But first...I meant to mention this yesterday while talking about what's been on tv, but does anyone watch Miami Ink on TLC? Its about a new tattoo parlor in Miami (duh) and the guys that work there. As a tattooed freak myself, I like the show. But in any case, there was a guy on there who came in for a tattoo, and the tattooing guy notices a weird tattoo on the guy's lower back...turns out the guy got a THONG tattooed on him while in Mexico. And oh yeah, it was pink. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
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So now I am going to go on a little rant that may ramble on and on, and if you don't want to read it I don't blame you. But I am going to do it anyway. I won't be hurt if you just skip it.
I have been home with Princess for 19 months now, and happy to be here. But let's be honest. Money is tight. T.I.G.H.T. So I started looking to see what kinds of jobs are out there for me. Nope, no BLOGGERS NEEDED, $1,000,000 TO START ads out there. But my background is in Human Resources, specifically in recruitment. So I see one ad that looks promising, send in my resume, get a call, and they are paying $40k. Nope, don't think so. My property taxes alone are $10k a year, childcare will be $200/week - $40k ain't gonna cut it. So I keep looking. Then I see this: a big company was looking for a part time contract recruiter, $25/hour. Hm, that might work. With a part time position, I could balance the whole work/life thing like they talk about on tv. So I send in my resume. They call me immediately and schedule an interview for the next day. I go.
I meet with two people. The first is the recruiter trying to fill this job. She asks me NO QUESTIONS. NONE. She tells me all about the company and the job and her life and all that...and then asks me if I have any questions. So I said, "Well, my only question is if there is anything else I can tell you about my background." Meaning, hey idiot, ask me something so I can tell you I would be good for this job. So she says, "Oh! Sure! So what did you do at XYZ Company?" I tell her a little bit, she kinda interrupts and tells me "yep, that's what we need here!" So I stop telling her stuff. She tells me to wait, because she wants me to meet with her boss. Okay. So then he comes in, very serious and whatnot, and asks me these questions: Did you like working at XYZ? Why? What are you proudest of that you did there? What are you least proud of?
That was it. Now first of all, how they can determine whether someone is qualified for a job based on these interviews is beyond me. "Did I like working at XYZ? Why, of course! It was wonderful! I loved it and they loved me!" Whew, thank God they got that vital information out of me! Now they can make an informed decision!
And, being that what I do is interview people, I could not get over the idiocy of the "least proud of" question. That is the worst I have ever heard. I told him that in all seriousness, there was nothing I was not proud of that I did. I worked hard and I was ethical and moral and I did right by the employees and the company. There was nothing in my career to be "least proud" of.
So bottom line is this. They said they interviewed three people and would be making a decision by Thursday. So now, as I am typing this, it is 9 am on Friday and I haven't received a call. So I assume I did not get it. But, based on their questions, its not even like I could pick something out and say, I can do this better in my next interview. I can only assume that they got some bubbly person in there who sold themselves better than I did. That's not me. I do what I do, and I do it well. I am professional and work hard and do the job right. But I am not bubbly and perky, that's for sure, and I am not going to "oversell" myself. I hate when candidates do that - they want the job so bad that they are drooling and begging. I am not that desperate. Yet.
So, being that I have only applied for 2 jobs thus far and was called on both of them, I am still optimistic. I am the kind of person who believes that everything happens for a reason, so I think that this was just not the job for me. I liked the idea of part-time, but I also did a little more research. I saw several other contract recruiter positions that were making $40-45/hour. So, maybe I am meant to have one of those positions, even if they are full time. I just hope the Life part of the Work/Life balance doesn't have to suffer too much.
24 comments:
I am so with you. I hate those kind of interview questions. Then again, I HATE interviewing. I'm so uncomfortable having strangers ask me about myself - why don't you call my references? I worked with them, they loved me, they can tell you better about me than I can.
GOOD LUCK on the job hunting. Do you want me to light a candle at church on Sunday? ;-)
I hate HR people! I am in the same boat! I haven;t worked in months and now I am PG I plan to stay at home for awhile. BEfore I found out I was PG I was sending out resumes in the states. I am really BROKE so I hear you!
How am I going to feed my baby??
Yes everything does happen for a reason and GOOD LUCK!!
Good luck on the hunt....
Sounds like they weren't the folks to work for anyways....
First of all, I love Miami Ink and it has me really wanting to get on the stick and get another one. I'm due for one anyway.
Second, I hate Interviews. And I have been asked that question "least proud of" and so has my husband. How in the hell are you supposed to answer that anyway? What is it that they are even looking for?
It makes no sense.
Hope you get what you are looking for.
That is the million dollar question and answer girlfriend, how to have it all. Paying for childcare and having it not the only thing your money covers, that is even harder. I wish you the best of luck and YES, those $45 an hour jobs are the ones your meant for and with part-time hours!!
BTW, I'm dying to see that Miami Ink show. There's also another one on A&E called Ink that I've been meaning to check out.
I also saw that episode. They bought him a thong to wear while getting his tattoo done too! Ewww! That guy was creepy, and what the hell would inspire you to get a pink thong??? He was a guy, wasn't he????
Very poor interview questions, I must say. That was awful. Hope the right job comes along.
I also saw that episode of Miami Ink, that guy was a total FREAK!
I haven't seen Miami Ink yet, but it looks cool! I need to check it out!
Hey, I just applied/interviewed for a HR IT Recruiter job yesterday! While those questions did suck, not all Recruiters are bad! I work with a great bunch right now! :) I'm back from my blogging break already...couldn't stay away! lol
Wow. $40-45/hr? I think I'm doing good making $9/hr. Of course, our property taxes on an average home here is about 1/10 of yours, so I'm assuming the cost of living would be much less for everything else too.
Good luck finding the job you're looking for!
Good luck on the job hunt! First, I'm DYING over your taxes. Gulp.
Interesting questions. If we interviewed our tool & die makers that way at my business, I doubtwe'd get anyone of quality.
Ha, I have been doing the same thing lately...looking for jobs so that I can help out since things are squeaky tight as well here! But I haven't been called in on anything. I wish you a great job has a part time position, but pays like full time and gives you blogging time :)
I saw that Miami Ink, too! Me and my daughter, Guard Girl, were watching together and when they showed that thong tattoo...we both just looked at each other and busted out laughing! :)
Good luck on the job hunt!
It DOES sound very promising. I worked part-time until I had my second and it worked out well.
On an unrelated sad note. With lost Scotty today. : (
It is hard finding the "right" job after staying home with children. I stayed home with my first two sons until my current job fell into my lap. I had no desire to return to work, but I could not refuse the cha-ching. Best thing about it is, I only work 5-6 hours a day, summers off, and lots of breaks throughout the year. (I am a sign language interpreter for a school district.)
Good luck to you. The perfect job will be coming your way soon!
btw, I about fell off my chair when I read what you pay for property taxes. I pay $1,500. When we bought this house, I was having a fit over that! I guess I need to shut-up.
Interviews are so awful; I just fall apart.
I hate interviews. I get so nervious it's not even funny. But, I guess I do ok because I've only missed getting one job and it sucked anyway.
Sounds like you did everything right, and they sound like a buncha morons, so you're better off without them, you're too good for em!! It's hard to find a job that not only pays well but that you'll LIKE, so just keep looking and wait for the right one to come along. It will. Do you use Monster.com or anything?
Wow, they sound like amateur interviewers. I don't blame you for feeling frustrated. I hope that something pans out for you so that you can decide what to do either way!
That stinks True. Sorry! I think your better off though. If you didn't like them now, you'd probably be biting your fist in a rage very shortly after you were hired.
Hang in there. The perfect job is out there for you!
With your personality, you're GOING to get something! You'll find the right fit (and it'll be worth the wait, right?)
how odd.... particularly as you quite fancied the position. BUt other, and better, will come your way!!
End enjoy your life now while you've got it, it soon changes....
I interview well but HR does indeed ask the stupidest questions. I often feel like they are reading directly from some manual. What is really sad is that they even have that power! I should be initally be interviewing with my potential boss. Cause he/she knows better than anyone what their needs are. Yet, I usually meet them last. Very strange.
All the best in finding a great job! I wish there were more HR/Recruiters people like YOU.
Oh boy have I been down that road before!!! After I left my FT job after my daughter was 6 months old, I started looking into other opportunities in central NJ. It is amazing how some people can even live on the wages some companies pay! I ended up scoring a sweet part time gig at an on-site of all places. I am thrilled that even though I have moved to Ohio, they have me work on projects for them from home. I make twice as much as I would if I worked for the SAME company here in Ohio!
You are so right about the stupid HR interview questions. I was actually asked by a company once what my favorite flavor of ice cream was. I asked them how that was relevant to the interview since I wasn't interviewing at Dairy Queen. They gave some bullshit answer about how the flavor indicates what type of person you are ...Sorry to take over your blog! We HR people can be windbags! Keep the faith!
That work/life balance thing is tough. I think I've found it, but in a couple months (maybe less) baby boy will start daycare two days a week. Then we shall see. Right now I work about 20 hours a week, mostly while he is napping or evenings or while he is playing quietly. I make good money so it's worth it. Now if I could just quit blogging while I'm supposed to be working!
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