Interview Exhaustion

Goldmember

Goldmember

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Hello mates,

I just thought I'd vent a bit here amongst brethren here at the groovy Rooms of Tone. As you may know, I work in a field dominated by women: elementary education.
I've been trying to find a school much closer to home, and I've had a dozen or so interviews throughout this summer. Each one is the same: I enter a room filled with
a panel of strangers, each asking formulaic questions from a prepared list. I spend 30 minutes exhaustively discussing my talents and abilities. Then, then ask if I have
any questions. The interview concludes with smiles, and everything feels great. I leave, wait a week, and if lucky, I hear that I was not selected. This cycle has repeated
over and over, yet with the same outcome. I just did another one minutes ago.

Have you ever experienced this? Ask this because I've reached a point where I feel I'm better and stronger than I have ever been, yet I'm a 56 year old man. People in
education view that age as "pushing retirement," yet, with three little kids, I have no plans to retire soon. At the end of today's interview, I found myself asking them if
they'd consider a man at my age for the job, since most people tend to view women in their 20s and more "nurturing." I stated that I've reached a whole new level of
compassion and understanding with children...better than at any time in the past. My youngest son is autistic, and I've learned more from him in one day about
understanding and working with autistic children than from 15 years of clinical work and study in the past.

Sorry, guys. I'm just exhausted and coming to terms with the suspicion that I'm entering a rather "age-labeled" period in my life.
 
That sucks---
NOt to add fuel to your fire but it seems many of us here are in the 50 something "bubble" --- why SG John just felt the blade of that a week or so ago--

Hope something pops up soon for you
In sales and moving around a bit I am familiar with the interview -- but rarely have I dealt with a Panel-- or a set list of questions--- in this business its more "social skill" and ability to "SELL yourself TO the hiring manager" --- B.S.ing the "B.S.er" ---then stalking them ---slashing their tires--- banging their wife(with video you send to her parents) --tying up their children and beating them with a hammer until the dirty bastard gives you the job..........I mean you may take a kinder/ gentler approach -- with "teaching and all" where young minds are being molded---I couldnt do it ----
Our teachers paddled us--- threw books at us -- one FLIPPED my desk with me in it!!!!
DId I cry
Did I file law suits?
did go on social media and ruin his career and life to the point he commits suicide--??
NOPE--
Actually he is still one of my favorite and MOST respected mentors-- I was pimple faced DOUCHEnozzle and deserved to get what I got--
and I was humbled -- and set right --
(and that has nothing to do with the murdering of hookers I now .......wait.....NEVER MIND)

Carry on man -- keep hitting them interviews you'll find the RIGHT fit --- those a$$hats didnt really need you --
 
Experience trumps newness it would seem in your field. 20 year olds don't have a clue what life is about yet...wait to the accidents-financial stress-health-babys,,ect ,,beat ya up for 30 years..guys like you are what they should consider..kids nurturing kids or experienced adults nurturing kids...the later for sure
 
I hear ya man. When I got laid off in 09, another victim of that recession...... I couldn’t buy an interview. When I did actually get one.... nothing ever came of it. I’m not one to burn bridges, but I did with one company I interviewed at multiple times. I’ve been behind a parts counter since 1980. Heavy equipment. Tractors. Combines. End loaders..... Etc.

Interviewed at a place that had advertised for a parts manager. I’m used to looking up and ordering parts for both the service department and walk in customers. Answer the phone. Order parts. Check parts in. Shipping/receiving. And pretty much anything else no one else would do.

This job was going to require me to procure parts for transmission rebuilds. Parts list supplied by the service manager. No phone calls. No walk in customers. No shipping/receiving. I was actually wondering what I would do after lunch. Never got offered the job. After the last time I got interviewed I was informed they wouldn’t hire me because they didn’t feel I was taking the job seriously. Told the HR lady that what appeared as not taking it serious was actually confidence in my ability to do the job. In reality, I was over qualified for her crappy job. Never heard from them again.

Edit: Should add that they had advertised three times in less than 12 months for the parts managers position. Each previous time, the person they hired left. That should have clued me in there was a problem.
 
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Goldmember said:
Hello mates,

I just thought I'd vent a bit here amongst brethren here at the groovy Rooms of Tone. As you may know, I work in a field dominated by women: elementary education.
I've been trying to find a school much closer to home, and I've had a dozen or so interviews throughout this summer. Each one is the same: I enter a room filled with
a panel of strangers, each asking formulaic questions from a prepared list. I spend 30 minutes exhaustively discussing my talents and abilities. Then, then ask if I have
any questions. The interview concludes with smiles, and everything feels great. I leave, wait a week, and if lucky, I hear that I was not selected. This cycle has repeated
over and over, yet with the same outcome. I just did another one minutes ago.

Have you ever experienced this? Ask this because I've reached a point where I feel I'm better and stronger than I have ever been, yet I'm a 56 year old man. People in
education view that age as "pushing retirement," yet, with three little kids, I have no plans to retire soon. At the end of today's interview, I found myself asking them if
they'd consider a man at my age for the job, since most people tend to view women in their 20s and more "nurturing." I stated that I've reached a whole new level of
compassion and understanding with children...better than at any time in the past. My youngest son is autistic, and I've learned more from him in one day about
understanding and working with autistic children than from 15 years of clinical work and study in the past.

Sorry, guys. I'm just exhausted and coming to terms with the suspicion that I'm entering a rather "age-labeled" period in my life.
Click to expand...

I haven’t experienced the exact same thing, but I do confirm the sense of the euphoric ‘50s.

I am in my 50s. I’ve never posted this before. By my appearance, most people think I’m in my late 30s or early-40s. I’ve had people my age call me, “Young man.”

But, I feel ya.

My 50s years are the best time of my life. I’ve grown past the silly insecurities of my younger years; I’m more confident, but less cocky.

And...you are so right. When you hit that half-century mark, you become simultaneously conservative and compassionate. My youngest son is non-conversant autistic, as well.

My best wishes to you!!!
 
I'm in a similar boat having been laid off as a CNC Field Service Tech a couple of weeks ago. I have had to sit through interviews where first I am interviewed by some HR nit-wit with an MBA, who has never held a cutting tool in his life. Then, I'll maybe speak with a "service manager" who wasn't even born when I started in the machine tool industry. Tomorrow, I have another interview. This guy is someone who has been around for a while, and a couple of people within that company are pulling for me to get hired. I hope I pass my audition.

I totally get where you're coming from. Interviewing is always hell. I hate job hunting.
 
Good luck to you both from another 50-something.
It is also part of why I dont even look around for something better with 20+ sometimes rocky years at this job.

I think ageism and sexism may well be in play here but good luck making a case of it unless you hold a victim card.
 
Thanks everyone. Today seemed to go well. I had a two hour interview. While taking a short field service exam, I could hear the service manager call his boss and tell him I'm a good candidate. He said that I should call him back in a few days to see if his boss would fly to Mass. for an interview with me, or I would fly to Chicago. They are full for CNC Mill techs, but need two EDM guys right away. I told him I would be more than happy to learn EDM machines. One of the former service coordinators at an old job works for that company now, and gave me a very good word. As well as one of their techs who I've met at training and in the field, and he just happened to be at the office today.

Tomorrow, I have another interview. From what I've been told, if either of these companies are trying to get me in the door for interviews, they must be serious. Normally, they take months to make things happen.
 
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Goldmember said:
Hello mates,

I just thought I'd vent a bit here amongst brethren here at the groovy Rooms of Tone. As you may know, I work in a field dominated by women: elementary education.
I've been trying to find a school much closer to home, and I've had a dozen or so interviews throughout this summer. Each one is the same: I enter a room filled with
a panel of strangers, each asking formulaic questions from a prepared list. I spend 30 minutes exhaustively discussing my talents and abilities. Then, then ask if I have
any questions. The interview concludes with smiles, and everything feels great. I leave, wait a week, and if lucky, I hear that I was not selected. This cycle has repeated
over and over, yet with the same outcome. I just did another one minutes ago.

Have you ever experienced this? Ask this because I've reached a point where I feel I'm better and stronger than I have ever been, yet I'm a 56 year old man. People in
education view that age as "pushing retirement," yet, with three little kids, I have no plans to retire soon. At the end of today's interview, I found myself asking them if
they'd consider a man at my age for the job, since most people tend to view women in their 20s and more "nurturing." I stated that I've reached a whole new level of
compassion and understanding with children...better than at any time in the past. My youngest son is autistic, and I've learned more from him in one day about
understanding and working with autistic children than from 15 years of clinical work and study in the past.

Sorry, guys. I'm just exhausted and coming to terms with the suspicion that I'm entering a rather "age-labeled" period in my life.
Click to expand...
@Goldmember
WhereT F are you, Johan?????

I'm hoping for some good news here... :fingersx:
 
syscokid said:
@Goldmember
WhereT F are you, Johan?????

I'm hoping for some good news here... :fingersx:
Click to expand...


The second interview I had that week (which was actually fourth overall), was fast tracked, and I had an offer in a day and a half. Interview on Wednesday, offer in mailbox on Friday morning. They bypassed all their standard hiring protocols with me. Their other new hire suffered through two months of S.O.B. (standard organizational bullsh!t). Today was my second day on the new job. They moved things so fast that IT could not get a laptop or phone ready for me. Maybe tomorrow, I'll have them. I'll finish a job with another tech in the morning, then head to the tech center for the afternoon.

I was offered good pay, well over what I was making. Also, a company vehicle, and good benefits.

Still battling with getting an unemployment check for any of the weeks that I claimed, as my previous employer has never payed a penny in unemployment taxes... ever. It's getting ugly, to say the least. Still trying to remain positive.

I'm completely stressed out over that, as on the 15th of September bills will start popping their due dates up. My first actual paycheck will not be until the end of the month, as I will be payed Bi-Weekly.

Otherwise, it is almost surreal that I was hired so quickly.

They did promise I would be home at the end of the day 90% of the time. My territory will be Eastern MA, New Hampshire, and Maine. Maybe occasionally Vermont. Most destinations in Southern Maine and New Hampshire are actually an easy commute for me. I'm just relieved to be working. Hopefully the stress level drops soon.

Thanks everyone for your positive vibes.

:cheers:
 
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