Job Applications / Interviews

[TRXnMe]

Well, apologies for this in advance if it annoys anyone, and yes, I ought to get a blog, but I'm looking for some feedbacck for my musings...

I got a 'cold call' on Monday, am I interested in a new position, role and responsbility in my capabilities, but salary 15 ~ 20% lower than I'm on now. I liked the sound of the job, but told them I wasn't up for that rate of pay, sorry

Tuesday I get another call from the same lot, they'll match my current salary, even add a bit, if I'm the right candidate for the job.... I say 'go on then, I'll see you at the interview'. I've now got an inbox full of survey stuff. They reckon I'm looking at 3 hours of English, Maths and Logical reasoning if I want to get to the person on person interview.

Now I've not seriously looked for work in 14 years (reasonably happy where I am), I've had a few person to person interviews following similar cold calls, but not accepted any of the jobs for various reasons. Due to circumstances I'm now actually interested in a new position, but, is it normal to be put through 3 hours of pre interview interogation in this day and age?

I can do the job no worries, probably less grief than I've got now, definitely less risk of redundancy so I'm going to do the tests, thing is, if I don't get it, am I going to have to do this for every dratted interview over the next 15 years until my pension kicks in???

 

[PD]

send them a message.....
You are at the moment in work but fancy the chance of bettering yourself. You can do the job they are advertising, no problem.
However you are not prepared for several weeks of form filling and aptitude testing in basic maths and english to get the opportunity of an interview .. your time is too important for that.
You are available at a moments notice for a one to one interview and look forward to hearing from them......



At least you said your happy in your present job.....

 

[ryanshelton]

Unfortunately there are more people looking for jobs than there are actual jobs so any employer has the pick of the bunch. For every job we advertise we get over 100 applicants .

My advise, if your serious, stick to it and do the forms

 

[LeithR]

Employers, these days are playing the game on the basis that they have the whip hand, I'm not sure they do but that's how it seems. And, it depends on where in the country you are based, here in Aberdeen for instance they are short of good candidates for most jobs.

There was a programme on TV last night about decisions being made intuitively, not withstanding all the frippery employers put around the interview which kind of knocks this 3 hour exam melarky into a cocked hat.

I'd support PD's suggested approach, show interest in your response but don't put yourself out, and if they are interested they'll get back to you.

For god sake its more than I had to do for my MSc finals, I seem to recall I had 2 x 3 hr exams. It was 20 years ago!

 

[TRXnMe]

The MSc exams I sat were around that, 2 x 3 hours exams, plus 'a few' assignments and 20,000 words of thesis

The B.Eng were worse, similar length of thesis but over a dozen exams of at least 2 hours each spread over the final 2 semesters.

My professional qualifications weren't much fun either, the National Diploma exams were on par with the MSc, except quite a bit easier to get my head around. The environmental qualifications were around 4 hours of exams.

I've just taken session 1, took 15 minutes as it was reckoned to take 25, so looking reasonably good.

I'm going to do the tests, if only for practice, the first set of verbal reasoning was quite good fun, the math looks to be a little more challenging, but nothing I can't handle sober :)

What got me is that THEY approached me, based on speaking to a couple of companies I deal with, and having decided I'm worth cold calling they THEN send me a shed load of paperwork

Thinking about the last 5 years of recruitment where I work this might not be too unusual. Indeed it seems to be the case for any position where you might have to make a decision at some time or other, although based on my recently recruited colleagues it seems to find people who avoid them like the plague!

 

[dennisdk2000]

This is very much how things at done these days. Consider yourself lucky: a) you've got a job; b) sounds like you got plenty experience and qualifications; c) people are interested enough in what you can do to approach you.
I'm currently looking for work. I do have a job at the moment, but I hate it, to the point of getting a knot on my stomach when I have to go in. I have to stay until I find something else as I have bills to pay. The only formal qualification I hold is a National Diploma in Professional Dance, not something that is considered hugely transferrable. I looked at going back to college, but as the Diploma is equal to a level 6 NVQ, same as a BA (Hons), I can only go for a Masters, unless I fancy paying full tuition fees, as in ~£15000/year for three years!
So I'd bite the bullet and do the tests, especially if you like the sound of the other job.

Dennis

 

[RobWalker]

Employment these days is nothing short of ridiculous. I once failed a psychological test to work at Beaverbrookes. A f*cking JEWELLERS who pay minimum wage said I wasn't what they were psychologically looking for without so much as a single human interaction. Seriously, what?

 

[kentmark]

My thought would be that if you politely refuse the tests (regardless of the merit of them) they will just drop you from.the interview process. They would assume you're obstructive hence not the type of person they are looking for.

Pain in the butt isn't it? I had one interview a couple of years ago, had a 2 hour drive each way to the interview location, 2 hour interview including delivering a presentation. All the feedback i got when I didn't get the job was "there wasn't anything wrong with you just someone else got the position". That cost me a days leave!!

 

[Titch]

I have a 2 nd interview next week. 4hr drive there and back 1hr competancey based .
Crazy hey.

 

[winelight]

Some of what an employer will do as part of the interview / pre-interview process is actually psychologically testing you. Seeing how you respond to a call at 5pm asking you to come for an interview at 9am the next day 5 hours drive away, that kind of thing. Well, maybe not that extreme, but you see what I mean. An employer was explaining this on R4 the other day, and about how they chose a minimum-wage coffee shop assistant from 1,700 applicants using techniques like this.

Yes. That's how choosy employers can be these days.

 

[TRXnMe]

It's looking good, got the math test to complete tomorrow, hope it's as challenging as the verbal reasoning was last night it was actually quite fun :)

I'm still not sure I'll take it if I pass all the hoop jumping, but as I've not really tried for a job with a 'proper' company in 8 years this will be good experience if nothing else.

I've had a chat with a friend in HR today, not related to my application, just to applications in general. It would appear that what I'm undergoing is very much standard for any mid ranking to senior position with any company so as I'm probably going to need a job in the next 5 years I'm going through the process in order to get some practice if nothing else, the fact I'm enjoying the mental challenge is a bonus

@ Dennis, I left school in 1981 with an O level in Physics and chuff all else, since then I've worked stupid hours to get a B.Eng, used the wages from that to get an MSc, used the money from that to get some EHS qualifications. I do not consider myself lucky, I worked 60+ hour weeks as routine to get where I am now.

 

[dennisdk2000]

It's looking good, got the math test to complete tomorrow, hope it's as challenging as the verbal reasoning was last night it was actually quite fun :)

I'm still not sure I'll take it if I pass all the hoop jumping, but as I've not really tried for a job with a 'proper' company in 8 years this will be good experience if nothing else.

I've had a chat with a friend in HR today, not related to my application, just to applications in general. It would appear that what I'm undergoing is very much standard for any mid ranking to senior position with any company so as I'm probably going to need a job in the next 5 years I'm going through the process in order to get some practice if nothing else, the fact I'm enjoying the mental challenge is a bonus

@ Dennis, I left school in 1981 with an O level in Physics and chuff all else, since then I've worked stupid hours to get a B.Eng, used the wages from that to get an MSc, used the money from that to get some EHS qualifications. I do not consider myself lucky, I worked 60+ hour weeks as routine to get where I am now.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I meant, be pleased that because you've worked hard, people now WANT to hire you. All the best with the process, I sincerely hope you get the job.

Dennis

 

[TRXnMe]

Dennis, no worries. I can get snappy when someone suggest that the results of hard work are lucky, whether it's projects at work, passing exams, getting the promotion etc. I'm rarely actually offended, I just snap a bit....

Had an email late lst night, assuming I pass the tests (done the math today, by 'eck was it hard) I can expect an interview some time between Thursday and Wednesday the week after.

Seeming like they are in a heck of a hurry, I'm wondering if they haven't got some problems that need urgent attention, frying pan ~ fire .....

The interview will be intersting if I get to one.

 

[TRXnMe]

Found out today I didn't get it, although I did pass the on line tests :)

Apparently they wanted someone with more environmental experience, despite my qualifications excceeding what they wanted and my having more experience with permit management and 14001.

I suspect a younger, less expensive, group of candidates are going to the interview

On the plus side, the consultant has a couple of other similar roles in the offing, if he wins the work he'll put me forwards for one of them, I may be moving before long anyway.

 

[Cornish Knocker]

Bad luck, sorry to hear that, it's not always the best person who gets the job, unless you get it of course!!

 

[Robbo]

Fortunately I'm a retired soldier, served 22 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

I would hate to have to start all over again, there are so many people looking and applying for the same jobs.

 

[Titch]

I was in London last week for the 2nd interview. Just had a call today didn't get it. was down to 3 people.
Waiting on feedback. Last interview I was over qualified as well. And told I would get bored after a month .
Onwards dear friend

Always repeat after each interview rejection,

Didn't want the bloody job anyway "