LPT: Going for a job interview?

Submitted by hotasanicecube t3_yhczxf in LifeProTips

Your job interview isn’t just the time you spend across the desk from a prospective employee. Your interview is the entire time from when you wake up until you write a followup letter.

This means the normal things like shower, shave (where is relative to gender), do your hair, smell nice, sure. But it also means washing your car, cleaning out the interior, parking precisely, arriving early, focusing on the company literature while waiting, greeting the receptionist and being friendly, not fidgeting or looking around all distracted and bored while waiting.

If it’s a lunch interview, order something that doesn’t require a lot of chewing. A bowl of soup or chili will allow you to swallow it quickly and get right back to the questions.

After the interview send an email or letter thanking the interviewer and giving positive feedback about your time there. Only then is the interview process over.

People in a small company will often know if a new interviewer is coming, recognize a new car, maybe take a peek in a persons car, or get a look at you prior to you sitting at someone’s desk. Maybe they recognize you from the gas station, or identify your car operating recklessly on the drive to the office. Image is half of the process.

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sikmode t1_iud6bxu wrote

I just want to exchange my labor for money why do I have to do a whole pony and dance show for it. Begging for opportunity to labor your life away is awful.

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Radinthul_Butterbuns t1_iufn0r6 wrote

Because someone who can exchange their labor but also with sophisticated personality is better to be hired.

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hotasanicecube OP t1_iudchvi wrote

Then you want to be a laborer. No judgement here. If you want to be a professional manager than you have act a professional.

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sikmode t1_iudf1g7 wrote

What’s professional? Sitting in an office checking spreadsheets, talking to people, testing code? Those are still just jobs that exchange labor for money. Just because you slap a “professional” tag on your industry doesn’t mean anything but to those who want it to.

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Axchtually t1_iufit3e wrote

Because a person that comes clean, doesn’t drive recklessly, and isn’t rude to the receptionist is probably gonna do a better job.

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Fun_Amount3063 t1_iudht4g wrote

You’re out here asking people on Reddit if they want to fuck you, I don’t think you have any authority on this subject.

If you want to be a professional porn actor then do you but this entire post is like you read a grifter’s self-help book and now you believe that you have the answers on becoming the next billionaire.

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helpmehelpmyman t1_iud28ce wrote

You’d be surprised how much power the receptionist/greeter’s opinion means to the hiring manager. Oftentimes they are structured under HR as well so they have close ties.

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hotasanicecube OP t1_iud3vlp wrote

100% - The interviewer probably has more contact with the receptionist than any other person in the company. All the receptionist has to say is a few words that tell the tone of your interaction with them. Like, “Where did you find THAT guy?” and you are done.

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Savbav t1_iuda2hl wrote

I'm a decently clean person. But, I live a busy life outside of work with a family. My car will look cluttered often. If a prospective employer is vocally judging me based on what the inside of my car looks like, they've crossed a line. I won't work with or for someone who invades my space like that.

The job interview is just the time at the place of the interview, IMO. Yes, be prepared. Arrive timely and clean. Come with the knowledge about the prospective role. But, that's not part of the actual interview. Does your job pay you to prepare for the work day? Why should an interview include the time it takes to prepare for it?

If I'm going for an interview with a meal, I'm going to order something that I can eat without making much of a mess. For me, that means chili and other soups are out of the question.

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hotasanicecube OP t1_iudb01g wrote

Any place can be cluttered, but still be clean. There is a difference. Fast food cups, wrappers and packing materials piled up on the floorboard is just trash not clutter.

Now if you have tools, materials, and manuals scattered about, that is going to tell a whole different story.

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grandadalwayssays t1_iud60ph wrote

If your prospective employer dosnt do virtual interviews you're applying at the wrong company. Shows an inability to adapt and they will likely have other short comings. An interview goes both ways and you need to look out for red flags within the buisness when applying.

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lets_bang_blue t1_iudb56t wrote

This is insanely dumb lol. So many reasons why in person interviews are important for many, many companies. If the job needs to be in person, I want to get a sense of the person I'm hiring in person, not over the phone.

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grandadalwayssays t1_iudfxy9 wrote

All I'm saying is this is outdated thinking. If you are unable to "get a sense of someone" over a video call you may need to work on your interviewing skills. Or get someone that can.

The days of requiring someone to take half their day, unpaid, to try and impress some low level manager are done. The work force has evolved and i suggest you do too.

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lets_bang_blue t1_iuffvke wrote

Oo so close but not how interviews work. Hope you figure things out

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hotasanicecube OP t1_iudjr53 wrote

Not at all, people doing the hiring can expect whatever they want. If that’s a phone interview, 3 in person interviews and a site interview, then that’s what they want for 100k a year. If you are not prepared to do that, it probably won’t work out anyway.

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hotasanicecube OP t1_iud7r1k wrote

You are being industry specific. Not every job Is about what your face looks like or your book knowledge.

I can tell by what you wear to a site, the way you move around to avoid other trades working, avoiding obstacles and materials on the ground and above your head, your awareness of details, and the questions you ask about the work in place as to how much time you have spent with your boots on the ground.

You can never grasp that knowledge via a computer screen.

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grandadalwayssays t1_iudglbm wrote

At this point what you are looking for is a working interview and I agree with everything else you are saying.

Anyway I assume OPs advice is for new hires that won't have any experience in the first place. Although I would hope general awareness is something most people have, I do know better.

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hotasanicecube OP t1_iudirhe wrote

Some people have no self-awareness, much less spatial awareness! You did respond to OP when you responded to me, and yes if you have been through a few successful interviews already you probably got the feel for how it all works already. If you have not had much success in 20 interviews, then this post is probably very helpful.

The post is somewhat directed to people with little or no experience. And a site interview is the best way to really catch a grasp of working knowledge vs. book knowledges.

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[deleted] t1_iud8py3 wrote

[removed]

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MoobyTheGoldenSock t1_iud95xo wrote

Yeah, if they’re creeping on your car you probably don’t want to work there anyway.

Obviously, don’t be a jerk to the receptionist, but the rest of this nonsense is just going to make you neurotic the day of your interview.

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keepthetips t1_iud1u3y wrote

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