Re: Third Interviews

[betsy]

My neighbor just left, all excited and anxious. She applied at the WalMart opening soon, and she was called for the THIRD INTERVIEW for next week.

Apparently, she did not specify any job title she's applying for (she went to a hiring center set up by WalMart ).

I can't remember when was it the last time I applied for a job, so I don't know what to say to her other than, "I certainly think you'll get a job."

So what does it usually means if you get into the third interview?

Do companies do several interviews nowadays? I feel like a dinosaur.

Edited August 24, 2007 by betsy

[M.Dancer]

So what does it usually means if you get into the third interview?

3rd interview with HR-Good

3rd interview with RCMP-very bad

[AngusThermopyle]

I believe it's a good sign for you friend. If they weren't serious they wouldn't waste their time with a third interview. I had three meetings when I took this job, not really interviews as such. It would only have taken two but my boss wanted his partner to meet me and form his own opinion. After the second time I knew the job was mine though.

[RB]

well, i would be a bit anxious if i am heading for #3 interview to confirm which job really - what a waste of time, first you didn't make an impression, second you didn't make an impression, sorry to say lass. someone is really not doing well, it must be those folks with the jobs.

if it is a junior position it really should not take much effort to see a fit of skills, and especially if they are many opportunities usually the recruiters fit you into an appropriate job and interview for the position

a bit more senior job - a first screening and then to the hiring department manager

more senior jobs - usually is about 3 interviews and then guess what it is usually a competition between 2 likable fellows. then the names are drawn from a hat.

if you are good, companies usually seek you out, informal interviews - one is enough

Oh, well, I am rooting for your neighbor to work so that we are at full employment, production is at capacity, and we are all paying taxes.

[betsy]

well, i would be a bit anxious if i am heading for #3 interview to confirm which job really - what a waste of time, first you didn't make an impression, second you didn't make an impression, sorry to say lass. someone is really not doing well, it must be those folks with the jobs.

if it is a junior position it really should not take much effort to see a fit of skills, and especially if they are many opportunities usually the recruiters fit you into an appropriate job and interview for the position

a bit more senior job - a first screening and then to the hiring department manager

more senior jobs - usually is about 3 interviews and then guess what it is usually a competition between 2 likable fellows. then the names are drawn from a hat.

if you are good, companies usually seek you out, informal interviews - one is enough

Oh, well, I am rooting for your neighbor to work so that we are at full employment, production is at capacity, and we are all paying taxes.

She didn't specify any job position. I'm sure she's okay with being a cashier or a stock clerk.....but three interviews to fill those positions, I somehow doubt it. Unless things had changed and now it's the norm to get several interviews for those types of positions.

She got the first and the second interview on the same day, one after the other and the second interviewer told her "you're doing very well."

I think...and I have a strong hunch that they're eye-ing her for some managerial or manager-trainee position. I mean if she didn't make a good first impression, she wouldn't be given the second interview, right?

She sort of has that intuition but I guess she 's being modest and wouldn't want to count the chicks before they're hatched. Btw, my neighbor'reference got contacted and was given quite a good recommendation.

You think?

Anyway I also know of one who only got one interview and was told that if human resources is interested, she'd be contacted.

So I guess the first one is like a screening process?

Edited August 24, 2007 by betsy

[AngusThermopyle]

So I guess the first one is like a screening process?

I think so, not sure though. I spent 20 years in the Military so I'm not really sure what the norm is in the civilian world. Like I said, I had 3 meetings to get this job. The first was to find out what skills I possessed that would benefit the company, conducted by my boss. The second was to see what I thought I could contribute, my boss is a very intelligent and astute man by the way. In those two meetings he assessed both myself and my capabilities. The third was just so his partner would be able to meet me before he hired me.

Based on that experience I would say they may be looking at your friend for some kind of supervisory or managerial position. I think being called three times is a good sign. These people aren't going to waste their time if they aren't interested. After all time is money.

Edited August 25, 2007 by AngusThermopyle

[Visionseeker]

Best of luck to your neighbour.

Multiple interviews are common when a business is mass recruiting. One the one hand they usually have more qualified applicants than available positions, on the other they have to staff more than first level.

Your neighbour has been "screened-in" twice already. I suspect they have a job for her, but are trying to determine at which level she should be brought in.

Edited August 25, 2007 by Visionseeker

[RB]

Btw, my neighbor'reference got contacted and was given quite a good recommendation.

You think?

well if the references are checked and she is going thereafter, i'd say likely an offer - but that's only speculation

[fellowtraveller]

3 interviews at Walmart?

Here you are auto-hired if you can prove that you have a pulse.

[betsy]

3 interviews at Walmart?

That was surprising to know, especially from a company that's been alleged that "nobody wants to work for."

For a business supposedly having a hard time finding employees....one would think they wouldn't be selective as to engage in three interviews.

[geoffrey]

So what does it usually means if you get into the third interview?

With post-university recruiting, 3rd interviews are common and generally mean you've got the spot. My experience with 3rd interviews is that it is generally a dinner or lunch, and it's more about your social fit with the team than particular skills or experience.

Do companies do several interviews nowadays? I feel like a dinosaur.

I've always been interviewed at least twice.

[betsy]

With post-university recruiting, 3rd interviews are common and generally mean you've got the spot. My experience with 3rd interviews is that it is generally a dinner or lunch, and it's more about your social fit with the team than particular skills or experience.

I've always been interviewed at least twice.

You are right!

An update about my neighbor. That third "interview" it turned out was not an interview anymore. It was a job offer!

[cybercoma]

Home Depot also has a 3 interview process, with the third "interview" being the job offer.

[geoffrey]

Home Depot also has a 3 interview process, with the third "interview" being the job offer.

HR has never been my strongpoint, but is it really neccessary to interview someone to find you the right sized nail twice before an offer? It doesn't really take a brain surgeon or someone with superior ethical standards.

A little overkill perhaps?

[RB]

HR has never been my strongpoint, but is it really neccessary to interview someone to find you the right sized nail twice before an offer? It doesn't really take a brain surgeon or someone with superior ethical standards.

A little overkill perhaps?

HR departments have always been a necessary expense in companies; HR are usually the first to go in times of hardship

The trouble have always been that HR do not contribute to the bottom line

I mean how can you do 3 interviews 45 minutes or more each time for a clerical job

I should add that the recruiting companies intending on making money and supplying a clerical staff to company value their time, and would send a person to start a job asap and in a hurry

Edited September 3, 2007 by RB

[cybercoma]

HR has never been my strongpoint, but is it really neccessary to interview someone to find you the right sized nail twice before an offer? It doesn't really take a brain surgeon or someone with superior ethical standards.

A little overkill perhaps?

You'd be surprised to know there's a hell of a lot more to the job than finding someone the right size nail. It takes a certain type of person to be able to work at a store like Home Depot and put up with ignorant customers that think all retail employees are flunkies or idiots, when fact of the matter is that a lot of the employees are college/university students paying their way through school and retirees supplementing their income. Most people expect to be able to walk into the store and have any employee with an orange apron on able to walk them through every aspect of their projects and the company does invest in hours upon hours of training for that. Ethics is also an issue, since the company is remarkably open with its associates about sales and sales plans at any given location as well as corporate goals. I honestly think you'd be surprised with how much people need to know to be able to work in a department and show you what size screw you need.

Bottom line is, the company puts a lot of money into orientation and training, so they want to make sure the people they hire are going to stick around.

Edited September 5, 2007 by cybercoma

[Higgly]

I have a very good friend who was hired to be the Vice President of Market Development for a fortune 500 company after 3 interviews. Sounds like an HR department with a bad case of the yips. Good lord. Three interviews to be a stock clerk. I can't believe it.

If these idiots are wasting that much high priced time on stock clerks, SELL WAL-MART!

Edited September 5, 2007 by Higgly

[geoffrey]

Bottom line is, the company puts a lot of money into orientation and training, so they want to make sure the people they hire are going to stick around.

What do you do out here, where you know no retail person will stay more than a few months at best?

[RB]

I mean companies do not have all the aces, a reason why they keep searching.

In '99 I didn't want to move to the US with my company so was looking around for a job, and met with the first HR person, after 5 minutes I told "her" (observation:HR is mostly run by females??) it was the end of the interview and if "she" had nothing much to add I was outta there, I left.

The following week, I accepted a job with the government a consulting role, 1 interview, my most formal interview ever and I even stayed for 5 years. I think I was colonized not to leave soon, and I had jokingly promised not to take off. I have since wondered whether loyalty to an employer is a good thing, as I stay true to my word.

My last job offer was in a parking lot after 10 minutes of talks and 20 minutes following coffee - the coolest interview

Do you have any coolest unexpected experience with the job interviews to share?

[betsy]

Do you have any coolest unexpected experience with the job interviews to share?

Back in the mother country I worked at an American Air Base (in a daycare). After I've applied to come to Canada I decided to get a job in another field just so to have as much work experiences as possible. So I applied at Law Enforcement (also inside the American Air Base) - Security Police - but as a clerk/secretary. A lot of applicants for that job....an up-grade for a lot of us (including another co-worker at the daycare who also got inetviewed).

I knew I didn't do too well at the formal interview (done by the Officer In Charge who was going to be the boss of whoever gets hired)....my only experience then was daycare!

After the interview I was at the bus stop waiting for the bus. This guy happens to come by and offered me a lift. I accepted the lift. Then I told him frankly that I did not expect to be hired, and that I understand. And this was where it became cool and quite memorable for me...

I told him, "why will you hire me? I have no experience. My only experience is daycare."

He nodded in agreement.

I pressed on and said: "I would like so much to have experience other than daycare."

He asked: "Don't you have any clerical experience at all?"

I answered, "none."

But out of desperation I guess, I quickly added: "But I watch a lot of cop shows on tv! I love cop shows!"

There was a sudden interest in his voice..."Do you watch HillStreet Blues?"

I sadly said, "Unfortunately....that is one show that I haven't watched."

And that was the end of the odd exchange. I've reached my destination, and thanked him for the ride.

(NOTE: later, I found out this guy was a die-hard fan of HillStreet Blues. Everyone in the division knew about that and joked about it!)

Lo and behold, a couple of days later, I got a call. I got the job!

He told me the reason why I got the job: Of all the applicants who apllied, I was the only one with no one to "back me up."

He wanted someone who'll be loyal to him....not to some other high-ranking officer who was a "back-up."

My co-worker at the daycare cried when she heard I got the job. Her backer was a general.

That job was one of the most fun job I've ever had! A lot of humorous situations and incidents! It could've been a sitcom! Only three women work in that place (one detective and another clerk)...and we all got along well! My boss turned out to be very strict with temper tantrums, but cool in his own way! If I didn't come to Canada, I had the feeling that I would've ended up getting trained as a detective. By the end, I was already being asked to sit through and observe interrogations.

It's fun working with the lads!

Now I just have to tell about a CANADA job interview.

So after I got to Canada (AND STILL DOZEY, I must add), of course I tried to get into Law Enforcement. I applied as a ....tadaaaaaa...."Ticket Maid."

The guy who interviewed me liked the fact that I got the experience at law enforcement - my former boss gave me such a good letter of recommendation.

So the guy asked me something like this: "what will you do if a guy you ticketed got so mad at you and threatens to hit you?"

I must have looked aghast at the thought (probably my facial expression was so pronounced) because before I could answer he said reassuringly..."okay, okay...don't worry. There's usually a cop nearby."

That was a relief. My interviewer was so nice, I guess I was doing pretty well with the interview.

The next day, I got the call. I got the job! The guy told me where to go. Then he mentioned something about a driver's license.

And I said..."I don't have a driver's license."

He was surprised. "You don't?"

"I don't know how to drive." I said. So of course, he had to explain that it was a job requirement to be able to drive....and needless to say, he had to withdraw the offer.

A couple of days later, I got another call from the same place asking me to come for orientation. I said, "wait....I have to tell you I don't know how to drive. I don't have a driver's license."

I found it funny.

Edited September 7, 2007 by betsy