There are sites which list compensation figures for different jobs, although I wouldn't trust them 100%, they should be pretty close.

Originally Posted by Malik112099 A job interview is huge for me. Especially if its a job I really want. I don't look at it as interviewing for some job. I'm interviewing for my family's livelihood and the roof over our heads. Way more important than some VP position.

That's too much emphasis on it. Focusing on that alone can make the situation more stressful than what it should. If you don't have a job yet, I wouldn't focus on that when it comes to the interview.

Originally Posted by Malik112099 A job interview is huge for me. Especially if its a job I really want. I don't look at it as interviewing for some job. I'm interviewing for my family's livelihood and the roof over our heads. Way more important than some VP position.

What I am saying is that, balancing the perspective of employees and employers, we are probably all over-thinking what works and what does not. The risk of a low to mid-level employee not working out is overblown as long as the prerequisites are met and we should all just calm down. The person's background is going to be more important than a 15-minute interview where everybody is on their best behavior based on what they think they should be doing. We should admit that the interview is only marginally useful.

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Just don't be stupid when it comes to wages. If it seems a hundred or two low a week, tell the interviewer. If it looks good to you and you have no problem with it agree to it. No need to push your luck if you are already unemployeed (though if you have employment already I'd throw a number out there that doesn't seem too bad).

We all know the interview is a small part of it but it is the most nerve wracking. It's the first impression. I've read shit about people not getting hired because the interviewer didn't like the cologne/perfume the person was wearing. Some of these people are super shallow and some of them are really cool. You never know what you are gonna get.

The interview isn't overrated. If you have 10 people with similar experiences (and in todays world that might be low), what else are you going to base your decision on?

Of course the interview is going to be most of the hiring decision. I realize that you might lose out on 1 out of 1000 qualified candidates because they are really shitty at interviewing. But that's their own fault. Interviewing is a skill just like every other job skill.

If you lowered the importance of the interview, what would you up the percentage on if everyone had the same background?

Malik - you are putting way too much pressure on yourself. That's why it's so nerve wracking.

If you have a ton of great work experience and you are having trouble finding a good job when you know you are qualified never underestimate paying for a resume writer if you have the cash.

When I decided to change jobs 3 years ago I found a résumé writer via LinkedIn and paid for a professional revision of my résumé. It cost me $500 but I doubled my salary. Definitely worth a look at if you think it is your résumé that is keeping you from getting calls.

Originally Posted by confoosious The interview isn't overrated. If you have 10 people with similar experiences (and in todays world that might be low), what else are you going to base your decision on?

Rock, paper, scissors.

Of course the interview is going to be most of the hiring decision.

But it logically cannot be. Your background determines whether or not you even get the interview.

Originally Posted by WV Matsui If you have a ton of great work experience and you are having trouble finding a good job when you know you are qualified never underestimate paying for a resume writer if you have the cash. When I decided to change jobs 3 years ago I found a résumé writer via LinkedIn and paid for a professional revision of my résumé. It cost me $500 but I doubled my salary. Definitely worth a look at if you think it is your résumé that is keeping you from getting calls.

And this is even crazier. People should admit that in the vast majority of cases, they will never, ever know for sure what put them over the top or got them denied for a job.

Originally Posted by Spokker The person's background is going to be more important than a 15-minute interview where everybody is on their best behavior based on what they think they should be doing. We should admit that the interview is only marginally useful.

You would be tremendously surprised what people say in interviews, they are definitely not always on their best behavior. Their background is helpful, but even if they look like they have the qualifications on paper, it doesn't always work out due to their personality, which tends to come out in an interview.

Ya, I've been involved in interviews and am close with some people in the HR department and there are a dozen people with the exact same qualifications as you for every position. The interview matters a TON. The way you dress, speak, smell, how you talk about previous employers.

This has been a really weird week for me...

I got a call on Tuesday right before I went to Lunch for an interview on Wednesday (4 hours away) and today I got two interviews while I was eating breakfast. (One is two hours away and the other is four hours away)

Hopefully this is a good sign. The interview I had yesterday was in the Lake of the Ozarks region in the middle of nowhere. They had the nicest Wal-Mart I've ever seen (super clean and not crowded at all), but the closest Best Buy or GameStop is an hour away. All the other the interviews are scheduled for tomorrow and the weather guy says they're going to get 10 inches to 1 foot of snow!

If I get a lawyer job in the middle of nowhere I'm hoping that will give me an opportunity to buy a horse! Horses are cool.

Originally Posted by perdition(troy Ya, I've been involved in interviews and am close with some people in the HR department and there are a dozen people with the exact same qualifications as you for every position. The interview matters a TON. The way you dress, speak, smell, how you talk about previous employers.

I am not saying that the interview does not matter. I am questioning why it should, the way we do it today, matter as much as it does.

I think the way I would do it is find some way to hide the name on resumes/applications and downplay the interview in order to reduce the chance of any potential bias that could creep into the process.

I mean, gosh, the way you speak? I'm not saying you should hire a stutterer to do public speaking, but does it matter in a typical office job?

Originally Posted by Spokker Rock, paper, scissors. But it logically cannot be. Your background determines whether or not you even get the interview. And this is even crazier. People should admit that in the vast majority of cases, they will never, ever know for sure what put them over the top or got them denied for a job.

Explain yourself. I didn't say it was for everyone. What makes you such an expert?

Originally Posted by Spokker I am not saying that the interview does not matter. I am questioning why it should, the way we do it today, matter as much as it does. I think the way I would do it is find some way to hide the name on resumes/applications and downplay the interview in order to reduce the chance of any potential bias that could creep into the process. I mean, gosh, the way you speak? I'm not saying you should hire a stutterer to do public speaking, but does it matter in a typical office job?

Nevermind I got my answer... You obviously don't know what you are taking about!

Originally Posted by WV Matsui Nevermind I got my answer... You obviously don't know what you are taking about!

I would love to see your old resume and your $500 resume. You can edit out your name and address.

I'd have to imagine it's a complete multimedia presentation in a hologram that flies around the room.

I would never personally pay for someone to re-write my resume. It just doesn't sound like something I would need unless I had zero clue how to use MS Word which would make you a unicorn these days.

I have been to company sponsored employment/resume type events and spoken to many people who do hiring. Ive heard stories that from the first dead fish handshake the interviewer knew they weren't going to hire that person. if they dont like the way you speak then they are sitting there thinking they wont want to interact with you on a daily basis no matter what kind of work you do. After I got one job a while back and became friends with some of the people on the interview panel I found out that some people wore jeans, brought in a cell phone that rang (I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS leave my cell phone in the car), were chewing gum, etc.

I even heard of someone that didnt get a job because the interviewer wore regular white socks with business attire and they just happened to see it. The interview is a pretty hefty first impression.

Originally Posted by Spokker I would love to see your old resume and your $500 resume. You can edit out your name and address. I'd have to imagine it's a complete multimedia presentation in a hologram that flies around the room.

You wouldn't even be qualified enough to evaluate it.

I can edit my name you nitwit.

This practice would be for folks who have a lot of skills and experience and have trouble putting it on paper. A lot of these writers who are really good know the keywords that employers are looking for and know what to put in a resume to get it through an online screener. I didn't say it was for everyone but for someone who thinks its needed and doesn't mind investing in it, which I didn't, it may prove to be beneficial.

For folks who are only a year or two out of college I would recommend going to your career services department. Most of them have resume writing and reviewing experience and offer that service to students and recent alumna.

They also will put you through a mock interview for practice to help you prepare as well.

Like I said I have 10+ years hiring experience so take it for what it's worth. I was just trying to give insight.

Originally Posted by Malik112099 I would never personally pay for someone to re-write my resume. It just doesn't sound like something I would need unless I had zero clue how to use MS Word which would make you a unicorn these days. I have been to company sponsored employment/resume type events and spoken to many people who do hiring. Ive heard stories that from the first dead fish handshake the interviewer knew they weren't going to hire that person. if they dont like the way you speak then they are sitting there thinking they wont want to interact with you on a daily basis no matter what kind of work you do. After I got one job a while back and became friends with some of the people on the interview panel I found out that some people wore jeans, brought in a cell phone that rang (I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS leave my cell phone in the car), were chewing gum, etc. I even heard of someone that didnt get a job because the interviewer wore regular white socks with business attire and they just happened to see it. The interview is a pretty hefty first impression.

White socks show no attention to detail in a professional interview. Shoes should be shined, tie is straight, matching dress socks, etc. Dress to impress. If I sat down with a candidate and he was in a dark suit and when he sat down he had white tube socks on, it would turn me off on then in an instance.

So I had a great interview on Tuesday and they told me they will definitely call me by the end of the week. Now my question is, I still haven't received a phone call and I'll hope and pray they call tomorrow, but what are my options if I don't receive a phone call? Should I give them a call up on say Monday and ask?

I am not really sure what I am supposed to do in those situations because I haven't looked for a new job in 10 years.

Originally Posted by Malik112099 Ive heard stories that from the first dead fish handshake the interviewer knew they weren't going to hire that person.

More superstitions that employers and employees both cling to. They say Japan is the most superstitious nation, but I think when it comes to work, or more specifically getting work, that title belongs to us. This specific practice of judging someone's handshake is going to inevitably bias those people away from hiring people who are physically weak even if the position does not require raw strength.

Originally Posted by WV Matsui This practice would be for folks who have a lot of skills and experience and have trouble putting it on paper.

By chance does your job require writing skills? If so, do you pay people to do your job too?

I would honestly be curious if your employer, or any employer, would be less likely to hire someone who they know paid $500 to touch up their resume.