Recruiters

Over the course of the week I probably sent out about 15 applications. Got some rejections, got some call-backs, had to do an online test (what do you hate most about jobs? -To work weekends, to work long hours, to work early, to work alone, none of the above (uhu)) , scored one interview, and am of course still waiting on lots of replies.
But, what has happened twice now is this: I applied for a marketing associate position via a recruiter. They called back the next day, which is super quick as you all know. First they ask me if I’d be in their city one of these days for an interview, as they don’t reimburse you for travel expenses. I suggested a phone interview first. OK so we do that. “What industries would you exclude from your jobsearch?” Easy: “The tobacco and the armory industry.” “Well would you consider starting in a temping contract and then receiving one with the company after 4 to 6 months if they like you?” *thinks uhm wait a sec, that’s what a probabtional period is for in this country* So I say “Well I can’t really answer that question without knowing more details about the position and the company.” So she grabs her file on that position and reads that it’d be some retailer and the position is in the department responsible for Genussmittel (stimulants) – ah wait a sec, are tobacco goods not part of that department?! Anyways, and yeah they’ve split the position now and they’ve filled the marketing part of it (after this ad had been online for 3 days? Wow, quick….) but they do have the half of the position that’s for Team Assistant! Yay! Secretary work! Uhm no. Didn’t go to school to be a secretary.
Almost the same thing happened with another recruiter yesterday. Do they just try to trick you into sending a qualified resume to then make you work as an overqualified secretary?! Ugh! Evil scheme!
But yes, I’m going to an interview in Frankfurt next Friday and the HR guy sounded really nice and not like he’s hiding something like the recruiters ;-). I’ll stay the weekend in town to visit my girlfriends. Woohooo! Long live interview tourism! Well I am paying the train ride with my Bahncard so it saves the company 50% and still costs the same regardless of what day I go back home.

In other news, I had been thinking about going to China in mid July to visit Ally and Doreen but Doreen has visitors all through July and Ally leaves her place July 20th so I couldn’t just push it back into August and now it doen’t look like I’ll be able to go. Dang! Alternative would be to go to only Thailand with Ally but man, I’ve been meaning to see China for ages now. Though I think Jöran still lives in Beijing… hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!