haven't worked in a while. Need interview advice

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bringram
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31 May 2009, 7:42 pm

It's been just shy of 3 years since I had a job. I could kinda say that I was helping family members at home for part of that. I wanted to go back to school, but haven't done it. The biggest reason was I was depressed and didn't want to work. I fell into a routine of not working and got comfortable in my routine.
I have gotten to the point where I really need to work. I really need a job. I have an interview tommorrow. How do I explain not working for 3 years?



Johnklok
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31 May 2009, 8:37 pm

Make eye contact w/out staring, keep your feet flat to the ground, and be honest (w/out giving up too much personal info. of course)....but you should already know how to do that stuff, being that it's natural professonal interaction...



ViperaAspis
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31 May 2009, 11:44 pm

Do what you're best at, my friend. Direct honesty. You were caring for a family member(s) for that time. They aren't going to grill you about that. No need to go into the depression situation at all. Try to resist the urge of full disclosure.

Above all, just try your best to relax and smile. :)

No, bigger smile :D

That's it! And remember your friends here are rooting for you!


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Dussel
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01 Jun 2009, 12:52 am

bringram wrote:
I have an interview tommorrow. How do I explain not working for 3 years?


ViperaAspis wrote:
Do what you're best at, my friend. Direct honesty. You were caring for a family member(s) for that time. They aren't going to grill you about that.


To add some remarks to ViperaAspis' comment:

It is normally the best way - Let try to understand this from the perspective of the interviewer: He/she is not really interested on your past, the only real concern is that you will do your job well. To understand this, they try to understand two issues:

1) You professional backgrounds and skills
2) Your personality

The most questions are into the second direction. May you would be successful in supposing something/someone you are not (unlikely in the case of an aspie), but within some weeks or month this facade would crumble and they will do everything to get rip off you. So your problems would be more severe than playing the "card of honesty" and risking not getting the job.



bringram
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01 Jun 2009, 3:27 pm

Did the interview and I think it went well. My long period without work was bairly touched on. I got a second interview with HR on Wednesday. I think that's good. I'm hoping I have the job.



ViperaAspis
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01 Jun 2009, 4:57 pm

SWEEET! It went better than well; you impressed them or there wouldn't even be a second interview. The HR "interview" is easier.

<-- "High-Five"s you and Dussel :cheers:

Damn good job (if I may use a minor expletive). Especially in this economy.

And hey, don't feel bad if for some reason you don't get this job either. You made it successfully through one interview and that proves that you can make it through others.


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bringram
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02 Jun 2009, 5:25 pm

Follow up interview is tommorrow. I'm on pins and needles again. Monday went well, I think. I talked to one of the people I listed as a personal reference and nobody had called them. I don't know what to make of that. I'm hoping that since this interview is with an HR person that I basically have the job. I'm hoping they didn't wait till after Wednesday to do the background check stuff, 'cause I'd like to get to work as quickly as I can.
It's not just work. It's a chance to be around real people- not just the grandfolks I've been holed up with. Once I have a job I can get an apartment. Once I have that I'll be fully independent again, without a family member's claws in me.