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I actually managed to apply for a job.
I found it rather taxing.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:46, archived)
KICK ASS
I'm going to look to do some voluntary work at weekends or something.
(I helped save b3ta! MrA, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:47, archived)
Why voluntary?

(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:51, archived)
Because paid work is more difficult to get.

(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:53, archived)
Only if you're too fussy and self-important.

(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:54, archived)
Rubbish.
I got voluntary work without a formal interview or even an application form. I just went in there. And they didn't care how many hours I worked or when I turned up.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:55, archived)
In the last job interview I attended,
the only pertinent questions were "have you done this before?" and "can you get here on time?"

As I answered in the affirmative to both questions, and (according to the interviewer) seemed to have more sense on me than all the other applicants put together, I got the job.
(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:00, archived)
Well bully for you.
I have never had a job interview that even remotely resembles that. And it's not because I don't apply for the sort of jobs that if I post the advert on here, I get a string of replies saying "I wouldn't get out of bed for that much".
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:00, archived)
Not many interviews at all are like that.

(I helped save b3ta! Esme Weatherwax I swear on my tash it's daycent hash, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:05, archived)
Tell me about it.
I've wasted far too much time applying for jobs that were way over my head.
(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:08, archived)
I've had 20-minute interviews for jobs that wouldn't have gone over my head if I'd been standing on it,
and I've been called up the next week to be told I hadn't been selected for a second one.

You're right, it's a waste of time applying for stuff that you're blatantly unqualified for, but I really don't think I've been doing that.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:10, archived)
Maybe you should present your qualifications so that they look as if they're on the level required, and not too far above/below?

(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:13, archived)
Well I do get more interviews if I don't mention my degree,
but I don't see how this has any bearing on whether they have a second round of interviews or not, or even whether they bother to stretch the first one out to 20 minutes.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:15, archived)
well I have a full time job (software engineer)
but I miss helping people directly, so, voluntary stuff might scratch the itch.
(I helped save b3ta! MrA, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:54, archived)
I had an interview on Friday.
I am not good at interviews.
(I helped save b3ta! idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Mon 11 May 2009, 22:50, archived)
Me neither.

(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:50, archived)
Your skill at interviews is not the determinative factor of success.
It's simply whether they want to know and hire you.
(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:52, archived)
Don't they decide that based on what you were like in the interview?
Admittedly, it's down to more than simply whether you seem confident in your own competence, but still, there's definitely some degree of skill involved, I'd say.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:53, archived)
The decision is usually made within the first 30 seconds - the rest of it is, for the most part, irrelevant.

(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:55, archived)
Yes but based on how you come across in the interview during those 30 seconds.
Although I guess your physical appearance might have something to do with it to some extent, which there isn't a lot you can do about, but I've seen ugly people with jobs.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 22:57, archived)
It's a nice bit of social partitioning for sure, especially now as there are no qualifications below a Ph.D that actually hold any weight.

(I helped save b3ta! The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:01, archived)
The one I just applied for
was only asking for a grade C in GCSE English, and one other subject.

I reckon this 30 seconds thing is actually just a lot of management training twaddle. They talk a lot of high-octane shit, that lot.
(I helped save b3ta! Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:02, archived)
Depends on the job, I'm pretty sure.
Also, there are plenty of non-academic qualifications that are of value.
(I helped save b3ta! MooCow_Byter, Mon 11 May 2009, 23:44, archived)