GameboyRMH said:
Thread resurrection: I didn't get that warehouse job but I'm applying for a couple different jobs as a mechanics' assistant. Both actually pay pretty decently, almost as much as my last tech job. Any tips?
On paper, be the mouth breather they expect. In person, be just a bit more than a mouth breather and they'll be happy.
A few years back, I was searching for a job. I had a long and lengthy resume that included accomplishments. Being 55, I experienced some real and genuine age discrimination in interviews. One that comes to mind... Sales position. I arrive for the interview (that HR likely set up) and was told that the meeting would be two sales managers and one sales director. I was told that this many were typically not in the first meeting. My instinct was that I was being fast tracked. Everyone in one meeting. Their hope to do a "one and done" with a good candidate.
In the interview I could gain some rapport with the 45-ish director but I could never establish rapport with the two 35-ish managers I'd be reporting to. I genuinely felt that when I established rapport with the 45-ish it became a threat to the 35-ish.
So, I changed course a little. I responded to a job I'd surely be over qualified for...if they knew I was over qualified. I simplified my on-line submission to this company. I only listed the companies I worked for and a one sentence, super general and downplayed by role.
Instead of something like, "launched a sales team that I grew to x sales people over x years and oversaw the activities in 3 states" I gave a real short answer of "sales of telecommunication products and services." My answer was more about what the company did and less about what I actually did.
For this job, they just needed to know that I was there for years and kept coming back. In the interview I asked more questions about their business and gave up hardly anything about my past work. A few years in, I enjoy the job and its working fine (even if I am a bit "underemployed.") To this day, they still really don't know much about my past work positions and achievements. I have come to accept that those past actions don't really matter once I'm in their door. But, they are happy with my results in their company.
I guess said further...for me in what I was applying for and for you and what you're applying for here, they don't want to know that you can lead. What they really want to know is that you can follow. Accentuate this ability to follow to get the job. Once in the job, allow them to believe that they have built you into being a leader. Yes, falsely stoke their ego that they have "created" your ability to lead (if leading even interests you at this company.)