Interview tips, experiences wanted

[Thrilla]

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:
First job ever!!!!
Alrighty, so I went down to the store (the source by cc, sorta like radio shack) on Monday asking for an application form, they didn't have any and it's only online/phone. But looked like they needed ppl, so the guy there took my resume and told me to come back on wednesday (today) to see the general manager.

Filled out the online application as required.

There I went, but the manager wasn't here, grrr, I even brought my portfolio there. The guy there (same guy) said he has an appointment at 5:00, and needed someone to help badly for an hour, and asked me if I could stay there and help out even though I may likely not get paid for that hour. I was like sure thing why not, put on their staff shirt, started working XD

Sold about $70 worth of stuff in just an hour, w00tness, and he called the head office guy to make an appointment tomorrow to interview me, and gave me the shirt say wear it to the interview and on your first day of work.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Alrighty, that was some awesome experience, easy stuff for me.

Need help with the interview tomorrow though, what kinda stuff is likely to be asked, should I wear the staff shirt etc?

[the]

ive inly been itnervewied twice both times got ht job. only one tip, relax. these ppl more than liekly arnete suits, thye jsut iditos doign a formality, the more on top of things you look, they better cahnce you have. a lotta ppl war nabout clothing, i wouldnt worry about it, tis radio shack not ibm, jsut look clean. dont be nervous go in there feeling good, liek right after sex or something. after your yourself you'll have the job. dont try to be soemone you think they want. anyone can see that, and yoru jsut dealign wiht a regualr joe trying to make a buck

[Thrilla]

Good info on that radio shack not IBM :) I also checked on monster.ca for some pretty decent stuff, wish me good luck if you want :P

[n00b 0f l337]

Sounds like you were setup to work for an hour as your interview almost...

[Shpoon]

Well, every interview I've had is basically a slight formality. Since you and I arn't experianced/old enough to work professional jobs, in general these places (radio shack, food retailers, etc.) take almost everyone who applies. The interview is to find out things that you can't ask on the application. For example, a 12 year old can't be discriminated against on an application, but at an interview the interviewer can deem them not old enough and turn them away (for "other reasons" of course.). Just be freindly, be yourself, and answer anything they ask truthefully. Usually works out fine.

[Thrilla]

ARghhhh forking legal documents!!#$^#@$^%#$

I went to the interview today, found the guy, and we went to the cafe with my resume and portfolio.
Everything was just awesome, we talked about things like salary, employee discount, etc. Everything was just perfect, he was very impressed with my portfolio as well, saying I'm the most skilled, experienced professional (maybe because of the hour I worked yesterday)he'd seen in nearly 3 years..

So we went in the office to do rest of the stuff, like criminal background check (they had to do that when I was there because my application wasn't even processed yet, and he had to read my resume right there too).

Everything was just perfect, he called the branch where I wanted to work to schedule when I can start working(by the sound I'm already hired).

Right after he found out my age (16), he was like oh no, damn, they couldn't hire me. I was like why, and he's like although in BC the minimum age requirement is 15, but for a legal document to take effect I have to be 18. Well, I was very well prepared and did some research, so I told him the government allow underaged applicants to sign a legal document so that I could work, but he himself isn't a lawyer and he told me it was also a company policy not to hire people under 18 because of leagal issues.

So ya, I got him to promise to talk to the upper levels to see if there's anything they could do, and came back, went to my local branch. The assistant manager there was quite disappointed that they didn't hire me, he was very satisfied with my "1 hour volunteer help out"(aka test).

Anyway, any one of you in Canada know this kinda stuff? I'm guessing saying ppl isn't "qualified" because of age is not allowed in Canada, but I think that's not the issue because he was about to hire me and scheduled when I'd start working and stuff.

[Serra]

Sorry to hear about that Thrilla.

Safeway 0wn3d me like that when I was 15... they had a new store open in the city I was living in and had a job fair. So I went and was the only person to score a perfect score on the two tests they had of the entire thousand-or-so odd people that showed up. Then, right after telling me this and that I was all set they said "Oh.... you're 15. Our policy is not to hire until you're 16..." at which point I got up and left, telling them that they knew my age before I sat down for an hour and a half and wrote tests and whatnot and they could have just let me know then.

It blew, but that's life I suppose. In the time since then Calgary has gone to such a labour crisis that they now let 12-year-olds work in restaurants. Bah.

[Shpoon]

You're not allowed to discriminate against someone because of their age...

[Thrilla]

That's what I thought, but I was about to get hired and I can tell they really wanted me there, that's why I don't think it has anything to do with young age. I'm trying to find a free laywer (yes, there's a free lawyer for students, just can't find it ATM) to see if I can bypass that 18 thing.

[Serra]

It's not discrimination. Think of it as being more like why people under 18 can't rent X-rated movies. They want people that are mature enough (if you have an arguement here, refer to above statement) and have a right to seek those people out in any way they see fit. That aside, there are legal liability-related reasons for them to do this and they're more than allowed to cover themselves from liability (no matter how unlikely in a Radio Shack).