Job

The Difficulties Of The Job Interview

I have been out of work close to six months, fast approaching the termination of my unemployment checks. My mother just turned my bedroom in her condo into an office for her new husband. I am single with no appreciable significant other. My bank account is dwindling. I have been on over 60 interviews in the past five months. I have dutifully sent out resumes, and wait to get a phone call. I leave the house to get my mail, and alas, upon my return, there is a message on my machine. "We have received your resume, and would like to schedule an interview with you, " the woman's voice chirps. It's always a woman who calls to schedule the interview - a human resources bimbo whose bubbly voice raises the glass ceiling (or so she thinks). She carries the corporate banner proudly and follows the employee handbook to the letter. She seduces potential employees into believing that the company is as wonderful as she is.

I should be flattered. After all, employers receive over 100 resumes per Job posted. However, I am disgusted. It means having to get dressed up in my suit that I once enjoyed wearing on special occasions but since has become a loathsome outfit that I would like to retire from my wardrobe. It means answering the same questions such as "Tell me a little bit about yourself."

That question infuriates me. What do they want to know? Do they want a brief personal bio? Or do they want a personality profile? It is such a vague question-a cop out on the part of the interviewer who did not adequately prepare for the interview. Surely, he or she could ask more specific and/or intelligent questions.

Another question that infuriates me is "tell me your strengths and weaknesses." Now, why would I admit to having any weaknesses? Books and articles on interviewing all stress that the interviewee should never say anything negative about oneself. This question flies in the face of reason. It just provides fodder for the employer not to hire you because usually your weakness is that asset they are seeking in a candidate.

Then, there is the issue of appearance. When I go on an interview, I feel like I have been sized up at the doorway before I have even opened my mouth. Why not include a picture of oneself with the resume to eliminate the need for coming into the office for a formal interview? A telephone interview provides an unbiased, casual way of getting to know the interviewee. In addition, who dresses for the Job in the same way they dressed for the interview? I had an employer tell me that he wanted me to dress for work the same way I dressed for the interview. I looked at him (an attorney) like he was crazy.

The interview winds down, and the employee bids you farewell. Here, the interviewee attempts to get a read on whether he or she got the Job. The interviewer is usually cold and business-like (synonyms), and utters, "We'll get back to you, " which means you'll never hear from him or her again. Or better yet, he or she gives you his or her business card and tells you to call if you haven't heard by such and such a date. You patiently wait, and give the person a call and get his or her voicemail and never get a call back.

All in all, for the foregoing reasons, job interviewing is a painstaking process that could use some reform. What can you tell about a person in 15 minutes? There's got to be a better way to match an employer to an employee.