Interviews

So, I am interviewing people for the first time in my life tomorrow. I am just now realizing that I don’t really have any questions to ask them.

Granted, this could easily be solved by a google search, but I don’t want to be that annoying person who asks a bunch of standard interview questions like “what is your biggest weakness?”. Honestly, I think the only real qualification for the job is being fluent in Microsoft Excel and computers in general, but I can’t only ask that, right?

I will say, reviewing resumes has made me feel a bit more proud about my own because some of them are pretty wretched. The first line of one candidate’s reads “work a long side the three major credit agencies.”  Our staff has decided he will not be working a long side us.

To be fair, I understand everyone makes weird typos all the time, including myself, but isn’t the very idea of a resume supposed to be that you review it over and over until you make it perfect? Also, did the rule that resumes are only one page long get abolished and no one told me? I received one resume that was 4 pages long and over half of them were over a page. This is for a job that pays $29k a year – it’s not exactly high level executives who just have so much experience that they must use the extra space or they won’t fit everything on. I don’t get it.

Anyway, suggestions for creative interview questions are welcome. Seeing as this is a person who I will be traveling with for weeks at a time, it is sorta important that they’re someone I’ll get along with. What is the secret question that will give away if they’re secretly an annoying twat?

 

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May 9, 2013

I was lucky when I did my first interviews, there were questions left behind from the editor I had replaced. I just had to print them out. 🙂 But once when I was interviewing myself, there were two portions: standard questions and then a fun “either or” portion. I got asked silly things like chocolate or vanilla, Star Wars or Star Trek, etc.

May 9, 2013

It was fun, and for the interviewer, a good way to learn a little more about my personality. Good luck tomorrow!

May 9, 2013

Hah. I was like, “work a long side”? What’s “a long side”, and how do you work it?

May 10, 2013

I think my resume is 2 pages. I can’t just put that I worked at Belk and Dillard’s on a page, I did WAY more than that. Plus my address takes up space, and the references… Anyway, I think you just kind of judge the person based on how the conversation flows. You’ll know whether or not you’ll get along with them. Maybe ask them what their favorite TV shows are… ~I’ll be

I once sent out my resume and forgot to put my phone number on it! LOL! One of the potential employers emailed me, saying to call her. I called and she told me. Hahaha! I felt like an idiot. She had me come into the office for an interview and, I swear, it was only just to see what I looked like. To put a face to the idiot resume. I think that single page rule is a thing of the past. It was established back in the days when companies were loyal to their employees and employees were loyal to their companies so they didn’t change jobs that often. Nobody wanted to lose their pension. These days, most companies are most concerned with the bottom line and will lay you off in a minute if it saves them money.They don’t offer pensions and 401(k)’s can go with you. Most employees reciprocate in kind and leave in a heartbeat for more money or a better situation. The result: longer resumes.

May 10, 2013

I can’t stand errors on resumes. If you can’t proofread your own resume, what type of daily mistakes will you be making at work? I wish I could give advice but I don’t know what the job is. I had the best interview recently because the questions were great. It showed what type of person she was looking for and where she was looking to take her business. And I rocked the answers!

May 10, 2013

Assuming they went to college, ask them what is the most important thing they learned in college, and what their most useful class was.

May 12, 2013

Spelling / grammar errors on a resume show that the person is not careful and thorough. I’ve seen some doozies, wish I had saved them. I almost always just toss the resume on the “no” pile. In a face-to-face interview, personal rapport or lack thereof is usually evident. On the phone it’s tougher. Davo

May 12, 2013

I would ask: What do you hope to accomplish or learn while working for us? Where do your see your self professionally in 5 years? What is the best aspect of traveling for work and what is the worst aspect of work related travel?

That sounds pretty exciting! I think I’d overdo the power trip though. x

Yes, the one page resume has seemed to disappear. Mine is 2 pages and that was after TONS of editing (though looks as if I won’t be needing it again for quite some time, if ever). Sorry I don’t have any suggestions for you, I hate interviews lol.

May 21, 2013

RYN: He is pretty great. I kind of like him. Even though he never seems to update often enough. 🙂

May 29, 2013

Ritchey Woods is pretty popular, but there’s a smaller park just down the road that fewer people go to. I almost went there this weekend, but it was looking like rain, so maybe this weekend?

June 9, 2013

You never write any more – neither do I – hope all is well mate, and the silence is one of contentment. We are practically old men now you realise….

June 10, 2013

RYN – That’s true. I’ve been reading old entries and it started really sucking last summer when he had a new car payment and had just bought a $3000 motorcycle (actually I think it was $3500 and he lied about it) and was making LESS money at work. Then we had the vacation from hell and things just weren’t the same after that. Hard to date someone who can’t budget and bitches about it. ~I’ll be

RYN: It definitely is too much for a bday party…BUT…This is her 1st and more likely than not, she will be an only child. I certainly won’t do it every party (next year it will just be the 5 of us with a picnic on the beach).