Official Off Topic Thread

Kenneth R. said:
I know that there's no point in this rant, but I feel deeply offended by the means American businesses conduct themselves in regard to potential employees. Not only do you have to apply, you must also whore yourself to the company by calling back repeatedly, sending thank you notes and gifts, and generally debase yourself before the altar of their commercial indifference. I have yet to find a single company that gives even a modicum of concern to extend themselves half way to meet the potential employee in the process.

Like I said, I realize that asking that they treat me as a human being, with the minimum respect one should treat strangers met, would be an absurd request (that it is absurd and I know it is another outrage entirely). Yet all the effort is weighed upon the potential employee. Even for high school grads seeking college acceptance, the new game of "bribe us more than the other applicants and you'll be noticed" applies. How twisted and corrupt has this country become? I should not be surprised. I am not. I am, however, irritated.

What happened to the days when a man could approach an employer seeking assistance and shake his/her hand, say "I'm looking for a job, I'm willing to work hard" answer a few questions, and immediately begin? I should have been born in that era.
Click to expand...

That is actually an excellent point and in some ways I have wondered why companies do that. At my interview, I made it perfectly clear why I am perfectly qualified. I don't have any experience working in book stores, but at my last job I learned almost everything in under a week. Not to mention there was a hell of a lot more pressure on perfection because screwing up expensive tires and rims can cost you a weeks pay for the damage.

I never once complained about anything and busted my fucking ass off for the entire time I worked there, even coming in on my days off to help the other guys out on busy days. When I got sick with strep throat and the stomach flu I still came!

You would think this is what employers are looking for, but think again! It comes down to how well you give a blow job. That's the only conclusion I could come up with after seeing the fuckwits employers hire!:mad:
 
I have never been late for work. Ever. I have come in on a moments notice to fill in for other, flakey employees. I've gone over the top every day in work ethic. But since none of my previous jobs apply to engineering, I still have no experience and that makes me a big "no" in their eyes.
 
What pisses me off is how we're supposed to call & send postcards & letters & jump through hoops, but most companies can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and let you know that someone else got the job, they just leave you hanging. What a bunch of crap.
 
Jax said:
What pisses me off is how we're supposed to call & send postcards & letters & jump through hoops, but most companies can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and let you know that someone else got the job, they just leave you hanging. What a bunch of crap.
Click to expand...

OK, here is a good one.

Last year my dad applied for a job at the FAA. 5 months later, he thought he didn't get it because he heard nothing from them. We decided to then look for a house. On the SAME day we where going to put a down payment on a house they called and offered him the job in Indiana.:guh: They interviewed 20 people for it and it took them 5 months to decide!? A lot can happen in 5 months. Not even so much as a call happened.
 
All right, guys, I need your help!

I have looked everywhere online to find Lemur Voice's Divided album, but I cannot find a single place that delivers to Canada. The only place I actually found the album available was on ebay.ca, but the seller doesn't deliver to Canada! I find it nearly impossible to believe that there is NOWHERE I can get this album. I have their Insights album and it is one of my fave albums of all time... I need the other! Please help!

Thanks in advance for any info :)
 
Ken, how does your resume look? Perhaps an update or different approach can open some doors. Are you only looking around the NE area, or are you open to moving anywhere?

And bribery isn't much of a good hiring principle. If the manager only hires you because of bribes, I wouldn't want to work for that manager. A token of your appreciation for his/her time during the interview can go a very long way to swaying his/her opinion about you as a person though, and this should be left as a "token" and not a frickin' 52" LCD HDTV.

When you do go for an interview, though, make sure you know the company you're applying to, and ask relevant questions concerning the research you've found about the company. Make it a point to ask each interviewer more personal, open-ended questions such as, "what do you like about working here?" and "how does working here help you achieve your personal career goals?" or "what do you like to do in your free time?". These questions show you're interested in contributing to the company by growing, and gets the interviewer talking about them instead of you. Everybody loves to talk about their self, and that usually creates a positive feeling for them. Close the interview saying you'll follow up with the interview on X day at Y time, and then stick to your schedule. That takes the onus off the interviewer to contact everybody, and your follow through shows you're good for your word and you are serious about the job. After the interview, as quick as you can, send a token gift to thank the interviewers for their time.

And, Jax, I know where you're coming from about companies not caring to at least tell you somebody else got the job. I recently hired for an engineering position here. I can say the majority of the resumes I received were a joke, and people did not even care enough to research the position they were applying to. Of those I decided to interview, I personally found or created other jobs within the company for two over-qualified applicants to retain their excellent talent (they were interns with the company in NY and Chicago), and I ended up hiring a girl with no engineering degree (that's for JDub). It was somewhat difficult to call the "no's" to tell them they weren't right for the job, but I did and I gave them plenty of feedback on their interviews and what they should repeat or should not do in their next interviews. I told them I would reach out to other markets to find a better suit for them, which I did with recommendations of each person.
 
Jax said:
What pisses me off is how we're supposed to call & send postcards & letters & jump through hoops, but most companies can't even be bothered to pick up the phone and let you know that someone else got the job, they just leave you hanging. What a bunch of crap.
Click to expand...
Amen.

ABQ: In almost all of my interviews, I'm told I have an impressive resume. I make it clear that I am willing to move anywhere in the US, to some I have also expressed my interest in Canada in the span of a few years. As for the interview questions and being knowledgeable about the company, Im all over that. I am NOT down with "token gifts".

And I'll also say that NONE of the companies I've applied to gave me any kind of indication of what I can improve, most did not even call me back EVEN AFTER I called them several times. It seems they just ignore everyone who doesn't get hired. Those that DID call to say no said that they hired someone with more experience. None said anything negative about my interview or skills. They reiterated that they thought I was a great candidate, but experience wins.

The worst experience I've had at an interview so far was TRW in Auburn NY. They called me to set up an interview. Several days later they told me the position was filled, after my interview. A month later, they called again and said it wasn't. I again went for an interview, and again was told the position was again filled, both times by someone with more experience.

Lockheed Martin interviewed about 20 people on the same day. Judging from the conversations between interviews of the other candidates, I was at or near the top of the heap interview-wise. I made a great impression on the interviewers (there were 3) and they all told me I was the best one they'd talk to all day. They could have been lying to my face. Later, I learned that one of the candidates already had Security Clearance. He got the job.
 
What's your area of interest, Ken? Are you flexible in what you want to work on, or are you specific to a certain discipline?

It sounds like you need a good answer to the experience question. Is there something you can draw on or highlight from you past that shows how you stepped into a situation, learned a new skill very quickly, applied your learnings, and met with positive results? Or negative results, and what you learned from those results... I would recommend having several stories at hand that show although you don't have the experience you have the skills required to bring yourself up to speed very quickly to become a functioning team member.

If you want any help, PM me.

And as far as the token gifts, the word "gift" should be taken out. Send them a frickin' thank-you card for their time. Something that puts your name back in their head after you've left the building and solidifies that positive impression you just left them with.
 
My worse experience in this regard was applying at one place.

Essentially, after I got a phone call back from the interviewer, she said:
"Yeah, there were 5 positions available, and 6 people applied. You're name was last on the list, so sorry"

I was quite dumbstruck, "I mean, you mean to tell me that you put no consideration in who was more skilled, you just went by alphabetical order??"
 
ABQShredHead said:
What's your area of interest, Ken? Are you flexible in what you want to work on, or are you specific to a certain discipline?

It sounds like you need a good answer to the experience question. Is there something you can draw on or highlight from you past that shows how you stepped into a situation, learned a new skill very quickly, applied your learnings, and met with positive results? Or negative results, and what you learned from those results... I would recommend having several stories at hand that show although you don't have the experience you have the skills required to bring yourself up to speed very quickly to become a functioning team member.

If you want any help, PM me.

And as far as the token gifts, the word "gift" should be taken out. Send them a frickin' thank-you card for their time. Something that puts your name back in their head after you've left the building and solidifies that positive impression you just left them with.
Click to expand...
I've tried that. I think it comes down to the facts that:

1. I have no official job experience
2. People can tell that I'm not 100% into circuits, though I think it's cool.

My real areas of genuine interest are music, education, environment, alternative energy. I don't really care though. I'll do any EE job, they're all the same to me honestly. My educational focus was on RF and signal processing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

theodyssey
Forum Rules Thread
Replies
9
Views
2K
Symphony X (Unofficial)
Avathar
A
Jasonic
The official TRADING thread...
Replies
26
Views
2K
Ragnarokkr Metal Apocalypse
SteelFireRecs
S
Taliesin
Off-Topic Thread :)
Replies
233
Views
9K
Children Of Bodom
†_Aragorth_†
†
Slynt
METALMASTER’s 100 GREATEST METAL SONGS
Replies
7
Views
691
Your Reviews
SpiritCrusherX
S
Harvester
PP USA VII: Annual Behind the Scenes booking thread
Replies
152
Views
6K
ProgPower USA
J-Dubya 777
J
Top Bottom