Job Interview - WTF do I wear...
- Thread starter FrugalCopywrite
- Start date
Most of the people responding in this thread either didn't read your post, or have no idea what they're talking about.
What Yuma said is correct. I worked in management at a factory for years and did plenty of interviews during that time. For general labor positions I rarely gave a second thought to what they were wearing, so jeans and a polo shirt are fine. If you're overdressed for an interview to work on the line I'm going to assume you won't make it, so you probably won't be hired. One exception, I had a guy come in dressed in a suit and he actually apologized for being overdressed, explaining that he was on his way to a wedding and didn't have time to go home and change. He had worked in a plant before so he understood how ridiculous he looked.
I didn't care about the drug test as much, but HR did so you'll have to pass that. The big thing I looked at for your type of position was timeliness, past work history, and how you answered my questions. If you've never worked in a factory before, I'm going to look for some clues in your personality to see if you're cut out for it, because a lot of people aren't. I want to make sure you've at least worked construction or landscaping or something requiring manual labor if you've never worked production. I'm also looking to see if you're the type of guy that might be able to be trained in the future for an inspection or supervisory position because most of those guys come off the floor, but most of the guys on the floor aren't cut out for anything beyond lifting parts and pushing buttons all day.
What Yuma said is correct. I worked in management at a factory for years and did plenty of interviews during that time. For general labor positions I rarely gave a second thought to what they were wearing, so jeans and a polo shirt are fine. If you're overdressed for an interview to work on the line I'm going to assume you won't make it, so you probably won't be hired. One exception, I had a guy come in dressed in a suit and he actually apologized for being overdressed, explaining that he was on his way to a wedding and didn't have time to go home and change. He had worked in a plant before so he understood how ridiculous he looked.
I didn't care about the drug test as much, but HR did so you'll have to pass that. The big thing I looked at for your type of position was timeliness, past work history, and how you answered my questions. If you've never worked in a factory before, I'm going to look for some clues in your personality to see if you're cut out for it, because a lot of people aren't. I want to make sure you've at least worked construction or landscaping or something requiring manual labor if you've never worked production. I'm also looking to see if you're the type of guy that might be able to be trained in the future for an inspection or supervisory position because most of those guys come off the floor, but most of the guys on the floor aren't cut out for anything beyond lifting parts and pushing buttons all day.
Man, I used to think that, until I had a suit tailor made for me.
I don't go out to business events often, but I love it when I get the opportunity to wear it, because you feel like a such a badass wearing something that fits you so damn well.
I know a financial advisor who quit the business to drive trucks. He loved it cos it gave him time to think. Even though he's in another business now, he still drives from time to time.
But why would you need solution if you don't have problem? I mean solution is fo the problem. If there is no problem whats the solution for?
You seem like a smart guy, I think working on a manual labor job would suck the life out of you. I worked in a mail room a few years ago, and let me tell you, there's only so much time someone who is sane can spend stuffing envelopes and placing labels. I think it will drive you crazy eventually.
Regarding client BS, you will always have to deal with some sort of BS as long as you are dealing with other people. That's why you should work somewhere where you can respect who you are working with. It will always be boss BS, coworker BS, or general job BS. This is why a lot of members here now work for themselves.
If you are a copywriter (which I am guessing based on your username), I would recommend that you come up with a way to make your writing stand out from the rest. What separates you from every other college kid on here who is looking to make a few bucks by writing content for a few weeks? Grow a customer base and find a way to keep those customers. Figure out new places to post content. Guest blog post for specific niches. Figure out something you can monetize.
I think doing this will be more profitable for you, and allow you to keep your sanity at the same time.
:food-smiley-010:
Also, how much money can you make doing manual labor? Do you really think you will be able to afford putting money away for a PPC fund? After taxes and bills, you will have to work for a while to save enough money to run a decent campaign on any semi-competitive niche.
it's perfectly reasonable to ask the interviewer what the expected attire is at the company rather than guessing.
Thanks for all the replies - some great information here.
Yes, I am a copywriter. Getting clients and keeping them is not the issue - the issue is I have grown to genuinely hate making other people money when I should be doing the same for myself.
After a long day of grinding out client work, the last thing I really feel like doing is completing work for myself. It sounds ludicrous, but there is only so much "creativity" (for lack of a better word) in my mind, and when it gets spent, I just end up lying around or being totally unproductive.
As it is now, I have to continue paying the bills and supporting myself, so considering that my client work has made me the bulk of my money in the past, I have put that first. Is this a mistake? Probably. But, I have to eat...
It's not so much using the manual labor job to save the money for PPC as much as using it to support myself.
Building on my last point, here's how I see the situation.
1. Stop writing for clients to support myself - replace this income with a manual labor job. I am mainly looking for a night shift position, but in my case, beggars can't really be choosers. I am living on a pretty strict budget right now (I am a university student) so after rent, I can live on about $250 a month. Even at minimum wage (I am in Canada, so that is $10.25) I think I should be able to support myself with this, while putting some money aside for developing my online business.
2. Spend my free time focusing 100% of my intellectual energy on building up my own assets.
Like I said before, I know what has to be done to be successful and achieve my goals. It's just that continuing client work is sucking the life out of me, literally and figuratively. But, in my current situation, it seems to be a necessary evil. This must change if I want to get where I want to go.
I have enjoyed a limited level of success in affiliate marketing through using the minisite model (throw up a bunch of 10 page websites based around a specific niche, determine which ones are gaining momentum and traffic, focus my energies on developing those and dump the ones that are flukes) But, these things take time to build, and I have not had the energy to focus on them and give them the time they deserve.
In terms of PPC, I have limited experienced. (I used this as my main way to get clients for my writing business, but no affiliate marketing yet) A bunch of the people I have written landing pages for have been using my copy for more than a few months and they continue to spend on advertising, so I assume it works for them.
-----------------------------------------------
Overall, I know what I have to do to get where I want to go, but I need to find the right path to get there.
It has recently become very clear to me that continuing to write content for others is counterproductive and is causing me to go insane. I know that if I can find a way to replace the income I garner from my client work while preserving my intellectual energy, the rest of my business will take off. I have gone through this cycle over and over again, and I have just had enough...
Yes, I am a copywriter. Getting clients and keeping them is not the issue - the issue is I have grown to genuinely hate making other people money when I should be doing the same for myself.
After a long day of grinding out client work, the last thing I really feel like doing is completing work for myself. It sounds ludicrous, but there is only so much "creativity" (for lack of a better word) in my mind, and when it gets spent, I just end up lying around or being totally unproductive.
As it is now, I have to continue paying the bills and supporting myself, so considering that my client work has made me the bulk of my money in the past, I have put that first. Is this a mistake? Probably. But, I have to eat...
It's not so much using the manual labor job to save the money for PPC as much as using it to support myself.
Building on my last point, here's how I see the situation.
1. Stop writing for clients to support myself - replace this income with a manual labor job. I am mainly looking for a night shift position, but in my case, beggars can't really be choosers. I am living on a pretty strict budget right now (I am a university student) so after rent, I can live on about $250 a month. Even at minimum wage (I am in Canada, so that is $10.25) I think I should be able to support myself with this, while putting some money aside for developing my online business.
2. Spend my free time focusing 100% of my intellectual energy on building up my own assets.
Like I said before, I know what has to be done to be successful and achieve my goals. It's just that continuing client work is sucking the life out of me, literally and figuratively. But, in my current situation, it seems to be a necessary evil. This must change if I want to get where I want to go.
I have enjoyed a limited level of success in affiliate marketing through using the minisite model (throw up a bunch of 10 page websites based around a specific niche, determine which ones are gaining momentum and traffic, focus my energies on developing those and dump the ones that are flukes) But, these things take time to build, and I have not had the energy to focus on them and give them the time they deserve.
In terms of PPC, I have limited experienced. (I used this as my main way to get clients for my writing business, but no affiliate marketing yet) A bunch of the people I have written landing pages for have been using my copy for more than a few months and they continue to spend on advertising, so I assume it works for them.
-----------------------------------------------
Overall, I know what I have to do to get where I want to go, but I need to find the right path to get there.
It has recently become very clear to me that continuing to write content for others is counterproductive and is causing me to go insane. I know that if I can find a way to replace the income I garner from my client work while preserving my intellectual energy, the rest of my business will take off. I have gone through this cycle over and over again, and I have just had enough...
What about something that doesn't really involve clients, but isn't as exhausting mentally or physically as manual labour or copywriting?
For example, working a till; no real creativity there, just asking how their day was and scanning their items.
Dunno though, I have no personal experience with either manual labour or till work.
By the way why some of you say that slacks and shirt (no tie of course) would be too much? I mean its not like you are suited up, for me slacks and shirt is just a little bit better than jeans and polo. For instance when I get bored of wearing jeans + polo shirt I jump into slacks + dress shirt and I feel pretty much the same (speaking about the "level" of your outfit). Its not something very OVER the top or something imho. Well might be cultural thing though, I am not from the states, maybe over there its considered overdressed.
whatever the job is, do not wear jean and tshirt for an interview. If it is a career oriented job then suit is best but you can wear formal shirt with a trouser for any other job interview.
At least when you are making other people money with your writing, you are honing your skills. When you start this manual labor job, you'll still be making someone else money, but you'll be tired as shit at the end of the day, and the only skill you'll be developing is packing boxes and communicating with the idiots you work with.
Find a job that you can use to help improve some type of skill you can use in your entrepreneurial endeavors. If nothing else, find a job that allows you to sit instead of stand all day. If you think you'll be "invigorated" by standing on a line all day, I think you're going to be in for a surprise.
Pro Tip: Find a job where you have access to a computer. Grind while grinding.
Thanks for all the responses - I would have never thought you could get serious advice about stuff like this on Wickedfire.
The more I think about it, the more I see that getting a job like I was looking for would be a step backward, and maybe even considered the cowards way out.
When I get my income tax return and combine it with my emergency savings, I should have just about enough money to survive for 2 months.
I am just going to go balls out, focus all my time on myself (personal business interests, not hustling) and make this a summer to remember, good or bad...
Thanks again
The more I think about it, the more I see that getting a job like I was looking for would be a step backward, and maybe even considered the cowards way out.
When I get my income tax return and combine it with my emergency savings, I should have just about enough money to survive for 2 months.
I am just going to go balls out, focus all my time on myself (personal business interests, not hustling) and make this a summer to remember, good or bad...
Thanks again