern in December as he’s not learning at the rate needed to really deliver. PM me your github (we told you you needed one) if you’re interested in a part time python web dev job at ~$20/hr. Worst case scenario I’ll give you some over opinionated feedback. We’re an all python shop. Current projects are: web scrapers for gov data, migrating to AWS lambda, flask/Django website and dashboard, fair amount of API gluing. Dik Hz posted:3.0 GPA isn't brag-worthy. I'd leave it off unless requested. 3.0 is a rounded off B-. That line break between Clear and Lake is really grating on me. Convention is to use present simple and not present continuous verb tense on your current role. The convention is also to bullet each sentence in your job descriptions rather than having one omnibus bullet. Also, I don't think a 5 year-old NSF scholarship is adding anything positive to your resume. I agree it isn’t brag worthy but strongly disagree with taking it off. A new CS grad with no GPA listed usually means <3.0. People will, at least sometimes, assume the worst. This resume is middle of the pack for my entry level applicants. CarForumPoster fucked around with this message at 01:48 on Nov 11, 2020 |
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Nov 11, 2020 01:45
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CarForumPoster posted:I agree it isn’t brag worthy but strongly disagree with taking it off. A new CS grad with no GPA listed usually means <3.0. People will, at least sometimes, assume the worst. This resume is middle of the pack for my entry level applicants.
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Nov 11, 2020 02:25
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CS isn't usually a cake walk so 3.0 is not bad. It could go either way for you, as this thread shows but that's the job hunt 
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Nov 11, 2020 02:30
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I also don't hire for CS but do you have any other job experience, like at all? I usually like to see that someone can grind out a lovely entry level job, but I'll defer to the CS people on this.
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Nov 11, 2020 12:53
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Vprisoner posted:Trimmed it down to most relevant experience. It's not a bad resume, but I wonder if the double columns are causing it not to parse right if it's being ran through a resume scanner to get to HR. I also think that maybe a little bit about the results that came from your efforts might be good to include. Doesn't need to be a novel, but if anything you did had any tangible positive results for who you did it for, say so. And, yes, it's thin enough that if you spent time doing other work outside your field in the last few years, you might as well include it. Working retail or restaurants may seem irrelevant, but if you held them down for any reasonable length of time, it at least shows you're reliable and can maybe deal with people.
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Nov 11, 2020 14:38
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:I also don't hire for CS but do you have any other job experience, like at all? I usually like to see that someone can grind out a lovely entry level job, but I'll defer to the CS people on this. This is important for me. One of the first things I'd ask this person is to describe the nature of those jobs. "Has worked in an office before." I have found to be very well correlated with success for our type of service-based business. I got it as a piece of advice when hiring a few years ago and the few times I didnt follow it there was a big learning curve of how to manage time and work on a team of people with multiple stakeholders.
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Nov 11, 2020 14:42
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