Describe your experiences from the perspective of an applicant for the last job you for which you applied.
My experience applying for my job, while not completely uncommon, was different than many people can relate to. I have been working for the same company for five years now as I started when I was only fifteen years old. I have a relative that is the Executive Director and the company has always been a part of my life. From the time I was two years old I would be there every chance I had, volunteering my time and helping anyone that would let me. I spent hours leading up to actually being hired working on a volunteer basis as I was too young to be hired at the time. Right before my fifteenth birthday the Operations Manager handed me an application and asked me a few questions. He already knew that I was a hard worker from my volunteer work so the interview was more of a casual conversation and on my birthday I had my first day as any actual employee with the company.
Explain how your experiences during the job application process shaped your impression of the job you were applying for and your desire to work there (or in some cases to not work there).
As you just read above the job application process wasn’t really the shaping factor for wanting the job. I alway knew I would work there someday. I grew up with the company and watched as it evolved throughout my life. The one thing that the application did help ease my mind with was the fact that I was the youngest employee at the time. I grew up talking to many of the staff members but the year before I was hired the company expanded and there were suddenly many faces I didn’t know. Being the youngest person intimidated me at first but, after walking around and talking to staff members during my application process I soon saw that nobody really cared how old I was as long as I did my part of the work. Since I was first hired I have moved around in the company and taken on different responsibilities and that was possible by demonstrating my work ethic both as a volunteer and during my entry level position.
3 replies on “Job Application Experience”
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That’s cool that you didn’t have to go through the application process that most people do when looking for their first job. I’m glad it was an easy process for you and sounds like you acclimated to it well. It seems as though they had a position ready for you or made one for you which I don’t agree with. If there happened to be an open position and you got it that’s totally fine and I get that. But if the situation was that they wanted you there officially so they made a position for you, I think it is nepotism and I don’t agree with it. Like you said though they could see your work ethic through your volunteer work and so it is understandable to want to make you a part of the team, but it can be a tricky situation. I have been fortunate in my application processes for all the jobs I have had, I have always known someone who worked there or had volunteered so they knew me before going into the interview and so I was never really nervous. Which is how it sounds yours was, more of a casual conversation between you and the hiring manager, definitely makes the entire process less stressful.
Yes, it is great when the stress is taken off and you can feel more comfortable in an interview. I totally understand you concern. This is why the hiring decisions were completely handled through the Operations Manager at the time and the HR department. My personal contact at the company had no part in it. The position was not made for me, it was the standard entry level position and I was only officially hired affect they interviewed a few other candidates, It ultimately came down to I was willing to work weekends and they already knew my work ethic (and had some basic training already done) through my time volunteering, along with the fact that they were short staffed.