Unemployment
I really need a job. Anytime I see that a place is hiring, I fill out an application. So far the only place that has contacted me is Wal-Mart. I went in for an interview last week. Apparently it didn't go so well because I never heard back.
When I filled out my application online I had to answer seventy-five or more multiple-choice questions that asked me what I would do in various hypothetical situations. Most of the questions dealt with how to best serve the customer or how to deal with potential problems with co-workers. The amount of questions seemed a bit overkill for a simple job at Wal-Mart, but whatever. I answered them, and apparently did well enough to get an interview, which is more than some of my friends can say.
I wore Wal-Mart colors--- khaki pants and a navy-blue polo--- just to show that I would look damn good in one of their uniforms. The lady who interviewed me seemed nice. She had eaten onions for lunch and was worried about her breath, so I offered her a stick of gum in an attempt to win some brownie points. I read over a few papers, signed my initials, etc., all while trying to smile a lot and come across as friendly as possible. Then, toward the end of the interview, the woman pulls out a piece of paper and begins to read off questions like, "Name a time in your life when someone has come to you with a problem. What was the problem? What steps did you take to solve the problem? Did you make the right choice? Is there anything you would have done differently?"
My response: "Uhhhhhhhh . . ."
There were several more questions of a similar nature, asking about problems I've had to solve in my life, deadlines I've had to meet, etc. I was caught off guard at first and my mind went blank. Then I started making up shit. Initial brain fart aside, I thought I did okay. Maybe she could tell that I was being insincere or something, but I thought my answers were solid. For instance, I mentioned when I used to work at a grocery story, and how sometimes an employee wouldn't show up for work, putting everyone else in a bind; instead of growing discouraged at the extra workload, each person would take on a few extra responsibilities to make up for that person's absence.
I was supposed to hear back within a couple days, but I never did. At first it didn't really bother me. I was kinda worried that my first day of work would be on Black Friday, which would've probably resulted in me going postal, stealing a gun from the sporting goods section and wreaking bloody havoc on a store full of customers. So, in that regard, at least some lives were spared.
Now that I look back on it, though, I'm actually kind of pissed off and offended that I wasn't hired. I was in Wal-Mart yesterday, and each time I looked at one of the employees I would just shake my head and think, "I don't get hired, but this guy does? What the fuck?" I mean, I'm not an ex-convict; I graduated high school; I have an Associate's Degree; I don't have a tattoo on my neck or blue hair or a cow-ring through my nose. Yet I'm not good enough to get a job here? These people made a better impression than me?
Part of me wants to storm through the Employees Only double-doors and cause a scene by going off on the woman who interviewed me. Ask her, "How're you gonna deal with this problem, bitch? What steps're you gonna take? Are you going to make the right fucking decision?" That would be a terrible idea, but lately I've been in a bad mood anyway. I think I'm just looking for an excuse to go off on someone.
I doubt I would've enjoyed working there, but a job is a job, and there aren't too many out there right now, especially where I live. There's no telling when, or if, I'll get an interview somewhere else. At least Wal-Mart would've provided me with a chance to save up some money.
When I filled out my application online I had to answer seventy-five or more multiple-choice questions that asked me what I would do in various hypothetical situations. Most of the questions dealt with how to best serve the customer or how to deal with potential problems with co-workers. The amount of questions seemed a bit overkill for a simple job at Wal-Mart, but whatever. I answered them, and apparently did well enough to get an interview, which is more than some of my friends can say.
I wore Wal-Mart colors--- khaki pants and a navy-blue polo--- just to show that I would look damn good in one of their uniforms. The lady who interviewed me seemed nice. She had eaten onions for lunch and was worried about her breath, so I offered her a stick of gum in an attempt to win some brownie points. I read over a few papers, signed my initials, etc., all while trying to smile a lot and come across as friendly as possible. Then, toward the end of the interview, the woman pulls out a piece of paper and begins to read off questions like, "Name a time in your life when someone has come to you with a problem. What was the problem? What steps did you take to solve the problem? Did you make the right choice? Is there anything you would have done differently?"
My response: "Uhhhhhhhh . . ."
There were several more questions of a similar nature, asking about problems I've had to solve in my life, deadlines I've had to meet, etc. I was caught off guard at first and my mind went blank. Then I started making up shit. Initial brain fart aside, I thought I did okay. Maybe she could tell that I was being insincere or something, but I thought my answers were solid. For instance, I mentioned when I used to work at a grocery story, and how sometimes an employee wouldn't show up for work, putting everyone else in a bind; instead of growing discouraged at the extra workload, each person would take on a few extra responsibilities to make up for that person's absence.
I was supposed to hear back within a couple days, but I never did. At first it didn't really bother me. I was kinda worried that my first day of work would be on Black Friday, which would've probably resulted in me going postal, stealing a gun from the sporting goods section and wreaking bloody havoc on a store full of customers. So, in that regard, at least some lives were spared.
Now that I look back on it, though, I'm actually kind of pissed off and offended that I wasn't hired. I was in Wal-Mart yesterday, and each time I looked at one of the employees I would just shake my head and think, "I don't get hired, but this guy does? What the fuck?" I mean, I'm not an ex-convict; I graduated high school; I have an Associate's Degree; I don't have a tattoo on my neck or blue hair or a cow-ring through my nose. Yet I'm not good enough to get a job here? These people made a better impression than me?
Part of me wants to storm through the Employees Only double-doors and cause a scene by going off on the woman who interviewed me. Ask her, "How're you gonna deal with this problem, bitch? What steps're you gonna take? Are you going to make the right fucking decision?" That would be a terrible idea, but lately I've been in a bad mood anyway. I think I'm just looking for an excuse to go off on someone.
I doubt I would've enjoyed working there, but a job is a job, and there aren't too many out there right now, especially where I live. There's no telling when, or if, I'll get an interview somewhere else. At least Wal-Mart would've provided me with a chance to save up some money.