Awkward job interviews

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  • L_O_B_27
    Rookie
    • Sep 2014
    • 157

    #61
    Re: Awkward job interviews

    Just had an interview for a Payroll/Benefits Bookkeeper, and it was 3 older women interviewing me.

    They really were concerned how I'll be able to cope/work/perform in an office situation where I would be the only man.

    Really put me on the spot, and had to give a cliched answer along the lines "It doesn't matter man or woman we're all here being paid to do a professional job. I was raised to treat people with respect, and I treat people how I like to be treated, etc."

    Then they asked me how I would approach introducing myself to the people in the workplace, and I had to make up a spiel on how I could find something on their desk that we could have a connection over, i.e. seeing a picture of them at a certain vacation spot and mentioning how I'd like to go there, or they could have something from the school they graduated etc, and then I said when all else fails, people say I'm a good cook/baker so I could win some fans by making something for everyones sweet tooth.

    I had them laughing and smiling for the majority of it, so hopefully I hear something good back from them.

    Though it was odd I applied for the job in the middle of June, got a response the last week of July, and had the interview last Friday. I kind of forgot I actually applied for it.

    Comment

    • HealyMonster
      Titans Era has begun.
      • Aug 2002
      • 5992

      #62
      Re: Awkward job interviews

      Originally posted by L_O_B_27
      Just had an interview for a Payroll/Benefits Bookkeeper, and it was 3 older women interviewing me.

      They really were concerned how I'll be able to cope/work/perform in an office situation where I would be the only man.

      Really put me on the spot, and had to give a cliched answer along the lines "It doesn't matter man or woman we're all here being paid to do a professional job. I was raised to treat people with respect, and I treat people how I like to be treated, etc."

      Then they asked me how I would approach introducing myself to the people in the workplace, and I had to make up a spiel on how I could find something on their desk that we could have a connection over, i.e. seeing a picture of them at a certain vacation spot and mentioning how I'd like to go there, or they could have something from the school they graduated etc, and then I said when all else fails, people say I'm a good cook/baker so I could win some fans by making something for everyones sweet tooth.

      I had them laughing and smiling for the majority of it, so hopefully I hear something good back from them.

      Though it was odd I applied for the job in the middle of June, got a response the last week of July, and had the interview last Friday. I kind of forgot I actually applied for it.
      This is a red flag if you ask me. If you want the job, I hope you get it, but at the same time, that seems a little off for my tastes.

      Comment

      • L_O_B_27
        Rookie
        • Sep 2014
        • 157

        #63
        Re: Awkward job interviews

        Originally posted by HealyMonster
        This is a red flag if you ask me. If you want the job, I hope you get it, but at the same time, that seems a little off for my tastes.
        I was so tempted to make a joke about How I guess I wouldn't be allowed to adjust the thermostat.

        I don't know what it pays, but the one lady was breaking down the benefits and they sound pretty awesome.

        15 Vacation Days (Up to 10 carryover)
        12 Sick Days (All eligible to carryover)
        5 Personal Days (Use or lose)
        5 Immediate Family Bereavement Days

        NJ State Pension Plan, Matching 401K, Health/Dental/Vision Insurance etc.

        It's for a local school district which is among the top for a public school in NJ, so I know they tend to have their stuff in order.

        Comment

        • Speedy
          #Ace
          • Apr 2008
          • 16143

          #64
          Re: Awkward job interviews

          5+ weeks of time off? For a new hire?

          Wow.
          Originally posted by Gibson88
          Anyone who asked for an ETA is not being Master of their Domain.
          It's hard though...especially when I got my neighbor playing their franchise across the street...maybe I will occupy myself with Glamore Magazine.

          Comment

          • L_O_B_27
            Rookie
            • Sep 2014
            • 157

            #65
            Re: Awkward job interviews

            Originally posted by Speedy
            5+ weeks of time off? For a new hire?

            Wow.
            I don't know if they sweeten the pot since it's for a school district and the teachers are off from the end of June to beginning of September.

            Comment

            • Hockeynut99
              MVP
              • Jan 2013
              • 1328

              #66
              Re: Awkward job interviews

              I was on the board to hire a new teacher at my job. When he said he was a huge San Francisco Giants fan I said we found our guy. He was a great teacher but talked too much **** behind our backs. Should have went for the A's fan guy!

              Comment

              • Hockeynut99
                MVP
                • Jan 2013
                • 1328

                #67
                Re: Awkward job interviews

                Originally posted by L_O_B_27
                I was so tempted to make a joke about How I guess I wouldn't be allowed to adjust the thermostat.

                I don't know what it pays, but the one lady was breaking down the benefits and they sound pretty awesome.

                15 Vacation Days (Up to 10 carryover)
                12 Sick Days (All eligible to carryover)
                5 Personal Days (Use or lose)
                5 Immediate Family Bereavement Days

                NJ State Pension Plan, Matching 401K, Health/Dental/Vision Insurance etc.

                It's for a local school district which is among the top for a public school in NJ, so I know they tend to have their stuff in order.
                Since we are a year round school. We can either take off the Summer or work the summer and get paid 37 extra days a year. Or do what I do take one week off a month. The crazy thing is even with all this off I cleared 85k last year. I also been teaching there for 15 years now.

                Comment

                • youvalss
                  ******
                  • Feb 2007
                  • 16600

                  #68
                  Re: Awkward job interviews

                  Originally posted by Dave_S
                  I used to be in military. I swear I've had at least 10 lengthy crazy awkward interviews for security clearance paperwork.
                  No need to swear, we can check this with a polygraph.
                  My Specs:

                  ZX Spectrum
                  CPU: Z80 @ 3.5 MHz
                  GPU: Monochrome display
                  RAM: 48 KB
                  OS: Sinclair BASIC

                  Comment

                  • Speedy
                    #Ace
                    • Apr 2008
                    • 16143

                    #69
                    Re: Awkward job interviews

                    Originally posted by Dave_S
                    I had pretty awkward interview to keep my job. Had to take a polygraph. That was certainly awkward for me!
                    Hmm.

                    Do you watch Melrose Place?



                    ...no?

                    Let's put him on the poly. I think you've seen it.
                    Originally posted by Gibson88
                    Anyone who asked for an ETA is not being Master of their Domain.
                    It's hard though...especially when I got my neighbor playing their franchise across the street...maybe I will occupy myself with Glamore Magazine.

                    Comment

                    • Dave_S
                      Dave
                      • Apr 2016
                      • 7835

                      #70
                      Re: Awkward job interviews

                      Originally posted by youvalss
                      No need to swear, we can check this with a polygraph.
                      Lol. That's not true. One of old my co-workers lost their clearance for passing the polygraph too well.
                      Originally posted by Speedy
                      Hmm.

                      Do you watch Melrose Place?



                      ...no?

                      Let's put him on the poly. I think you've seen it.
                      I watched a couple episodes of the original one back in the day.

                      Comment

                      • Speedy
                        #Ace
                        • Apr 2008
                        • 16143

                        #71
                        Re: Awkward job interviews

                        Originally posted by Dave_S
                        I watched a couple episodes of the original one back in the day.
                        It was a Seinfeld reference.

                        Spoiler
                        Last edited by Speedy; 08-07-2017, 09:18 PM.
                        Originally posted by Gibson88
                        Anyone who asked for an ETA is not being Master of their Domain.
                        It's hard though...especially when I got my neighbor playing their franchise across the street...maybe I will occupy myself with Glamore Magazine.

                        Comment

                        • Dave_S
                          Dave
                          • Apr 2016
                          • 7835

                          #72
                          Re: Awkward job interviews

                          I remember that episode now.

                          Thing I didn't like about it was I have anxiety, and some of the questions they asked are tricky.

                          Comment

                          • youvalss
                            ******
                            • Feb 2007
                            • 16600

                            #73
                            Re: Awkward job interviews

                            "It's not a lie if you believe it". This is probably the best advice you can ever have before a job interview.
                            My Specs:

                            ZX Spectrum
                            CPU: Z80 @ 3.5 MHz
                            GPU: Monochrome display
                            RAM: 48 KB
                            OS: Sinclair BASIC

                            Comment

                            • Dave_S
                              Dave
                              • Apr 2016
                              • 7835

                              #74
                              Re: Awkward job interviews

                              Originally posted by youvalss
                              "It's not a lie if you believe it". This is probably the best advice you can ever have before a job interview.
                              As long as you're not interviewing for a job as a pilot of surgeon

                              Comment

                              • youvalss
                                ******
                                • Feb 2007
                                • 16600

                                #75
                                Re: Awkward job interviews

                                Originally posted by Dave_S
                                As long as you're not interviewing for a job as a pilot of surgeon
                                Not the end of the world...

                                "That's no tragedy! How many people do you lose on a normal cruse? 30? 40?!"
                                My Specs:

                                ZX Spectrum
                                CPU: Z80 @ 3.5 MHz
                                GPU: Monochrome display
                                RAM: 48 KB
                                OS: Sinclair BASIC

                                Comment

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