Got any interesting job-hunting stories?

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2001

Answers

na. but dodge neon's are pretty sweet.

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2001

About half way through my almost year long unemployment stint, I had one interview that was going well. I was qualified for the job, they liked me and I liked them, etc etc etc. Then they mentioned one job requirement that wasn't listed in the ad from the paper. Had it been listed, I never would have applied and wouldn't have wasted my time, or theirs. The requirement? A car. Which, at the time, I didn't have. The chick interviewing me even had the nerve to ask if I was going to get one. Ha, yeah, if someone was going to PAY for it, AND gas, AND insurance, AND upkeep. Yeah, suuurrre, then I'd get a car. Humph.

-- Anonymous, June 17, 2001

Something like that happened to me when I first moved here. Thrifty Car Rental put an ad in the paper saying they were hiring a customer service person at the airport (Newport News/Williamsburg Intl). I go in for an interview, where I'm told that they're actually hiring for the Williamsburg/Jamestown airport (if you really want to call it that). Um, false advertising much? I told them I didn't have a car, and they were like, "That's a problem." Yeah, no shit...

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Thats kind of funny, even though you told me the story before, Katie. You are trying out for a car rental job, and they have a problem with you not having a car. Seems like they'd jump all over that opportunity.

Anyhow, I have lots of job hunting stories... as I spent the last four and a half months talking about in my journal.

Anyhow..

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

i want to know what happened to all of the summer jobs! i've applied at numerous places, but no one wants to spend the time training someone who they'll only get three months work out of. i don't understand...

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

I'm also having that problem with the summer jobs. I thought it would be OK because I spent part of my year off last year working at a clothing shop and when I left they said to make sure and give them a call this summer because they really wanted me back. So I did, and they were like, 'Er, what?' So I've been applying at other places, but nothing so far. Looks like it'll be Macdonalds....

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

I'm job hunting as well, and I often see the ad in the paper like this:

"Wanted : Sandwich hand. Must have experience"

I'm not going for it, but they want someone EXPERIENCED at making sandwiches?

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Actually, sounds to me like they want someone with a sandwich for a hand...

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

Yeah, job-hunting sucks. I used to say that only a fool leaves a job without something else lined up. But I was a lot more responsible and a lot less disillusioned then. I think I may be the king of crappy jobs or at least of being too ADD to deal with a boring job.

When I first came back to Y-town, after my first semester away at college, I spent months looking for jobs. I do well in interviews, so I was just like, get me away from this piece of paper and in front of a real person. And it ended up being true. I got an interview, I got a job. 20 apps and 2 months later. I think I stayed at that job for a year just so I didn't have to go through all the madness again. But I was 18 then.

Now I'm 21 and I feel like I've worked in every piece of crap industry that survives off paying the unskilled and the youth jack squat while owners get fat pockets. I've spent the last two years in restaurants and the two years before that in retail. So, I'm a little jaded I guess. I've been basically unemployed since January.

I guess none of this is very interesting. One of my friends put in an application at the Ramada on JClyde, who are apparently so in need of help that they've resorted to using their streetside marquee to advertise this need. Yeah, that was weeks ago, and he's not heard anything. So now everytime we drive by there, we slow down to make sure the "NOW HIRING" sign is still scrolling through, and then we honk the horn and speed off. Isn't angst wonderful?

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

I hate that. I've applied at so many places that are "desperate," and yet they never call my ass. Um, thanks.

What I hate is when you go somewhere, do two interviews, and then they don't even call you (after they said they would) to tell you that you suck. I'm still bitter about Days Inn... mofos...

-- Anonymous, June 18, 2001

I would be bitter, too. Assholes.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2001

I wish I could get a new job. Now that I have one I don't want to give it up but it's pathetic. Five-year-old managers with fire-on-the- spot tendencies. The only thing is, I don't want to work anywhere else.

-- Anonymous, June 19, 2001

My personal pet hate is the new "mail out" technique aussie employers are now using.

What they do is send you a letter saying 'yeh, we got your application, we'll contact you if we require you for an interview' and then you never hear from them again.

Like, why did you bother, if you're not gonna call?

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2001

They probably do that so people won't be calling all the time, asking "did you get my application?"

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001

Sepnt two months last summer looking for a summer job... it was horrid. Many "we'll call yous" and no calls. It was bizarre since I'd had at least one part time job since I was thirteen.. usually two. I eventually begged my boyfriend's best friend's dad for a job. 'Twas one of the lesser nerve racking interview experiences I've had since they were interviewing three people and hiring two... and I don't think his dad had the nerve NOT to hire me. Oh well.. it worked out well - I worked my ass off for about three weeks, then my boss realized we were getting the project done too fast. Hence, after that I spent at least three quarters of my day surfing the internet. woo.

This year after one month of unemployment I gave my resume to my dad's drinking buddy who gave it to his wife who is head of human resources at a large hospital (and i actually did okay on my interview, apparently, since they hired me the next day). Yea job! (even though the only thing i do all day is scan documents into the computer and try not to fuck up the photocopier). At least it's not retail - argh.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2001