Highly Sensitive People HSP Community Group
The highly sensitive person (or HSP) is someone who cares deeply about everything ... feels emotions with great intensity ... is highly conscientious ... has a rich and complex inner life ... is very intuitive ... is often creative in a variety of ways... is easily overwhelmed and/or overstimulated. A HSP needs lots of quiet time,space, and freedom. If this sounds...
I am venting about my experience with the job counselor who was assigned to me through a state agency I went to to get help regarding my getting employment.
I got a call from her this past Friday around 4:30 p.m. for an interview at HEB. She asked me to meet her there around 8 a.m. She gave me the address of that specific HEB since she knows that I depend on the bus for transportation. I was able to get to that location by bus.
She was running late. She arrived around 8:45 a.m. She told me that the interview was not until 9 a.m. She then told me that 1) it is a group interview, 2) I have to stand out among the other candidates, and 3) I will have to sell an item.
She told me that I had to appear bubbly and cheerful when introducing myself and to say "I would love working at HEB".
So here is what happened at the group interview...
When we walked into the room, each of us had to choose an item from a table near the front of the room.
There were 7 of us being interviewed along with 2 HEB employees. One of the employees was the Service Desk Manager. There was a list of questions at each chair that we had to answer. Everyone got the same list of questions. So we had to stand up one by one, introduce ourselves, and answer the questions. Then we were divided into groups to sell the item each of us chose. We had to sell the items as part of a buy one get 2 free sales promotion.
Then came the questions from the Service Desk Manager.
For our group, the guy next to me chose sugar free cough drops, I chose HEB mac and cheese, and the girl next to me chose strawberry pudding.
I told the Service Desk Manager the reason why I chose the HEB mac and cheese was because when I am sick, I want comfort food. I also referred to the cough drops and the strawberry pudding. I also mentioned that you could add Velveeta cheese to the mac and cheese to make it cheesier. The Service Desk Manager then asked me "what if I took your advice regarding adding the Velveeta cheese to the mac and cheese, but when I ate it, I did not like it. Can I return it and get a refund?" The guy next to me said "I would say no." So she asked him "why?" He said because the box was already opened, and you made the mac and cheese. She also asked the girl with the strawberry pudding the same question. Her answer was the same.
She asked the same question to the other groups. She got the same answer.
Then we were given another question to answer. Mine was You clocked out for your break. While on your break, you are doing some shopping, and you are approached by a customer needing help. What would you do? My answer was that I do not shop during my break. I shop before I clock in. I would help the customer before clocking out for lunch. I would also not shop during my break because that takes time out of my break, and I have less time to eat my food.
At the end of the group interview she told us that HEB has a satisfaction guarantee return policy. So you can return an empty product box and get a refund as long as you have your receipt.
She told everyone after that "We will make a decision in 24 hours. We will let you know if we want you to come back for a second interview. If that does not happen, then I suggest that you continue your job search."
I did not come prepared for that interview. 15 minutes before the interview is not enough preparation time for me. I felt rushed, and when that happens, I do not do my best. Not even close. I need at least one days notice.
I got a call from her this past Friday around 4:30 p.m. for an interview at HEB. She asked me to meet her there around 8 a.m. She gave me the address of that specific HEB since she knows that I depend on the bus for transportation. I was able to get to that location by bus.
She was running late. She arrived around 8:45 a.m. She told me that the interview was not until 9 a.m. She then told me that 1) it is a group interview, 2) I have to stand out among the other candidates, and 3) I will have to sell an item.
She told me that I had to appear bubbly and cheerful when introducing myself and to say "I would love working at HEB".
So here is what happened at the group interview...
When we walked into the room, each of us had to choose an item from a table near the front of the room.
There were 7 of us being interviewed along with 2 HEB employees. One of the employees was the Service Desk Manager. There was a list of questions at each chair that we had to answer. Everyone got the same list of questions. So we had to stand up one by one, introduce ourselves, and answer the questions. Then we were divided into groups to sell the item each of us chose. We had to sell the items as part of a buy one get 2 free sales promotion.
Then came the questions from the Service Desk Manager.
For our group, the guy next to me chose sugar free cough drops, I chose HEB mac and cheese, and the girl next to me chose strawberry pudding.
I told the Service Desk Manager the reason why I chose the HEB mac and cheese was because when I am sick, I want comfort food. I also referred to the cough drops and the strawberry pudding. I also mentioned that you could add Velveeta cheese to the mac and cheese to make it cheesier. The Service Desk Manager then asked me "what if I took your advice regarding adding the Velveeta cheese to the mac and cheese, but when I ate it, I did not like it. Can I return it and get a refund?" The guy next to me said "I would say no." So she asked him "why?" He said because the box was already opened, and you made the mac and cheese. She also asked the girl with the strawberry pudding the same question. Her answer was the same.
She asked the same question to the other groups. She got the same answer.
Then we were given another question to answer. Mine was You clocked out for your break. While on your break, you are doing some shopping, and you are approached by a customer needing help. What would you do? My answer was that I do not shop during my break. I shop before I clock in. I would help the customer before clocking out for lunch. I would also not shop during my break because that takes time out of my break, and I have less time to eat my food.
At the end of the group interview she told us that HEB has a satisfaction guarantee return policy. So you can return an empty product box and get a refund as long as you have your receipt.
She told everyone after that "We will make a decision in 24 hours. We will let you know if we want you to come back for a second interview. If that does not happen, then I suggest that you continue your job search."
I did not come prepared for that interview. 15 minutes before the interview is not enough preparation time for me. I felt rushed, and when that happens, I do not do my best. Not even close. I need at least one days notice.
http://www.chicagonow.com/get-employed/2012/06/5-reasons-not-to-do-a-group-interview/
An HSP does not thrive in this type of interview process.
As an HSP, I do not want to be treated like this.
I have never been to such an interview, and i have never heard of such a thing! It sounds very silly and stupid and almost degrading.
Judging by what you wrote, i think you did an awesome job! I dont know how you managed to stay until the end. I find you also managed to give great answers!
For me, i would have felt angry after a few minutes. I would want to tell them: Quit playing those silly games and just talk to me like a normal person.
I agree with spunkycat08. As an HSP i do not want to be treated like this!
If you were comfortable with the behaviour of the company (people recruiting and that kind of interview and the corporate culture), no problem then, you would fit with them.
If you really did not like it, it means it is not a company for you.
If you did not like it only on the emotional state, it is over anyway. Next time,as from the beginning say to yourself, anyway I don't want that kind of job/company.
In your post, you seemed pretty comfortable....
If I can give you an advice ( I just made several interviews for my new job):
I used to stress and get anxiety for everything.
So, an interview would have been a nightmare for me.
But I decided I don't want to have stress anymore.
So before I started the interviews I wondered why I was doing it and how to play myself.
I finally decided to introduce myself and to tell the truth.
If I did not know an answer, I just said it.
I just talked with my heart, said what i was looking for, and I answered all the questions I had with my own thought, no lies, no hidden fact, no overplay and maybe too much truth.
it took me less than a month to find a job and very good one. It was so fast ! I got several offers and a lot of second interviews planned I did not even had to do.
I said to the company who hired me I wanted to get a degree.
They asked me :
- Do you like to study ?
- No, I really do not. But I need it if I want to keep evolving in my job. The jobs I am interested in require this degree.
Honnesty is the most important, no need to stress, just tell the truth.