Empty Pockets: The Search for a Job

Hey,

Has anyone looked for a job recently? I suppose it doesn't come as a huge surprise that the job market sucks. I have been looking since early this year. No luck. Just going to run through three bad parts of the job search process: extensively long applications, group interviews, and "we want you requests".

FIRST: EXTENSIVELY LONG APPLICATIONS

To even work as a dishwasher Chili's you have to fill out a huge questionnaire after your basic information. This consisting of about  200 questions where I have to select, strongly agree, strongly disagree, or the degree in between, some scenarios, and mathematical conversions converting pints of tomato sauce into quarts . 

Who knew dish washing was so complex? I don't want to pick on  Chili's, so let me be fair and say that basically every employer puts potential employees through this as well. Chili's was just particularly unbearable. Some employers, like The Cheesecake Factory, will be straightforward send you a rejection email essentially saying, "No Experience? Sorry you don't match our requirements. We will keep you in the system if anything comes up", instead of putting you through an frustrating assessment. 

In the end if you have minimal experience in the industry, you usually will not hear back from the employer after this super long application, that probably made you delve into your documents and wonder exasperatedly how long the questionnaire will continue. 

SECOND: THE GROUP INTERVIEW

So usually at department store, they gather a few poor souls from all walks of life and basically pit them against each other. Keep in mind, these are entry level positions. You are usually not warned in the beginning that it is a group interview, but you just stick it out. It's kind of like an ambush upon arrival.

My group interview of seven people competing for two positions. We sat all clustered together a the dirty ottoman in an untidy break room. Most of us insincerely speaking about how much we adore the products in the store. Keep in mind, this was a baby store, and none of us have babies. 

When the questions are asked one person talks over the other, and then we are given a sketchy maybe two of you will be hired but you have to call me deal. Then the fun part are the shifts for one position start at 9 p.m or 5 a.m. Oh but we get good employee discount, the interviewer to maintain the excitement. 

Probably didn't get the job.

Employers, the group interview is not the way to do it. Can we stick to the tradition of one on one. 

THIRD: THE INCESSANT "WE WANT YOU" REQUESTS

Then there are the people that magically find my resume and leave five voicemails and six emails. Please avoid this kind of employer. The companies, mainly car companies, will string you along and try to convince you that there company is reputable to extract a training fee from you of 250+. Been there, done that. Please don't fall for it. Get all your facts before going to any employer. Don't worry. I got my money for now. Hopefully all those contracts don't bite me in the end. 

Let's not be desperate for a job. The perfect opportunity will come along. You at least have some love what you are going to do, or you quit and begin the job hunt again. 

So yeah, Welcome to my blog. 

Don't be scared of my first post. I will improve over time. Promise.