Job interviews

[Rageaholic]

Talk about being judged by the most arbitrary crap.

First of all, I hate dressing up. I don't want to put too much effort (or money) into clothes. If it's comfortable, and doesn't make me look too dorky, I'm fine. The idea that just because my tie isn't on correctly, my shirt isn't tucked in properly, or 90 other things that are of such little importance can determine my employment scares me. What clothing choice has to do with customer service skills is beyond me, but apparently, it some warped pseudo psychologists mind it does. Something about showing you're "serious about the job" or some other BS.

Not only that, but I DO feel dorky dressed up in a tie and buttoned shirt. I look at myself in the mirror and laugh, but apparently, being dressed like that will make employers more likely to hire me? What ever...

The interview itself isn't much better. I'm in the spotlight, I get nervous, and I freeze when asked a tricky question. I can't come up with instant answers to questions because I have to think. It's just the way I am, and apparently, it's screwing me over.

I just hate it all. I hate having to explain my past history, I hate feeling like I have to be an overachiever, I hate that little mistakes can screw you over, and I hate dressing up! I am already trying not to be too self conscious about stuff, I am also trying to be more laid back, but interviews make this damn near impossible. It's all a bunch of buuuuuuuuuullllllllll shit!

[Hobbs]

Please don't take this personally, I'm trying to be constructive. Just ask me to clarify something if you think it's erroneous.

When conducting an interview, or a counseling session, I judge a person's appearance because it can tell me about how serious they are. Shoes aren't shined? You've had them for two months; I should be able to see my reflection in them by now. Gig line is off? You have flightmates, you haven't asked them how to dress, or bothered to look at the AFI? Loose cables (strings) wrinkled shirt, no crease etc all tell me they're not serious about the job.

I know I'm talking from a military perspective, but when I see this in the private sector, it tells me the same thing. If you're not taking the time to take care for your appearance, then you probably aren't going to put the care needed into the job I'm offering.

As for the questions, it sucks that the questions make you stumble, but if its for any type of managerial position, you have to be ready for problems to arise you don't expect. Even in non-command jobs, you'll be needed to make decisions quickly. Your hesitance is seen as an inability to cope with the unexpected, which is vital in any job.

[Boozy]

It's all a bunch of buuuuuuuuuullllllllll shit!

Interviews are indeed bullshit. The interviewer is bullshitting the applicant. The applicant is bullshitting the interviewer.

For most entry level positions, what the interviewer really wants to know is if you can present yourself professionally under scrutiny. I don't particularly care if any of my employees really care about their job, so long as they pretend that they do while they're at work.

If it's a customer service position, the interview is even more important. It doesn't matter if you're "pretending" to be kind and helpful -- what do you think I do with my customers all day? I don't give a damn about three-quarters of them. But my job is to play the part, and I do. Just as I did in the interview that nailed me the job.

[Rageaholic]

When conducting an interview, or a counseling session, I judge a person's appearance because it can tell me about how serious they are. Shoes aren't shined? You've had them for two months; I should be able to see my reflection in them by now. Gig line is off? You have flightmates, you haven't asked them how to dress, or bothered to look at the AFI? Loose cables (strings) wrinkled shirt, no crease etc all tell me they're not serious about the job.

Which is a load of crap and exactly what I was ranting about. I simply don't give a damn about how I dress because I don't see it as important. It affects no one but me, where as the job will probably effect other people. Sadly, it's human nature to judge on superficial BS.

[Hobbs]

I think Boozy answered it best. Here's my input once more. Again, trying to keep this constructive:

It's important because, despite your beliefs that it's "superficial BS" work is about selling a product, and the first thing a customer sees of someone on the salesfloor is there exterior. There are a few fields were it would actually be okay to see this; such as home improvement stores. I'll ask the guy in the dirt-stained pants and scuffed boots because I recognize he probably has more work experience than the one with fresh-anything.

Your statement gives the impression of "My personal beliefs are higher and I take them more to heart than whatever you[employer] say." If this is your belief to something as unimportant as appearance, they, and I, wouldn't trust you with more important tasks.

[Rageaholic]

Hobbs, I know how it works, I studied psychology, but it doesn't change my view on it.

I actually posted a thread about being judged on arbitrary crap in the past.

http://www.fratching.com/showthread.php?t=2263

Oh, and sorry if I came across as overly blunt in my previous reply. I didn't mean any hostility, I just have a strong dislike of pseudo psychology.

[Hobbs]

Hobbs, I know how it works, I studied psychology, but it doesn't change my view on it.

I actually posted a thread about being judged on arbitrary crap in the past.

http://www.fratching.com/showthread.php?t=2263

Oh, and sorry if I came across as overly blunt in my previous reply. I didn't mean any hostility, I just have a strong dislike of pseudo psychology.

Oh, no need to apologize. I just wanted to make sure that my post was being taken without an personal attack/criticism of you.

On a separate note, I see a person who dresses nicely to an interview as a symbol of respect. After all, you want to have a mutual respect in the workplace between worker and manager. A military example would be that, since I'm the uniform manager, if a cadet comes up to me in sloppy attire, it shows lack of respect and care. It also shows that they don't respect my position or job since it was my job to clothe them.

[DrFaroohk]

What I hate is you never know what to expect. They always throw one good curveball question at me anyway, which I can usually somewhat struggle through, but also you never know what they are looking for.

A lot of it is bullshit that has been passed down from another bullshitter. The interviewer doesn't give a shit that you didn't maintain eye contact for 100% of the interviewer, but someone told him it matters, so he's judging you based on that.

They like to make these assumptions sometimes like "OMG his shoes aren't shined, that means he hates Jews!" Exaggeration I know but in all seriousness there's a difference between being a slob and having a minor imperfection with your appearance. To one person it says "He doesn't care about his shoes so I know he won't care about his job" when really its "he was so busy caring about his job that he forgot about his shoes."

[elsporko]

Most interview questions are just to find out if you have the experience and background to do well in the job and if you are a total moron. If the interviewer asks a question and the interviewee sits silent for three minutes before giving a one word answer then he probably isn't the best choice for the job with lots of customer interaction.


As for clothes, they show you care about making a good impression, and are serious about wanting to be hired. It takes very little time to look nice. Depending on the job you can get away with khaki pants and a collared shirt as long as they are cleaned and ironed. Even putting on a suit and tie will only take at most ten minutes of your busy life (if you have trouble with the tie) Its not like its a big deal and definitely worth it if you actually want to get hired. If I had a choice between two candidates for a position who had the same background and skills I'm going to go with the person I think wants the job more.

[Fryk]

Hobbes, what about the people like me, who don't really have the money to spend on decent clothes right now. I will grant you that when I go to an interview, I make sure that whatever I'm wearing is the closest I can get to dressed up, and that I am groomed, but I can't really spend the money on decent shirts and ties right now.

I actually don't mind the interview process. I interview very well, I am a fast enough thinker and (I guess) a good enough BSer that I rarely have any problems. What I hate is the whole application process. I hate having to run around, burning gas to fill out and drop off applications, then having to call and call and call trying to get ahold of the person responsible for interviews. I hate knowing that all my efforts will amount to nothing if the person who took my application "didn't like my face" or whatever, or that after all that effort, the company decided to fill the position internally. I hate that in most places around here, you practically have to harass the person responsible for interviews to get them off their ass and do their fucking job, or that the owner does the hiring and he's off on vacation or whatever until 2061.

Once I get past those hurtles, I can usually get myself hired, but damn! The interview process is usually harder than the job itself!

[telecom_goddess]

I have to agree with Rageaholic I think it's BS myself. But...while being judged on superficial crap in the interview is bad...it's even worse when it happens during the course of the job. Like mine for instance...I have a technical job and I'm in my dark corner on my computer all day programming and whatnot. What shoes I'm wearing and what "perception" I'm giving off doesn't freaking matter! As long as I get the work done and things get accomplished, that's what matters.

I'm the type that I don't give a damn what I look like really...I like to be comfy and wear comfy shoes. I don't want to deal with makeup and heels and all that crap. I just sit and pour out the work...leave me alone

[Rageaholic]

What I hate is you never know what to expect. They always throw one good curveball question at me anyway, which I can usually somewhat struggle through, but also you never know what they are looking for.

A lot of it is bullshit that has been passed down from another bullshitter. The interviewer doesn't give a shit that you didn't maintain eye contact for 100% of the interviewer, but someone told him it matters, so he's judging you based on that.

They like to make these assumptions sometimes like "OMG his shoes aren't shined, that means he hates Jews!" Exaggeration I know but in all seriousness there's a difference between being a slob and having a minor imperfection with your appearance. To one person it says "He doesn't care about his shoes so I know he won't care about his job" when really its "he was so busy caring about his job that he forgot about his shoes."

I knew you would understand this. You really don't know what to expect in interviews. The interview I just got done with was going well until I was asked a question about my tie. I didn't know how to answer it because while I did dress up for this interview, I didn't agonize over it too much. I am not perfect, especially when it comes to clothing.

And you know what? those dress shirts are a bitch wear properly, all those buttons, collars, bah! Far more trouble than it's worth, but employers assume that people who care about all these little things will make them care about their job. Well excuse me for only caring about shit that actually matters! I try not to be OCD about this stuff, but interviews make that impossible.

[DrFaroohk]

I knew you would understand this. You really don't know what to expect in interviews. The interview I just got done with was going well until I was asked a question about my tie. I didn't know how to answer it because while I did dress up for this interview, I didn't agonize over it too much. I am not perfect, especially when it comes to clothing.

And you know what? those dress shirts are a bitch wear properly, all those buttons, collars, bah! Far more trouble than it's worth, but employers assume that people who care about all these little things will make them care about their job. Well excuse me for only caring about shit that actually matters! I try not to be OCD about this stuff, but interviews make that impossible.

Try being vastly overweight and the best clothes you can afford are still a size too small. My pants look like sweatpants after I've had them on for an hour and if I don't breathe AND suck in my gut I can almost squeeze into my button up shirt.

Anyway the point being that even dressed up I look awkward and unpresentable. I'd probably look better in a more relaxed dress, but that says I don't care about anything.

[Stormraven]

One of my biggest peeves was always the idiotic idea that one has to wear a dress shirt and tie to look professional.

In the Air Force, I guarantee that I looked professional wearing slacks, a button down shirt and no tie.

In my last job, I looked professional wearing simple casual pants (no jeans) and polo shirts. Professional is an image that one can manage in any attire.

As far as interviews go, my biggest gripe is that I've had maybe two in almost two years. Right now, I'd love to worry about how I was dressed and whether I answered their questions right.

[Fryk]

I just finished an interview today. Went in a polo shirt and dressy jeans. They seemed to like me enough. They called me back for a second interview before I even got home from the first! Luckily, my wife caught the call and called me on the cell, so I was able to turn right around and go back. Now, all that's left is peeing in a cup and crossing my fingers.