Are interviews too much chat not enough do?

With my money running out and limited prospects of full-time work in a job I want I am currently returning to my old faithful: bar work. In fact I have a trial on Wednesday.

This lead me to think about why not more interviews are trial based? I know most jobs have a trial period, but why is the interview process based on chat and exampled not chat and challenges.

I'll admit it, on paper I don't seem like much; bar work, bar work, special effects make-up, bar work, bar work, social media. To me it reads like "Can't make up her mind" when in reality it's "Needed money fast".

I made a promise to myself when I moved to London, move away from hospitality, get a "proper job". When in reality I love bar work. I love talking to people, making yummy drinks and I really love making other people happy. So bar work could be my perfect job. After all despite having a degree I am far more qualified in cellar management and making ferns in coffee because I've actually done it, for ages. But because I've been doing this for ages it's no longer a challenge. I can learn a bar, till system, cellar, menu in about half an hour. Not by studying it, by actually working it.

You know how you go about getting a job in hospitality? It's a lot like becoming a stuntman. Know someone doing it already. So in that respect it's like getting any job: networking. Back to the point, for any of my hospitality roles it's never really been a case of my CV. I got recommended and offered a trial shift. Not an interview, a trial. A lets see if you can actually do the job.

I'm pretty sure it's nearly the same with teachers (or so my mum told me). You're invited to the school you've applied for, teach a class, get interviewed by the students then get interviewed by the senior team.

Now this may seem like a much longer process, but you're guaranteed to pick the right candidate for the job and as a candidate you'll know if you want the job or not. If it's your first job in a particular industry how do you know you'll love it if you haven't done it?

Am I just not applying for jobs I'll enjoy if all I want from an interview is to prove myself from a practical demonstration rather than telling people what I've done in the past.

Or is it that entry-level jobs don't test for this?

Thoughts, comments? Anyone been on a really cool interview process. Or a really bad interview?

My favourite twitter feeds

Over on the inspiring interns blog I wrote about why Twitter is my favourite job hunting site. For a nice tie in, here are the twitter feeds I religiously follow, and find helpful. And have favorited probably every tweet they tweet (These are mostly media jobs, mainly London based. But not always)

In no particular order;

@InspiringIntern - internships/jobs range from marketing, advertising, finance and IT. Not only jobs, but lots of helpful videos and content to help you write your CV, and everything inbetween till you become a success story.

@GoThinkBig - so many different job sectors covered (including spy at the moment) but epecially a lot of publishing oppitunities, as well as tons of content about everything job related you could ever want.

@mediamuppet - as the name suggests, media paid internships/jobs. These range mainly over journalism, broadcasting, PR and social media. And all over the country. Website also has a lovely blog and some brilliant practical advice. Best thing, email contact for the job is always given.

@enternships - a wide rang of job sectors covered, manily with startups with internships and entry level jobs advertised. Fantastic search options to find just what you're looking for. You can be as specific as you want. Mainly London based jobs, but occasionally Newport, Munich, Shefford, München. Also have a blog with useful job hunting advice.

@MediaNationuk - Obviously another meda based job hunting site. From work experience to more experienced roles. The website also has relevant industry news, events, competitions and more.

There you have it. A short list of the feeds I use for job hunting.

Anyone else have any favourite twitter feeds for job hunting? Leave them in the comments below and we can start a definitive "best twitter feeds for job hunting" list.

6 things films lied to me about RE: jobhunting.

You can blag your way through an interview. And get the job.

You don't have to be remotely interested in the industry to get the job.

Leonardo DiCaprio will offer you a badass job before you graduate.

It's super easy to get a cushty job hotel sitting.

Lying on your CV is fine. Even really big lies.

A good sound track is all you need to succeed. Sort of (that and a killer montage).

Should you give up after a rejection?

I am sat in another coffee shop half procrastinating. I watched 90210 this morning and am now living in the fantasy world where just by blogging someone will use my I.P to track me down and want to offer me a job, or a book deal.

So it was pretty much a straight up no from Glossybox. I say from Glossybox, the company they are using to shortlist candidates. Which came in the form of a badly worded email. With a no reply email address so I can't even ask for feedback on my application. Or ask why I haven't been selected for interview.

Here in lyes the question, should I just give up on this job? Accept defeat? Or do I go the extra mile? So someone will actually read my application and not just have it run through a piece of software.

The last time I persisted after what seemed like months of hard work tracking people down worked out pretty well. I ended up working on a Hollywood film in the make-up department. 

But how annoying is persistence? Can it lead to someone just being super annoyed with you? Or does it show dedication to the job.

I'm going to use all my detective skills to track down those ever elusive email addresses or really people who can hire me or tell me to come back when I have more professional experience.

I'm now going back to my dream world where blogging on my iPad in a coffee shop will make every thing work out perfectly. And then if it doesn't happen in 5 minutes I'm going to another coffee shop.

I need to get my life sorted

Blahhhhh.

I forgot how much I hate this process. But with 24 days left in Falmouth I still need to fine a place to live in London, organise a move from Falmouth to London and find a job in London. 

24 days, just over 3 weeks, while working full time, to sort massively stressful things out.

I think I have become to accustomed to Falmouth life. It's slow, relaxed and nearly everything happens spontaneously. After 5 years of living like this I really do need to snap out of this mind set.

I am now procrastinating by writing this blog and looking at LinkedIn conning myself that it is something productive. I might even by a psychology book and read it and convince myself that that is productive as well.

I'm even taking photos of me procrastinating because photos look nice on blogs and I can con myself onto thinking that it is also productive.