Should I stop doing business with this job agency?

[ironpony]

I keep reading to put negotiable, but when it comes to online applications, I have to click on a range of salary options and there is no negotiable option to click on.  How do you know which is best to pick then?

[d0nnivain]

Do some research about the industry in your area.  Know what the prevailing age is.  Compare that to your skills & then pick the number that seems appropriate.  If you have experience you can select the higher range.  If you don't, stick to the middle or slightly lower.  You don't want to under value yourself.  

[Eternal Sunshine]

I have a few times selected a too high range and didn’t get interviewed even. My advice would be to put a slightly lower range. Once they have interviewed you and made an offer, you are in much better position to negotiate. If asked why you are now asking for a higher salary than your selected range, you can say something like “that was an estimate before I had more detail about the role..”. 

[DKT3]

I personally would be hesitant about companies who ask the question of non high ranking executives before ever sitting down with them.  Its a window in thier ethics and values.  Instead of looking for the best possible candidates they are looking for a cheap one, that usually bleeds over into other areas. 

Put down what you expect to make, if you are desperate go 5-10% below. Never lowball yourself.  Many companies will not move much once your in the door.

[ironpony]

Oh okay thank you very much.  Well I filled out the form and wrote what I expected to make which I don't think is asking too much I don't think.  However, they send me an additional 2 page questionaire to fill out, because they want to know more about the applicants to see who is the best fit they said.  However, some of these questions I find really difficult to answer.

Two of the questions they asked are these " Tell us a marketing idea that would draw attention to our products/services for people who aren’t familiar with our company?"

"What do you like about our website [redacted] and what suggestions would you make to improve it?"

I mean I don't know how to answer these questions.  It's a videographer and documentary directing job for a company so maybe this is a test, but it sounds like they want someone more into marketing, where as I am more into the filmmaking maybe?  What do you think?  I just don't know how to answer those questions.

Edited February 14, 2021 by a LoveShack.org Moderator
website details

[elaine567]

Surely you will need to be able to market your skills and your product if you are going to be a filmmaker...?

[ironpony]

Oh well it seems they want me to be a writer and a critic possibly though, writing about how their website can be better and writing marketing ideas for them.  I don't have hardly any experience as a writer though, compared to filmmaking.  Unless I should try to be a filmmaker and a writer for them?  Plus I thought writing about websites and marketing a company through writing, is a lot different than filmmaking.  Unless it isn't?

Edited February 14, 2021 by ironpony

[ironpony]

I just thought that a writer for a website and a filmmaker are not the same thing, unless I'm wrong?

Edited February 14, 2021 by ironpony

[basil67]

Forget about the job title - what is the job description? 

[ironpony]

the job description as they want someone to create media content for their website. But now they ask me questions about what I would write for their website. So I'm not sure now.

[basil67]

Given it's a website, they'd be looking for someone who can write and some page design skills.    Videoing skills would be more relevant if they were a YouTube channel.

Edited February 14, 2021 by basil67

[ironpony]

12 minutes ago, basil67 said:

Given it's a website, they'd be looking for someone who can write and some page design skills.    Videoing skills would be more relevant if they were a YouTube channel.

but this is where I'm confused because they asked for a videographer for their website but also want a writer as well now that they send me more questions, vwhich see my two very different things.

[Wiseman2]

8 minutes ago, ironpony said:

but this is where I'm confused

Do you think it was trick question?

[ironpony]

Not sure about a trick question but it seems like they want two very different jobs to be filled by the same person.

[basil67]

They probably want an 'all rounder'.   At any rate, I'd say that it won't deliver the filming job which you're seeking.

[ironpony]

Oh okay.  Well I don't think I can tell them how to improve their website as a test to see if I am right candidate without knowing a lot more first about the company and about what specific things they are looking to achieve.

Edited February 15, 2021 by ironpony

[basil67]

Yes, to answer their question, you'd need to research the company.  But at any rate, it doesn't seem to be the job you want anyway.

[ironpony]

I researched the company but it's hard to tell what they are looking for since the company talks about the types of products that it sells on their website, but their site doesn't go into what they want in this videography, and writing job.

[ironpony]

Sometimes when they say they will let me know if I got the job after a certain day, I feel like calling to make sure, in case a call from them didn't come through, or I did not get it, etc.  But is it not worth calling back to confirm, and I should only wait for their calls only, after job interviews?

[Happy Lemming]

It is my opinion, that you send a "thank you" letter for the interview (immediately after the interview).

At that point, I sit back and wait.  I do not call or contact them further.

If a second interview is in order (for that particular job/vocation), then I wait for them to call me to schedule that.  If I met with a different person (during the second interview), I will follow up with a second "thank you for the interview" letter directed at that particular interviewer.

At that point, I've done all I can do and I wait for the offer letter to come through.  If no offer is presented to me, I'll continue to look for work.

The last few jobs (I had) were secured by a "head hunter", so the process is a little different.  I am assuming you are not using a recruiter/head hunter.

[ironpony]

Oh okay, because I read that after interviews to always do follow ups after, but I wonder if that really does anything though.

[Happy Lemming]

You do follow-up after an interview... with a "thank you for the interview" letter.

You type up a very nice "thank you" letter on good paper and mail it to the individual that interviewed you.  I'm assuming you know the person's name or he/she gave you a business card.  Try to google a few examples of "interview thank you letters".  Did you send such a letter??

You do not call and bug the interviewer, you wait for that person to call you and schedule the second interview.

 

[ironpony]

Okay I will do a thank you email if that's best then.  I thought by follow up they meant call.

Edited March 14, 2021 by ironpony

[Happy Lemming]

9 minutes ago, ironpony said:

Okay I will do a thank you email if that's best then.  I thought by follow up they meant call.

Did they specifically instruct you to call them on a certain date/time??  If not, send a "thank you for the interview" letter on good paper, not an e-mail.

Your goal is to stand out in the crowd of applicants, a proper letter on good paper puts you ahead of the others that interviewed.

When I worked, I kept this heavy bond light gray paper I used for that purpose. At one position, I was later told I was the only person that sent a "thank you for the interview" letter which put me at the top of the pile of candidates.  It showed I took initiative and cared enough to craft a personal letter to the interviewer.

If you really want this job, don't take shortcuts... put in the effort and type up a nice thank you letter.

Edited March 14, 2021 by Happy Lemming

[ironpony]

But if I mail a paper letter, it won't get to them in time, and they'll already hire someone before then.  Shouldn't I send a letter, before they hire someone in order to get their attention more, or so I thought that was the point of following up?

Edited March 14, 2021 by ironpony