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[SIZE=3]Dear ‘interviewer’.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I wanted to follow up on our meeting today.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I was quite happy to receive the call that you wanted to interview me for this position. I planned my wardrobe and commute and researched your company for several days. This morning, I excitedly awoke at 5:22 AM to get ready for this interview. I ate a healthy breakfast, carefully applied my make-up, and donned my freshly dry cleaned interview suit. I arrived early so that I would be relaxed and best able to present my abilities. Your beautiful office was a lovely welcome after my 90 minute commute.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I felt confident at the beginning of our discussion. The position sounded like one that I would perform well in and enjoy. You expressed a concern that you hadn’t mentioned PowerPoint in the ad, but what you should have done is mentioned the crucial bookkeeping and accounting experience that is necessary for the job. If that was in the ad, I never would have applied. You see, I’m not a bookkeeper or an accountant, but if you had read my resume, you would have known that.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Perhaps instead of an Administrative Assistant, you should be looking for someone who can write a proper ad and can comprehend a resume.[/SIZE]
Sheez - sorry about that, NYC. PowerPoint is really a very simple program to learn and use. On the acctg and bookkeeping - I wonder how much you really need to know. It is just basically debits and credits, unless they wanted someone who could handle a complex business system. How strange they wouldn't mention it if it was a critical part of the job.
Can you follow up with a phone call? How did the interview go otherwise - were they uninterested when they learned no accounting and bookkeeping background? I don't consider lack of PowerPoint particularly critical. As I said, it is a very simple program - I worked with it a lot. Very user friendly. Kind of does things for you.
Here's your mistake. Few people go into a job knowing how to do everything. What you should write is a thank you note stating that despite your lack of experience with accounting and book keeping, you are eager to learn and are prepared to buy X book or enroll in X class to better prepare yourself for the position. I mean, how on earth can you see this as a negative? You have the potential to greatly improve your skill set, and some accounting and bookkeeping backgrounds opens your opportunities for higher level jobs.
This is from personal experience. I recently received an offer on a position where I qualified for barely half the job description. And yes, the part I didn't qualify for is heavy on accounting and finance. But I told them exactly what I wrote above. Apparently it worked.
How did I make a mistake? They don't want to train anyone. They want someone to sit down and do accounting stuff, whatever that is.
I know Powerpoint well - not a problem and I stated so. Everything was fine for another minute or two. They want someone with experience to do a LOT of accounting and bookkeeping. She ended the interview 30 seconds after realizing that I didn't have that. Total time: about 9 minutes. Fastest interview in my history.
Putting 'accounting/bookkeeping required' in the ad would have made all the difference in the world. I wouldn't have applied. Most AAs don't have an accounting backround - they would then be accountants making more money. Some may have bookkeeping, but not many. And no, I do not want to learn accounting. Another moron HR person that didn't bother to READ my resume. My resume is very clear on what I have done and this position turned out to be a mirror opposite. If she had read my resume, she would have seen that. I think she had the receptionist pick people - I saw that she was reading it for the first time.
[SIZE=3]Dear ‘interviewer’.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I wanted to follow up on our meeting today.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I was quite happy to receive the call that you wanted to interview me for this position. I planned my wardrobe and commute and researched your company for several days. This morning, I excitedly awoke at 5:22 AM to get ready for this interview. I ate a healthy breakfast, carefully applied my make-up, and donned my freshly dry cleaned interview suit. I arrived early so that I would be relaxed and best able to present my abilities. Your beautiful office was a lovely welcome after my 90 minute commute.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I felt confident at the beginning of our discussion. The position sounded like one that I would perform well in and enjoy. You expressed a concern that you hadn’t mentioned PowerPoint in the ad, but what you should have done is mentioned the crucial bookkeeping and accounting experience that is necessary for the job. If that was in the ad, I never would have applied. You see, I’m not a bookkeeper or an accountant, but if you had read my resume, you would have known that.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Perhaps instead of an Administrative Assistant, you should be looking for someone who can write a proper ad and can comprehend a resume.[/SIZE]
I'm so sick of this.
people are inept, unconcious, stupid, corrupt, self-serving and furious. dare I say, evil? it's the new normal. from the grocery clerk to the mechanic to the doctor to the political shills...I could go on and on ad nauseam. inferior service w/attitude while charging the highest prices possible. even job hunting is a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. send your letter! along with a bill for your breakfast, make-up, dry cleaning, gas, time/aggravation, and consulting fee (for "thank you" note/advice). hell, throw in a charge for the interview suit too.
I feel your pain. I'd wish you luck, but the future incompetent dimwits you will be interviewing with will only offset it. how about a drink? jack and rocks!
people are inept, unconcious, stupid, corrupt, self-serving and furious. dare I say, evil? it's the new normal. from the grocery clerk to the mechanic to the doctor to the political shills...I could go on and on ad nauseam. inferior service w/attitude while charging the highest prices possible. even job hunting is a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. send your letter! along with a bill for your breakfast, make-up, dry cleaning, gas, time/aggravation, and consulting fee (for "thank you" note/advice). hell, throw in a charge for the interview suit too.
I feel your pain. I'd wish you luck, but the future incompetent dimwits you will be interviewing with will only offset it. how about a drink? jack and rocks!
I was just talking about what happened with a friend. I told her 'This dimwit chick has a job and I don't?!" and she told me she was thinking the same thing.
Oh well. Despite a 3 hour nap when I got home, I'm tapped so I'll save watching Sons of Anarchy for tomorrow and hit the sack now. Good night everyone and thanks for the support and advice!
NYChristorygal I'm soooo sorry about your interview. I know you had high hopes.
As a previous poster stated they are trying to cram a variety of jobs together now to save a buck. I've seen adds for AA's that need bookkeeping, web design, tech writing etc. you name it.
That they didn't list bookkeeping as one of the required skills sucks...I'd have asked for gas money.
Again, so sorry that you interview turned out so crappy. I know what a downer it iz.
Thanks, West. I've seen alot of those combined positions too, and I just don't apply for the ones I can't do. It's so simple! She seemed so concerned about the PowerPoint, which any good AA has at least some knowledge of and can learn more easily, but not putting in the accountant issue was plain stupid. No wonder this country is going down the tubes.
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