Yes dear reader, sadly I am still looking for a job. Don’t get me wrong I love not working, boredom does not occur, I can always find something to do, however this will not pay the bills. I am getting fed up with constantly applying, searching, calling agencies for very little back. Then there is the Interviews, I have had three of late, all very different experiences which is not so surprising as all for a variety of roles.
Interview one was with a well known telecom company, I was asked various questions by a child (!) and was then notified that I had not made it through to the next round. To be fair my heart wasn’t in it, the job entailed working 6 Saturdays out of 10 and 2 Sunday’s, and so when I was asked what my career ambitions were I answered “I am 52 years old and just want to work till retirement, other than that I have no ambition ” I think that’s what they call interview suicide, but C”est Le vie!
Interview two was for a job I really, really, really wanted. I was asked a series of questions, these were written down sent off to the HR department who subsequently let me know another candidate scored higher. Now I don’t have a problem with that other than being gutted by not getting the job, but it irks somewhat that someone has the job I wanted all because he/she said they would check the wiper blades in a pre vehicle check, whereas I didn’t! Who decided that points should dictate who gets a job rather than a human, the world is mad.
Just when I thought things could not get any more bizarre, interview three happened! It was a group interview, 9 of us in total, question 1……….
“If you were a coffee, what coffee would you be and why? (Answers in comments please!) I don’t drink coffee so this was not easy for me!
Then:-Take a toilet roll, tear off as many squares as you want and give us a fact about yourself for each square! Followed by tell everyone three things, two true, one false. (Assume these were ice breaking activities)
Then we were split in to threes, activity one was to build a construction out of newspaper, that would hold a book. (Teamwork)
Role play-dealing with a difficult customer, (I hate role play, but granted this is relevant)
What makes excellent customer service!
The whole process took three hours! Honestly three hours? I’ve not applied to be CEO, this is a minimum wage job, a three hour interview someone is having a laugh!
Anyway I run Ultras, this will not get me down, I will not be beat, I will persevere like I do whilst on those Ultras, I will dig deep, I will succeed and 2018 will be a year with a new career adventure!
shazruns 
Good luck with the job hunt shazza. Hopefully just the right job is waiting for you! If I was a coffee btw I would be a mocha, sweet without being sugary, but stimulating! 😂😂 in my dreams!
Great answer. X
I think employees (ie seemingly normal people like you and me) have lost the ability to use common sense and think for themselves … what does ‘what coffee are you’ tell you about a prospective employee exactly? ummm lets see, now if you say gingerbread latte then you’re too sweet? if you like a black americano then you’re too simple? mental totally mental …. building newspaper towers is for feckin kindergarten, I mean, hello? have they got no imagination, jeez!! I feel I am more angry about this interview than you are for you !!! Who are they?! name and shame! TBH if that’s how you get treated for a minimum wage interview then who’d want to work for them!! Come work for me 🙂 you can make giant sweets and paint lifesize gingerbread men 🙂 and I’ll pay you way above minimum wage (if you bring homemade cake every day :))) xxx
Omg Elaine, this has made me cry and laugh all at the same time, I can just imagine the conversation we would have whilst running about this! God I would love to come and work for you, sod the commute I’m on my way! 😘
I’m coming to work for a Elaine too! 😍
You have to bring cake!
No YOU have to bring cake 😂😂😂 I’m going to Gin School I will bring Gin! Oh god how much work will we get done?
Christ don’t tell Elaine that she will hire you right away!
Where do you live? What area are you looking for work in? What type of work? I worked in recruitment for about 15 years. May be able to give you a pointer or two.
Thanks Dan. I’m in Devon. Struggling with recruitment agencies, seems like they not interested!
Speak to Dan!
P.s. dannyhunt555@gmail.com
Keep hunting Shaz, the right job will come up for you. As to the coffee. Let me think. My favourite coffee to drink is a flat white but if I could be a coffee I would be a Turkish Coffee. It comes in small pretty cups. But when truly tasted it’s hot and sweet and bitter all at the same time. It has personality and punch! Haha! Seriously a three hour group interview? Ugh. I do believe in the art of bullshit to get the job that we want 🙂 hang in there xxx
Great answer Annie, I would give you the job!
Thanks for sharing the nightmare Shaz
Not great for you… but an interesting read for the rest of us.
I’d be shocking if I had to interview for anything now. Stick with it, fine lady.
And because others have, I will also participate in the great, ‘what coffee would you be’ question….
…I would say I’m an Irish coffee – I’m warm, comforting, can make someone feel relaxed, but although I look kind of normal, if you get too close my smell gives me away.
I just knew you would give a great answer Phil! Happy Christmas to you and the other “notmuchof” ers! X
And a very Happy Christmas to you and family too. Look after your elves.
The Relics have thoroughly enjoyed all the above comments. We have a vision of all you bloggers lined up dressed as cups of coffee. Keep up the humour AND THE RUNNING.
I have just started the dreaded job hunt so feel your pain! Also now trying to decide what coffee I would be! Best of luck
Thank you and to you! On the upside you live in Vancouver-lucky thing!
Indeed, just got back from a run near the ocean. Vancouver is fabulous. Have an awesome week.
I love Vancouver, lived in Calgary for 10 years, but would have preferred Vancouver!