Hmmpff!

It's looking like another dead end on the job lead for DS. I think I mentioned earlier this week (or maybe it was end of last week - this interview process has gone on forever) that he got a call from the recruiter lady that the group that interviewed him decided he wasn't quite experienced enough for the "Tier 2" position. She then said she was going to have him interview for a "Tier 1" position and said someone from that dept would be calling him to set up an interview for this week. That interview was yesterday. He thought he would be interviewing for a lower position in the same division of this company.

He gets to the interview yesterday (at a different location than the first interview, but that doesn't mean much - this company is huge and has offices all over the place) and realizes it's for a completely different division of the company! So, of course I'm sure he felt a little thrown off by that and not prepared. He was interviewed by the dept head and someone from the recruiting company (not the lady he has been dealing with this whole time) and he did tell them she never said this interview was for a different division - just that is was for a "Tier 1" position.

So, there in lies my "hmmpff!".  Obviously he has been dropped for consideration by the two "ins" he has with this company. These men are high up positions. One is the whole division GM and the other is a dept. manager. He had met in person at the dept. mgr's home before he went to Australia and was basically told he'd have a job when he got back - or at least that's the impression he got. So, either he was just humoring DS along all this time, with no real intention of hiring him or there is something wrong with DS and his interviews.  Seriously, if one of them really wanted to hire him it would be done.

He thought his interview yesterday went really well and they told him they'd let him know "soon". But, now that he's basically out on his own, again, trying to be picked among the other hundreds of applicants, it's probably not going to happen at this company, is my guess.

So, back to DS and possible short-comings (other than just plain lack of experience at this time). Since he first started looking for IT jobs (his first one was part-time/seasonal for another big company, while in college) he has been offered back for 2nd interviews several times, so that is always a good sign. Most every job does a phone interview first. He does very well at these - and almost every time has gotten an in-person interview from it. I know he does well at phone interviews - I have heard him. He is confident and speaks easily. His teachers loved him, the people at his last job (and he had to interact with many at different locations) loved him. They even sent emails to his boss at the main office telling him they loved him.

Obviously I know nothing of how his in person interview skills fare. But he does show up looking nice in slacks, a dress shirt and dress shoes. His hair is very short and neat (and he wears glasses, so he really looks the computer nerd part!). He has a great smile.  So, first impressions should be ok, there. Personality wise he is quiet, but also mature and respectful. He has never had a problem talking to adults or those older than him. He grew up constantly around other adults and interacting with them (one of the many good things he learned from racing as a kid). Every single person we have ever met for the first time (even now) will comment how totally awesome they think my kids are. I tihnk most are just amazed they can have a real conversation with a teenager - LOL.

If he's not really getting these jobs because of lack of experience, then it must be something of how he is coming across during an interview that is not getting him the job offer. Lack of experience is a factor, but if a manager likes the person, they are more than willing to put in some time training them, if they think they will pick it up quickly. Plus, this job was basically a help desk type job - he'd basically be dealing with people on the phone to fix the issues - he's already proven he can talk on the phone. If I didn't want to remain anonymous I'd show you links where you could listen to him do phone interviews for racing programs and see live in person interviews. He does awesome! He's so professional and doesn't "um" throughout it.

I wish I could help him! For now, I am just pushing him to keep applying for more and more jobs. I think he slacked off on doing that this past 3-4 weeks because he really thought he'd end up getting this job. That wasn't a smart move and he needs to apply for everything out there that he can. I know he's so frustrated right now, but eventually he'll find something and get moving forward. It doesn't help that DH is a total ASS about it all, but that is another story and I'm not even in the mood to go there right now.