As I was planing for my trip for the interview, I was a bit nervous but when I thought of my previous interview experience with Mr Dapo I felt good and confident with my self. Two days to the interview date I embarked on my journey,as soon as we got in to the city,I checked in to a hotel and rested from the long trip.
As I woke up it was 11pm "wow how time flys". I decided to read some likely HR questions to help prepare me for my interview the next day. Luckily for me I had a friend who lived in the city and stayed close to the hotel I was in.
He picked me up from the hotel to the venue of the interview, as we drove down to the interview center we discussed about likely HR questions and argued about the remuneration most organisations offer these days, and I thought to myself; this is one thing that is always up in my head when ever I am applying for a job.
As I got to the venue I looked around, at first and said to my self "I don't think I like the looks of things around here" but regardless, I said my goodbyes to my dear friend as he zoomed off. I walked up to the the security guard and asked for the precise location of the interview. As he pointed to a building just beside me,I thanked him and walked away.
I climbed up the stairs, and the first thing I noticed was the dirty stairs, i wondered "what the hell is this for Christ sake". I got to the office knocked and I heard some one shout "yes come in".
As I walked straight to the reception I greeted a slim dark lady who had a smile on her face and asked me if I was here for the interview. "Yes ma I am here for the interview, I got a call from Mrs Matthew" The lady smiled and directed me to one of the seats at the reception to wait for Mrs Matthew.
As I took my seat, I looked around and noticed some ladies seated at the other side of the reception waiting for an interview too. They all kept staring at me, and it made me feel so uncomfortable and I suddenly began thinking to myself " I am over dressed for this kind of place jeez!!!"
After 6 mins a short, plus size lady walked up to me with a big smile, And I immediately took note of her nice dentition. "Hello Clara nice to see you come into my office". I stood up, followed her and she told me to take a seat ,she still had the wide smile as she greeted me pleasantly and welcomed me in to her small office.
She began to tell me more about the organisation she works for and how their role is to get qualified employees to clients. As I was briefed on the job, I got to realise it was not an HR role but a personal assistant role "what is with me and personal assistant jobs"
She briefed me about her client and explained the nature of the job, afterwards she directed me to an inner room where my interview was going to take place with a collegue of her's and then she took her leave.
While waiting for my interviewer to come in I looked around the room trying to imagine what the interviewer might ask me in regards to the job. After 5mins a slim young lady about 5.5 ft tall walked in to the room, with a smile on her face, she greeted me and asked for my name and a copy of my resume.
She introduced her self as the HR officer and asked me if I understood all what Mrs Mathew had discussed with me. I smiled and nodded, and she asked "tell me about your work experience" I smiled and told her all my past work experiences and what I had learnt and achieved so far. While I was talking to her I was looking at my resume and discussing about the roles I played in each of the organisations I worked for and as I was talking she cut me short and said to me "can you stop looking at your resume and just look at me and discuss" I looked at her in shock cause I did not see anything wrong with talking to her and at the same time having a glimpse of my resume.
From my study in HR there was no issue with looking through your resume and discussing your roles with your interviewer. It's like given a lecture and flipping through your books while discussing with your students.
She went further asking some questions that I did not think was relevant in a job interview.... Questions like " why do you look so pretty?" On hearing this I could not say anything at that moment but laugh cause I was amazed at such a question. I did not respond to her question but only smiled and looked down at my resume I was holding in my hand"saying to my self what an awkward question though".
The interview was finally over after 15mins and Mrs Matthew came in to the room with all smiles asking how my interview went I told her all went well. She told me she will give me a call in 3 days time so I should hope to hear from her and hopefully I get the job. I smiled and said okay ma I hope to hear from you too, thank you.
As I walked out of the office, I could not wait to get back to my hotel eat and sleep.
As soon as I got to my hotel I called my parents and told them how the interview went, we laughed about it and my dad said to me not to worry, since I have a better job waiting for me. "once Mr Dapo sends you an email get ready to pack your stuff and leave for your new job just forget about this interview you went for since it's a PA job and they have already given you a clue that their client is very demanding and troublesome so no need accepting the offer even if the lady gives you a call in two days time". I thought about this and decided to take to my dad's advice.
I got a call from the very jovial Mrs Matthew She explained to me that I would not be suitable for the job since I only have an HR personnel experience and no Personal assistant experience but she has another offer for me will I be willing to take it ? And I responded "Mrs Matthew I am sorry but I don't think I will be willing to accept that offer as I have already been offered something else, i am only just waiting for the confirmation email from the HR of the organisation". I could feel the disapointment from her voice and she said okay that is fine, you have my number please give me a call anytime you decide to change your mind, thank you and take care.
I felt bad and hoped the action I just took was the right thing, I was just ready to pack my bags and go home.
As soon as I got home I told my family about my interview experience and how I felt awkward by the interviewer. We all had a good laugh about it and hoped for better ones to come along the way and we still kept our hopes high on hearing from Mr Dapo very soon.
One week after my awkward interview experience I got a call from a long time friend telling me about a short contract job I could apply for with the organisation she works for. She told me the HR department needed my skills to perform some tasks for some clients. I immediately told her I was intrested even though it was just a two months contract. She went ahead to give the HR officer my phone contact for a phone interview with me.I looked forward to the call. I got a call from the HR officer four days after I spoke to my friend, The lady explained,what the organisation needed me to do and she also informed me that it's a two months contract job. She tried to explain the benefits for me taking the job, for example i get to build a relationship with the organisation and I can get references from the managers for future purposes. To me it was a good deal and atleast I wanted the experience too.
I discussed this with my best friend and my family, and I thought to my self what if as I am working at this organisation I get a call from Mr Dapo to resume work immediately since he had told me to prepare and get ready. I was so confused I did not know what to do, so I went ahead to discuss it with my dad, because I always trust his opinion, he said to me he had no problem with me taking the contract job but what if I get a call from Mr Dapo to resume work in a week's time what would I tell the organisation am already working for? "Clara you don't want to fail any of them so you have to think properly and follow your heart,but I will advice you not take the contract job so you don't loose the permanent job you are about to get. Because all you are waiting for is the confirmation email from Mr Dapo telling you when to resume, so I don't think you should risk that for a contract job that is just for 2months"as I listened to my dad I made sense from what he was saying, I actually did not want to dissapoint any of these organisations. I decided to give my friend a call informing her that I would not be taking the contract job again, because I made a promise to the manager of the organisation I had a successful interview with and I also do not want to fail your organisation too by leaving them when I have resumed work.
My friend advised me to still take it since I have not been given an offer letter from my previous interview with Mr Dapo. I told my friend I did not want to risk it, I understand she is really concerned but I will just wait to hear from Mr Dapo am very positive about this.
"oh well Clara that is fine since you have made up your mind I wish you luck and hope to hear from you once you resume at your new place of work. All the best love" as I hung up I said to my self " I hope I made the right decision....(sigh)".
Two months passed and still nothing from Mr Dapo......
I decided to send him an email "hello Mr Dapo I trust all is fine with you? I have been expecting to hear from you hope all is fine? Hope to hear from you soon in regards to my application,
Thanks.
Clara
I became worried and started having mixed feelings on what might have happened that had made Mr Dapo not contact me, I started discussing with my family and we all started wondering why Mr Dapo took so long for a response. I had to start praying about it asking God questions..."father give me a sign please...".
I decided to check my email the next day and Mr Dapo had responded to my email my heart skipped a beat as I was about to open the mail "Dear Clara am so sorry I have not gotten in touch with you these past months, we have been so busy trying to work out on how we can put you on our pay roll system as the company's financial manager informed us that the company's financial budget is very low at this period so he doubt's if employing a new staff to the company would be possible because of the tight budget. I am honestly trying my best to see what can be done, am so sorry but I will get back to you once things have been sorted out. Take care.
Dapo.
As I read those words I felt heart broken and disappointed I didn't even know the right words to respond to his email I just closed my laptop and went to the kitchen to have a glass of water before I told my mum the contents of the email I just got from Mr Dapo,as I told my mum I could see the disappointment all over her face, she tried to encourage me not to worry I should just hope for the best and start re-applying for jobs, I had no choice anyway. I walked up to my room laid on my bed with thoughts of the two job offers I had just missed tears rolled down my eyes.
Woke up the next day feeling so down did not feel like talking to anybody I just wanted to be all alone and have no conversation with anybody. That week was a very quiet one for me cause I kept on hoping I will get a call from Mr Dapo but unfortunately for me 2 weeks passed and no call from him. I started applying for jobs again, telling friends to be on the look out for me incase they see any job opening that might be applicable to my field of study and experience. I made sure I applied for three jobs or more every day like my dear friend would say...."the hustle is real" I was just applying non stop hoping to get a call or a respond to any of the emails I had sent to HR managers of organisations in regards to job openings in their company.
Another month passed and still no response from Dapo, it gradually started dawning on me that nothing might possibly be done in other for me to get an offer in that company. I decided to forge ahead for better things.
Just when I was just about to feel all relaxed and accustomed to sitting at home all day applying for jobs online, I got an email from an organisation, the HR manager contacted me asking if I could attend an interview in a week's time,it was an IT firm that was in need of an HR officer . I quickly responded to the email stating " I will be able to make it just give me a time and date" I got a response immediately for the time and date of the interview. It felt like a breath of fresh air I could not wait to travel and attend this interview and hopefully get this job.
It was now time for me to travel for my interview, anxiety and fear had the best of me. Would I get this job? Can this interview just go fine? I hope I am favoured. Thoughts and thoughts of the interview lingered through my mind all through my trip.
To be continued........
HR Suggestions/Recommendation
- As a job applicant always make good use of a job offer you get,don't hope on a job you have not been giving an offer letter/resumption date
- A qualified HR personnel would always confirm from his/her financial manager of the organisation before putting up adverts for job recruitment
- One of the first rule for job applicants is to continuously apply for jobs till you get your dream job
- During an interview process always make eye to eye contact with your interviewer and make sure you sell your self even as you discuss your past job experiences
- As an HR personnel when interviewing job applicants make sure you try to keep it formal and let your interviewee feel comfortable and relaxed. It's not proper for you to make an applicant feel tensed or scared.
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