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My first second interview of my life. What to expect?

PhillyDude

By PhillyDude,
in Business and Professional Relationships

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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I work for the Federal government.

 

I first applied for my job in July of 2007 and didn't get an interview call until February of 2008. Then I had to take a drug test in March of 2008. At that point, they called me and said that I was on a "waiting list" (it was a gender-specific job and they needed more males than females at that time). So, I waited it out. I didn't get a callback until July of 2008, when I had to take another drug test due to the 90-day window closing. I was finally hired in mid-August of 2008, so all told - it took 13 months.

 

From what I understand, this is NOT abnormal. Government jobs (whether Federal, state, etc.) take forever. It's just the way of things.

 

While I waited, I took any job that I could just to support myself - check processing, administrative assistant, data entry. I held down jobs with awful hours (overnights), long hours (12+ a day), low pay, anything to keep my head above water. Now, that might seem like a waste of time to some, but what you get for working with the Federal government, it was worth the wait. I wouldn't work anywhere else now.

 

Just sayin'.

 

 

It's not a government job, it's a job with the city of Philadelphia

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Mme. Chaucer

Mme. Chaucer

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It's not a government job, it's a job with the city of Philadelphia

 

Isn't a city job a government job?

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Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant

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It's not a government job, it's a job with the city of Philadelphia

 

Why don't you take Civil Service exams? A Civil Service job would offer a little more job security than a non-profit.

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Well I was in the bathroom and heard both of my phones ringing and was like..."is this lady calling me again to cancel another interview? I knew exactly who it was because my phones rung back to back. But she was calling to confirm the interview for tomorrow and to let me know the salary range so I can make a decision on whether or not I was still interesting in coming to the interview. So she told me and it was $6000 lower than my previous job but of course it's still in the range for me to remain in my apartment.

 

 

But I was shocked that she asked me anyway since she knows I;m unemployed. If you know someone is unemployed would you care what you were offering them? Maybe she thinks I have a lot of options but I was surprised that's why she called.

 

 

 

I also received 2 more calls this morning for interviews. One is scheduled for next week and the other one I didn't schedule because the company is too far from home.

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Why don't you take Civil Service exams? A Civil Service job would offer a little more job security than a non-profit.

 

I understand about the non-profit but I just need to get back working in order to remove myself FROM non-profit. It's kind of hard to do that now so I rather just get back into briefly so I can transition out.

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Mme. Chaucer

Mme. Chaucer

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Cities are governments too.

 

If I remember correctly, there is even a Federal government! And there are jobs within that, too.

 

County, even.

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Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant

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I understand about the non-profit but I just need to get back working in order to remove myself FROM non-profit. It's kind of hard to do that now so I rather just get back into briefly so I can transition out.

 

Being out of work for 9 months would have been the perfect time to transition out of non-profit jobs. You can always take Civil Service exams, but being out of work would have given you a chance to study for upcoming exams. You were removed FROM non-profit when you lost your job. You are full of excuses, could have, would have, should have...

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Being out of work for 9 months would have been the perfect time to transition out of non-profit jobs. You can always take Civil Service exams, but being out of work would have given you a chance to study for upcoming exams. You were removed FROM non-profit when you lost your job. You are full of excuses, could have, would have, should have...

 

 

Study what for civil service exam?

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CarrieT

CarrieT

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Study what for civil service exam?

 

Google "how to study for a civil service test" and you will understand....

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Well Had my 2nd interview today. It was about the same as the 1st, 30 mins.

 

And salary was brought up during the interview and on the way out the lady showed me where my office would be if selected. It wasn't what I expected because I guess I thought I would be introduced to staff and given a tour. But i was showed where my office would be. So she told me will contact me in a week which is good because I have another interview next wednesday.

 

 

So I will see what happens. Time to send the thank you email.

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Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant

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Well Had my 2nd interview today. It was about the same as the 1st, 30 mins.

 

And salary was brought up during the interview and on the way out the lady showed me where my office would be if selected. It wasn't what I expected because I guess I thought I would be introduced to staff and given a tour. But i was showed where my office would be. So she told me will contact me in a week which is good because I have another interview next wednesday.

 

 

So I will see what happens. Time to send the thank you email.

 

What questions did you ask her, you had so many for us?

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Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant

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The 5 that was listed in this thread

 

Are you talking about post #5? You asked if you needed to take a drug test?

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Are you talking about post #5? You asked if you needed to take a drug test?

 

 

No questions about the position and the expectations and when can I expect to hear back from regarding the hiring decision.

 

The Salary range was brought up during the interview

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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So if you didn't ask any questions about the position, the "expectations" or the hiring decision date then what questions (if any) did you ask?

 

I said I asked questions about the position and the expectations and when can I expect to hear back from her.

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BOKO2013

BOKO2013

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Well Had my 2nd interview today. It was about the same as the 1st, 30 mins.

 

. So she told me will contact me in a week which is good because I have another interview next wednesday.l.

 

Have you heard from her since last week?

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Reference check process started Monday, she emailed me letting know all the references were emailed

 

So that's where I'm at right now

 

 

Monday is a holiday so may not hear anything until after that. Hurricane Sandy pushed everything back. The reference process was supposed to start on Oct 29th but instead it didn't start until Nov 5th

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Ginger Grant

Ginger Grant

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Reference check process started Monday, she emailed me letting know all the references were emailed

 

So that's where I'm at right now

 

 

Monday is a holiday so may not hear anything until after that. Hurricane Sandy pushed everything back. The reference process was supposed to start on Oct 29th but instead it didn't start until Nov 5th

 

Sounds like they are in no hurry to fill the position. Didn't you have other prospects? What happened to them?

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Sounds like they are in no hurry to fill the position. Didn't you have other prospects? What happened to them?

 

 

I thought I did but the guy who called me for a interview 2 weeks ago left the wrong position on my voicemail. So when I get to the interview I find out that it's a completely different position than what was left on my voicemail.

 

So I told them I wasn't interested mainly because I don't have any experience in that position and it comes with no training.

 

So just fortunate I have a lot of savings to carry me for the next 6 months.

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pink_sugar

pink_sugar

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Hmm that doesn't make much sense. Why would they call you in if they didn't think you had the experience or skills...they must think you are capable of doing the job if there's no training.

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PhillyDude

PhillyDude

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Hmm that doesn't make much sense. Why would they call you in if they didn't think you had the experience or skills...they must think you are capable of doing the job if there's no training.

 

 

Didn't make sense to me either which is why I was confused when they still interviewed when I said this in the beginning of the interview

 

"I have absolutely no experience in this position"

 

And it was nothing on my resume that indicated that I had experience in that position. So I was very annoyed about the entire experience.

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