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).

You have no new emails

Well I do, but they are mainly junk.

After my week of emailing what seems like a billion people I have had no emails back. Apart for 1000heads, who are lovely and their HR manager has the same first name as me. Pop fact for you there.

So after having no luck with big companies. This weeks challenge is to email little companies. As, quite frankly, job hunting is the most boring yet stressful thing ever so to make myself do it I'm turning it into an experiment.

Last week I just used twitter, last year I used job hunting websites, and when that all failed to work I just made people give me a job. So far only the latter method of job hunting has turned into a job.

I have a week and a half left in Falmouth. I haven't even started to pack, or collect all my stuff into one place. It is still scattered over several houses. 

With a move and job hunting I might as well get married just to get divorced as well and just make my life as stressful as possible.