• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

out of work...job interview tips

kittynh

Penultimate Amazing
K
Joined
Dec 18, 2002
Messages
22,634
Pool Boy is currently interviewing for a job opening. He's in IT and computer stuff, so there are a lot of people applying for this one job (good pay, but lots of travel in the US). I asked him what questions he was asking. Being that he's a little odd (he is a Pool Boy) these may not be typical, but this is the one question that is getting the most weight.

"So, you've been out of work for 18months, what have you been doing?"

most people have answered "Looking for work"

He's also asked "What have you done to keep up your skills or learn new skills while you have been out of work?"

He's hiring the one guy who renovated his basement and took a class from a computer maker, plus did volunteer work by setting up an internet site for the local police department and school.

Admittedly this guy is way beyond just setting up a computer internet site, but that made big points. He used him time off to do some good. Plus, it was hard to weed out people who just want any job, and people who really don't mind the travel. This guy loves to travel for fun, so he considers the frequent flyer miles he's going to get a real plus. Still it makes it hard with so many computer people out of work.
 
@Jon-in-london:
Congratulations.
My latest offer didn´t work out (as usual, I might add). I´m getting a little depressed on that.


@kittynh:
You really scared me with that thread title, you know? I read it and thought: "Oh no, not Kitty, too..."
Glad to hear it isn´t that.
 
Chaos said:
@Jon-in-london:
Congratulations.
My latest offer didn´t work out (as usual, I might add). I´m getting a little depressed on that.
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, Im not really happy.

I like the job Im doing but I need something that pays better. I doubt Ill enjoy the new job so much but...... whats a man to do?

Better luck with your next one. Dont give up.

Do you mind me asking what line of work you are in?
 
No, I don´t mind.

I´m working...well, no, I used to work for an insurance company. Industrial liability insurance, mostly the occupational insurance for lawyers, notaries, tax advisers and such.
I really enjoyed that, but sadly, my contract expired and the company was reducing its manpower anyway, so...bye-bye...

That was last year, I am now at home since January. Insurance business is in a tight spot right now; they almost exclusively seek either very highly qualified and experienced people (which I am not, I only started two years ago) or people from other lines of work (they´re cheaper). I´m either too good or not good enough, depending on which way you turn it.
 
good luck chaos. I used to work for an insurance company during my summers in high school. It was pretty interesting, though demanded a lot of typing in those pre-computer days. People used to do stuff like cut their nose off while shaving their eyebrows...I lived for that. IT was also a specialty insurance company, but wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be (SAMBA, figure that one out!)

No, I've been seriously underemployed ever since I moved to the boondocks. It's rough with 2 kids in school, one in college! But I like living here. It's an interesting balance at times.

congrats Jon!
 
Given the economy many people have been out of work for a long time. 18 months for a professional in a field that is technological is common.
So what have you been doing?
Private consulting is a good answer. "Couldn't find regular work so I tried to start my own consulting business. It's not working out to my expectations so I've decided to look for full-time employment"
"Basically I've been managing my own investments - I've got real estate and I traveled to Kenya from time to time to manage it. But the economy is bad all over."
"I put an addition onto my house."
"I teach as a substitute teacher while continuing to look for full time employment".
"I tried to become a Financial Advisor but everyone is into bonds so there's little opportunity to make a living".
 
so right Super charts! If you've just been "looking for a job" forget it. I don't think anyone holds getting laid off in the first place against you, or being out of work for a couple of years. A lot of contractors from the good old days are now looking for real jobs too. I think the good old days of contract work are gone for now. So they are in the job pool too.

I will say the guy Pool Boy hired is getting a very low salary Pool Boy thinks. He does get a bonus, and stock though (the stock is doing very well). But a few years ago no way you could hire someone for this job for under $100,000.

This does not bode well for Pool Boy getting a big raise:(

When you have 20 people in line begging for your job it can be interesting. The odd part is that no one wanted jobs that involved travel, which is the only way Pool Boy got the job to start. He loves to travel and is good with languages. Of course, being out of work and hanging around the house for a couple of years can make any wife rethink the travel issue....
 
kittenyh:
I will say the guy Pool Boy hired is getting a very low salary Pool Boy thinks. He does get a bonus, and stock though (the stock is doing very well). But a few years ago no way you could hire someone for this job for under $100,000.

This does not bode well for Pool Boy getting a big raise:(
Click to expand...
Wait a minute. Are you saying that Pool Boy is in a position to hire people who'll make $100,000 a year? This would seem to indicate that Pool Boy makes at least that amount. In which case, the raise hardly seems important. :)
 
Danish, you don't have kids in college do you? (I'll bet that's paid for in Denmark....) Or in private school, or with private tutors?

I drive a rusty Subaru, Pool Boy a Hyundai. Yep, we're living large...
 
kittynh said:
Danish, you don't have kids in college do you? (I'll bet that's paid for in Denmark....) Or in private school, or with private tutors?

I drive a rusty Subaru, Pool Boy a Hyundai. Yep, we're living large...
Click to expand...

Fortunately, education here is still a right, not a privelige. (Although the current conservative government is doing all it can to change that, hopefully they will get the a*** soon.) You get a loan to pay the Uni fees till you start earning above a certain amount, then it is paid back from your taxes. Not as good as the free Uni we used to have, but at least you don't have to fear a loan that has to be paid back even if you can't find a high paying job as soon as you graduate.
 
Not really. A 2 income professional couple will easily make over $100,000 a year. Even a two teacher household. Plus, we are older, we didn't always make this much, but then again, the kids were a LOT cheaper then. Housing is expensive, and once you get above a certain level the tax rate is pretty much like Europe.

I wouldn't think that income is uncommon. What is uncommon is that we spend most of it on private school, and tutors cost $45 an hour! I also work only part time, and my art will sell perhaps 5-10 paintings a year. I could work full time at McDonald's and earn more. But we live very simple lives, and like it that way. If our children ever do get through school (can you say Grad School...) we'll probably just give more of it away. First on the list, replace the JREF roof! (just put a tarp up Linda until then....)

Most families incur a lot of debt to put their kids through college, and to get the big SUV and to go on the expensive vacation, and wear the right clothes.......we don't do debt.

Little house, old cars, and jeans with holes in them. We're cheap to keep! Plus, with Pool Boy's job I get to travel to Europe for free! That's fun!

seriously, this has been my sig at times, but it's how we live,
"My riches consist not in the extent of my possesions but in the fewness of my wants." J. Brotherton
 
no, the tutors are for Kitten2, she's dyslexic. If you have a child with a learning disability in public school they will pay for the least amount they can...hey, public school budgets are tight. I don't blame them.

But as a parent, if the extra hours are going to make a difference in her attending college or not, I'm going to pay for the time. Plus, all the really good tutors in this rural area only do private tutoring. The difference it makes is amazing, and I'd rather spend money of something important like education than the latest video game. Though, she does like Zoo Tycoon (I do too...)

I wish we did have the European system here for college level education. Here, if you are VERY smart you can get pretty good scholarship money for college (but not if your parents earn a bit). So the system works well for poor kids with the brains, though, the schools they are coming from don't always prepare them for the amount of work required. It's flawed.

The college level schools are quite good though, Kitten has had a wonderful time at school. They even sent her to Hawaii for free to attend a conference (bet that came out of her tuition check). BUt the price of an Ivy League school is out of control. They can get away with it as it is so competitive to attend. However, money is for what you do with it, and education seems like a very good thing to do with it.
 
kittynh said:
Not really. A 2 income professional couple will easily make over $100,000 a year. Even a two teacher household.
Click to expand...
OK, you may be earning about average for a 2 income proffesional couple, but you are still way above the norm for the US as a whole. According to the US Census 2001, of the 109 million households in the US, just 15 million (about 14%) made $100,000 or more. The median income was $42,000 and the average income some $58,000.
Plus, we are older, we didn't always make this much, but then again, the kids were a LOT cheaper then. Housing is expensive, and once you get above a certain level the tax rate is pretty much like Europe.
Click to expand...
How bad does the income tax rate get at the $100,000 level?
seriously, this has been my sig at times, but it's how we live,
"My riches consist not in the extent of my possesions but in the fewness of my wants." J. Brotherton
Click to expand...
I could sign on to this viewpoint as well.
 
well Danish, probably not your taxes! I'd say our tax rate is about 50%. We have it easier as we live in NH that lacks a sales tax, and has not seperate income tax. Each state sets it's own seperate taxes (sales and income), and few states can do without these extra taxes. you can control the amount of taxes you pay in NH by buying a small house, as NH has a property tax.

I'd be more than glad to pay more in taxes as the costs of health care (many private insurers pay only 80%) and private education are quite high. Plus, I'm a supporter of universal health care. I consider our lack of public health care something to be ashamed about as a nation.
 
Re: Taxes, costs of living

If you were living in Germany, you would, with $100,000 income, pay about $35,000 in income tax, $10,000 for retirement funds (with no guarantee that the funds won´t collapse before you retire), $7,000 for public health insurance (and would often be glad if you had 80% coverage), $3,000 for public unemployment insurance, very roughly. Property tax is, AFAIK, not a factor, but we have 15% sales tax. Gas is around $1.20 per litre or $5 per gallon, of which about 70% is taxes. All of these factors are going to get worse pretty soon.
So I guess you are better off living where you are than here, Kitty.
 
I had a portfolio to bring to the interviews, that way you can back up answers to questions. Have him think of the questions that are usually asked for that position, and have some back up (examples from other jobs or from school of the work).

Any written commendations, awards - to show strengths.

Another copy of the resume.

List of references to give the interviewer.

Your degrees, diplomas for show (not to give).

One other big thing is is a list of questions to ask them. Interviewers are very impressed with that. Write it up, and look the list over for whatever hasn't been brought up yet.

Who will train me?
Who will my supervisor be?
How many co-workers will there be?
What are the benfits like?
etc.

This makes for a great interview and will make anyone stand out as prepared and on the ball.

Good luck to pool boy :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom