text; un: fireprince

[rediscovering]

1. what do you know about job interviews?
i didnt know you have to interview to get jobs. even if it's just at a restaurant!! regardless of whether the job itself involves talking to people at all!!? stupid

[ Guess who's been bombing interviews as a part-time busboy all over town. And who's only bothering to ask about proper employment beyond random quests, um, now, after several months of just getting by...? He must be getting tired of stealing hotchips from the cornerstore. ]

2. what do you know about going to school as a full-time student here?
i heard you can make a living like this
insight about going to school in other worlds could be useful too. i was homeschooled....

[ But at least he's thinking in terms of solutions. ]

Comments

Text | un: scientistatwork

[doctorintern]

Well, the main purpose of a job interview is to make sure that both parties will benefit from the hire. Not just for the place of employment, but for you as well, and make sure that the job meets your needs. The interview process also gives potential employers a window to the kind of employees that they might be hiring, so it's important to make a good impression.

[ So says someone who has also bombed many, many job interviews before getting hired as an unpaid intern. ]

[rediscovering]

but wouldnt they want an impression of the kind of skills i have, if i'd do a good job at the necessary tasks, more than my personality or whatever
if they're not hiring me for customer service then what's it matter, right

[doctorintern]

Well, not exactly. Getting some insight into your personality also helps give potential employers an idea of how you might get along with the other people working there. How you might handle criticism, how you might react to conflict, what you might do with unexpected changes and stressors. And even if the job itself isn't customer service, working in a restaurant means you'll have to interact with customers regardless, even if you just end up needing to get someone else to assist them.

While having the necessary skills is important, it isn't always the only thing employers need to consider when hiring.

[rediscovering]

how can i prove in one conversation that im good at all those things though?
especially if im not??
it's an unrealistic measure..

[doctorintern]

It can seem a little difficult. I've failed a lot of job interviews before, so I know it's tough.

But one way to get better at interviews is to practice. A lot of places ask similar questions, so maybe practice going over questions that potential employers might ask.

[rediscovering]

like what though??
ive only had two jobs
one was for my uncle so he didnt ask me any questions...... he's my uncle...
and then the other one the guy offered me on my first day in another world... he owned a restaurant and i'd told him i had already been a busboy at my uncle's teashop before so he just took me at my word and i did a good job so he kept me.
what are employers wanting to hear?? all the questions ive been asked are open-ended, so i can't tell what i'm supposed to say! how am i supposed to figure out the right answer like that?!

[ Socializing isn't a pop quiz, Zuko. Just that comment alone provides some insight into how this kid must be floundering in the interview seat. ]

[doctorintern]

[ That is definitely the impression that Fenton's getting, especially as someone who has failed his fair share of interviews. He can definitely understand the frustration. ]

There isn't a right or wrong answer. Interviews are all about how you present yourself, so that potential employers can see if it will be an appropriate fit.

Let's do this. What kind of questions have you been asked in your interviews, and how did you answer?

[rediscovering]

just simply "tell me about yourself"
is the worst question

what exactly are they wanting to hear when they say that???

asking about what i'd do with annoying customers is going poorly too
i don't know where i'm messing up but i know i feel awkward when they make up scenarios i might have to deal with
which are either so common and mundane that i dont see why theyre asking
or so unusual that it's never happened to me in almost a year total of working in this industry on two different planets and i still don't see why theyre asking
ive had like..... four interviews??? they've all gone badly in different ways. >:|

[ Whipping out his limited emojis, oh yeah ]

[doctorintern]

Hmm, okay. Let's go one step at a time.

So when they ask you to talk about yourself, what do you say?

[rediscovering]

well.. im sixteen.... ive worked in two teashops and a restaurant as a busboy before...
everyone's asked me if i went to school and i never have so they don't seem to like that answer..
they ask what i did instead and i dont know what to say
traveled?? but that just makes it sound like i was on some kind of permanent vacation or something and that was not the case at all

[doctorintern]

[ He frowns a bit; while he's a big supporter of education, it does strike him as odd they'd be bothered about him not going to school if he's just applying as a busyboy.

He decides not to mention that, though, because the other person is already agitated enough. ]

Okay...so in a case like that, you maybe say that while you didn't go to school, you had traveled to learn about different cultures, and gained real-world experience.

[ Broadening one's horizons was usually a good way to impress people. ]

[rediscovering]

oh. that's true.

[ Was he expecting to lie?! He's impressed by that ability to spin, though. ]

i have a lot of combat skill
is there a way i can make that sound relevant?
im well trained in swordsmanship and firebending... like fire magic.

[doctorintern]

A lot of the time, it isn't so much *what* you say, but *how* you say it.

[ At least from his experience. ]

With the firebending, you could already say that you have experience with working with fire, so that's already something.

As far as combat and swordsmanship, maybe say something about having learned discipline through having to practice, and being able to think on your feet.

[rediscovering]

that sounds great!!!
im writing these down

[doctorintern]

Glad to help!

Also try practicing saying them out loud. Practicing your answers can help to make you feel less nervous when it comes time for an interview.

[rediscovering]

yeah rehearsing important conversations is good, i do that already

what about speaking to future experience?
like back home i have a leadership role waiting for me but i was spirited away before i could begin
what could i say about that?

[doctorintern]

In that case, you could mention how you've been preparing for leadership back home, so you've been learning about decision-making, while still open to being taught more.

[rediscovering]

ok. true.

what about war

[ What about war, what kind of question is that griojsk ]

[doctorintern]

[ Yeah that uh...that is a question. ]

Well that...might start delving into "too much information" territory.

[rediscovering]

why
it's the truth
there's been a world war going on for 100 years where i'm from
i'm part of a resistance group launching a coup on my home country, which is an oppressive violent expansionist nation
can't that experience be relevant

[ No, it's TMI territory. Has he been mentioning this in interviews?! ]

[doctorintern]

Well it's...a bit much. There are some things that should still be considered personal.

[ Such as...war experience. ]

But if you really wanted to mention something, you could say that you work well in tough situations, and know how to resolve conflict.

Just maybe not mention the war part.

[rediscovering]

but then it just sounds like im full of hot air! >:\
i'll stick to thinking fast on my feet and being good at combat i guess
but without context it's much less impressive.....

[doctorintern]

It doesn't really have to be impressive, just as long as it's the truth.

[ While there's nothing wrong with wording things in a way to work well for the job, Fenton doesn't believe in lying to embellish a resume. ]

There is also such a thing as being over-qualified as well.

[rediscovering]

well yeah i already know im overqualified ive worked this job before
but i haven't done anything else......
busboy and server is the only proper work experience i have
but im not even good at serving! i dont like pretending to like strangers for money. uncle was better at it..

[doctorintern]

But potential employers don't have to know that. If they feel you're overqualified, then they might not hire you because they're afraid you might expect more than they can pay you.

[ It's definitely a tricky balance. ]

And you don't have to pretend to like the customers. You just have to be polite to them.