I Need a Job Already

I don’t enjoy job interviews. Does anyone? In the past I have found myself spazzy and nearly completely unable to think. Of course, I haven’t had to go through many interviews in my life. I’ve worked several jobs, and I suppose each of those came with an interview, but for the most part, when you interview for a retail job, the interviewer just wants to make sure you can speak in complete sentences while maintaining an appropriate amount of eye contact. And then they hire you on the spot.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve been to many interviews in which I didn’t get the job. When I was 15 or so I applied to work at the House of Music in Ala Moana. Is that still there? The manager at the time called me in for an interview (my first one, ever,) and proceeded to give me the impression that he liked me. Then he tried to tell me that my availability *might* not be something they could work with. But he never did say, “sorry, we are unable to hire you at this time.” He kind of gave me the runaround. Anyhow, after that I pretty much got every job I interviewed for.

I think I’ve sent out at least thirty resumes and cover letters. You know what sucks? They tell you over and over again in school to double, triple, quadrupal check your resume and cover letter, ensuring that there are NO TYPOS. It sucks when you send something off to a potential employer, applying for a job that you’re totally interested in – the kind with wonderful pay, super hours, and even a company gym – and after sending it, you realize that you sent off that stupid cover letter with a typo. Yes, this happened to me more than once. Of course I shouldn’t be admitting it here, where a future employer could see how careless and unfocused I am…

I’m getting the hang of it now. The problem was that most job applications are submitted online. Times sure have changed. So, if you’re submitting these things online, chances are you aren’t even printing off hard copies of these letters and resumes. You’re just reading and correcting them off the screen. I’ve learned that printing them off for the corrections is totally worth both the paper AND printer ink.

So of those thirty or so resumes, I’ve been called in for four interviews. Two of those jobs I lost to “more qualified” applicants. One was a “Placement Company” which I did work with for about a month, and one was an interview that I went to today. When you look at those numbers, 30 resumes, 4 interviews, 2 outright rejections, it’s a little discouraging. Jim reminds me that I’ve probably never been in this kind of economy. I’m also not willing to work for minimum wage anymore. Incidentally I did not get spazzy today, as the interviewer was very good and able to put me completely at ease. (There’s a second one tomorrow, so I’m thinking today went well.)

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