This one is especially appropriate for me since I just got laid off last week after 10 years with the same company. I'll be putting this advice to good use in my subsequent interviews, you can bet yer ass!
I recently got a new job offer. All the signs were wrong, the organising manager dropped out at the last minute. Interview went well. Two hourly rates were mentioned, I indicated I had a preference for the higher rate. The interviewer laughed and agreed. Now I am worried to put my notice in in case it all falls through - what the hell I can afford a fez if need be.
I have read your webcomic in its entirety and I APPROVE! I can't recall the exact comic, but at one point I laughed so hard that I slapped my desk and broke an ugly pink lamp given to me on my birthday. God bless you, Scott!
i'd laugh, but I feel to crummy to do much right now . . . never NEVER go to a concert that ends at 11 @ night, then get up @ 5 am the next morning. Trust me.
Scott, have you thought about hiding an extra joke in the text that pops-up when you hover your mouse over the picture, xkcd-style? Currently it just says the name of the comic, and I often feel like the comics, while delightful (basic instructions is my favorite comic) often feel like they need just a little something extra. Anyway, great comic.
The clothes remind me of my first job after I got out of the military. I was applying for an aircraft electrician job at a local defense contractor. I didn't really want the job; I wanted to loaf for awhile but the employment office told me I had to go, so I put on faded jeans, a grey pullover hoody with seed burns in it, and a tattered F-15 Eagle cap. Little did I know that I was EXACTLY dressing the part. Yes, everyone who worked there dressed like bums, so I looked like I already worked there. I got the job and stayed 5 miserable years.
Other BS Questions (I've actually been asked on interviews) : "Did you ever steal from your past employer?" "If someone takes money out of the till and puts it back the next day, did they steal?" "Where do you see yourself in five years?"(asked at a telemarketing interview) "Who referred you for this job?" (asked as a temp from a temp agency filling a temp job) "If you were a shape, what would you be?" (no joke, it was a serious question asked in a serious tone.) "What do you usually wear to work?"(asked at a office job interview, by someone in torn jeans) "Did you ever have any conflicts with your supervisors?"(again, at a telemarketing job) Last, and possibly best: "What makes you think you're qualified for the position?" (this was asked after a three-day 8 hours per day testing session in which only those that passed %90 or better were actually interviewed)
I always felt the BS questions were to see whether you had the needed ability to BS when dealing with customers. If you can't handle an annoying question from a potential superior in the company, how would you possibly handle dealing with an irate and annoying customer?
Yes, very nice strip indeed. I have yet to actually attend a formal job interview. Though, many of my friends have. I wonder if they have seen it yet....
I recommend you get yourself a fez and smoking jacket so your first one will be the last job interview you ever need! For myself, I like to wear my "Renaissance serving wench" outfit...
Can we request strips for the tee-shirts? My son is really into poker and I'd like to get him the one where the panel is a guy thinking "Now all I need is 3 more Jacks". Actually the only time I have seen him consistently lose was playing (no money changed hands) his 8 year old cousin that didn't actually know how to play. The 8 year old had a little luck and was impssible to "read".
i have actually used a variation of the 'super-competent' answer, when i knew i had seen enough and had no desire to work there! i have also, at different interviews, truthfully confessed to being a slob, being unpunctual, and lacking patience with clients and coworkers. astonishingly, i've never been unemployed until 'leaving work' (ahahaha) to look after my baby, a job i was sadly untrained and totally unqualified for. the only interview for this employment was with my husband, who was similarly clueless about parenting, and the conversation was pretty much like frames 2 and 3 above.
I had an interview where the only question asked was "Do you do drugs?" My answer was, of course, "No siree" (which was a wicked lie) and I got the job. It didnt' warrant more interviewing though since the work was menial and within the skills-range of a trained monkey - even if he were high. I wasn't alone in receiving this technique and I always wondered if the manager really cared about drug habits or if he was just weeding out anyone dumb enough to say yes.
In an effort to guide you through the responses to those, in case they ever come up again [and they will]:
“Did you ever steal from your past employer?” You mean, more than office supplies?
“If someone takes money out of the till and puts it back the next day, did they steal?” [Actually had one of my current employees do that... short answer, yes, because she didn't get prior approval. That and accounting yelled at ME....]
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”(asked at a telemarketing interview) Doing your job. If God still hates me, that is...
“Who referred you for this job?” (asked as a temp from a temp agency filling a temp job) You're about to.
“If you were a shape, what would you be?” I'm already me-shaped.
“Did you ever have any conflicts with your supervisors?” I'm about to.
March 1, 2009
Reader Comments (35)
Wow! How'd you know that this is exactly how I got my current job Scott?
@ Jiggly McSickfingers:
With the Fez and everything?
This one is especially appropriate for me since I just got laid off last week after 10 years with the same company. I'll be putting this advice to good use in my subsequent interviews, you can bet yer ass!
"You are the complete opposite of every other applicant."
I would hire you based on the outfit alone.
If I were a hiring manager, anyone who shows up with a smoking jacket and a fez deserves the job and so much more.
If you wear a fez to an interview with me, you can consider the B.S. questions waived :D
Smoking jacket? You mean the traditional Native American herbal ceremonial garb?
I'm so happy to see the return of the smoking jacket. Keep it up!
My answer:
People tend to get blinded by my awesomeness and my attractiveness.
"I'm so Super Competent." BAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!
Fez = insta-win!
Also, I handle my interviews similarly, sans getup.
You have me doomed now, If I want to seek another job I would have on my mind only you on smoking jacket and fez.
I recently got a new job offer. All the signs were wrong, the organising manager dropped out at the last minute. Interview went well. Two hourly rates were mentioned, I indicated I had a preference for the higher rate. The interviewer laughed and agreed. Now I am worried to put my notice in in case it all falls through - what the hell I can afford a fez if need be.
Damn, five days too late to be any use...
I have read your webcomic in its entirety and I APPROVE! I can't recall the exact comic, but at one point I laughed so hard that I slapped my desk and broke an ugly pink lamp given to me on my birthday. God bless you, Scott!
i'd laugh, but I feel to crummy to do much right now . . . never NEVER go to a concert that ends at 11 @ night, then get up @ 5 am the next morning. Trust me.
Scott, have you thought about hiding an extra joke in the text that pops-up when you hover your mouse over the picture, xkcd-style? Currently it just says the name of the comic, and I often feel like the comics, while delightful (basic instructions is my favorite comic) often feel like they need just a little something extra. Anyway, great comic.
The clothes remind me of my first job after I got out of the military. I was applying for an aircraft electrician job at a local defense contractor. I didn't really want the job; I wanted to loaf for awhile but the employment office told me I had to go, so I put on faded jeans, a grey pullover hoody with seed burns in it, and a tattered F-15 Eagle cap. Little did I know that I was EXACTLY dressing the part. Yes, everyone who worked there dressed like bums, so I looked like I already worked there. I got the job and stayed 5 miserable years.
Wow - you actually got called to an interview? (Unemployed and NO, Not bitter, much)
OMG how much do I HATE the BS questions? Let me count the ways ...
Other BS Questions (I've actually been asked on interviews) :
"Did you ever steal from your past employer?"
"If someone takes money out of the till and puts it back the next day, did they steal?"
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"(asked at a telemarketing interview)
"Who referred you for this job?" (asked as a temp from a temp agency filling a temp job)
"If you were a shape, what would you be?" (no joke, it was a serious question asked in a serious tone.)
"What do you usually wear to work?"(asked at a office job interview, by someone in torn jeans)
"Did you ever have any conflicts with your supervisors?"(again, at a telemarketing job)
Last, and possibly best:
"What makes you think you're qualified for the position?" (this was asked after a three-day 8 hours per day testing session in which only those that passed %90 or better were actually interviewed)
I always felt the BS questions were to see whether you had the needed ability to BS when dealing with customers. If you can't handle an annoying question from a potential superior in the company, how would you possibly handle dealing with an irate and annoying customer?
Yes, very nice strip indeed. I have yet to actually attend a formal job interview. Though, many of my friends have. I wonder if they have seen it yet....
I recommend you get yourself a fez and smoking jacket so your first one will be the last job interview you ever need! For myself, I like to wear my "Renaissance serving wench" outfit...
Haha! Nice...
Can we request strips for the tee-shirts? My son is really into poker and I'd like to get him the one where the panel is a guy thinking "Now all I need is 3 more Jacks". Actually the only time I have seen him consistently lose was playing (no money changed hands) his 8 year old cousin that didn't actually know how to play. The 8 year old had a little luck and was impssible to "read".
Just had to stop by and say that this comment had me laughing hard.
Nice one.
And by that, I really did mean comic and not comment. My comment had no pretense of humor.
i have actually used a variation of the 'super-competent' answer, when i knew i had seen enough and had no desire to work there! i have also, at different interviews, truthfully confessed to being a slob, being unpunctual, and lacking patience with clients and coworkers. astonishingly, i've never been unemployed until 'leaving work' (ahahaha) to look after my baby, a job i was sadly untrained and totally unqualified for. the only interview for this employment was with my husband, who was similarly clueless about parenting, and the conversation was pretty much like frames 2 and 3 above.
I had an interview where the only question asked was "Do you do drugs?"
My answer was, of course, "No siree" (which was a wicked lie) and I got the job.
It didnt' warrant more interviewing though since the work was menial and within the skills-range of a trained monkey - even if he were high.
I wasn't alone in receiving this technique and I always wondered if the manager really cared about drug habits or if he was just weeding out anyone dumb enough to say yes.
> ...and the conversation was pretty much like frames 2 and 3 above.
That's comedy gold, right there.
this is somewhat what my interview with bruce went like.
I'm almost certian that you will get the job!....................but only if you wore the luchadore mask
In an effort to guide you through the responses to those, in case they ever come up again [and they will]:
“Did you ever steal from your past employer?”
You mean, more than office supplies?
“If someone takes money out of the till and puts it back the next day, did they steal?”
[Actually had one of my current employees do that... short answer, yes, because she didn't get prior approval. That and accounting yelled at ME....]
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”(asked at a telemarketing interview)
Doing your job. If God still hates me, that is...
“Who referred you for this job?” (asked as a temp from a temp agency filling a temp job)
You're about to.
“If you were a shape, what would you be?”
I'm already me-shaped.
“Did you ever have any conflicts with your supervisors?”
I'm about to.