The off topic thread 6.0

[Jatz]

Got a job interview next week. My first job interview since 2018.

Looking forward to seeing if much has changed.

 

[SM]

Got a job interview next week. My first job interview since 2018.

Looking forward to seeing if much has changed.

It's much easier to prepare when you can just have notes on a second screen.

 

[Jatz]

It's much easier to prepare when you can just have notes on a second screen.

This interview is in person (which I prefer anyway). The role is 100% in the office (which again, I prefer).

Got a week to prepare though so shouldn't be an issue I hope.

 

[Cruyff14]

Got a job interview next week. My first job interview since 2018.

Looking forward to seeing if much has changed.

My advice is fingers interlocked and place your hands on the table to avoid fidgeting, smile and nod frequently.

 

[SM]

This interview is in person (which I prefer anyway). The role is 100% in the office (which again, I prefer).

Got a week to prepare though so shouldn't be an issue I hope.

I can't stand companies that think roles need to be 100% in the office just to justify their outlay on the office space but to each their own.

 

[Bradesmaen]

This interview is in person (which I prefer anyway). The role is 100% in the office (which again, I prefer).

Got a week to prepare though so shouldn't be an issue I hope.

I went to one recently and got offered a job out of it, was surprised as they did most of the talking! Turned it down to stay with my current company for a few reasons like using it as a bit of a kick to my employers about my level I saw I was at versus what I believed they saw me at and a bit of loyalty/liking being there for the past 6 years

 

[Cruyff14]

I can't stand companies that think roles need to be 100% in the office just to justify their outlay on the office space but to each their own.

I work at a school so can't WFH, but yeah office jobs wanting people in the office every day is a ****ing joke.

 

[Jatz]

I can't stand companies that think roles need to be 100% in the office just to justify their outlay on the office space but to each their own.

I have 2 children under 3 at home, work is a much quieter/easier place to work.

I've worked from home previously so have experienced it.

 

[SM]

I have 2 children under 3 at home, work is a much quieter/easier place to work.

I've worked from home previously so have experienced it.

Oh I'm not saying I have an issue with people working from the office, I'm saying I have an issue with businesses forcing people in.

Personally I find working from home much easier especially with a kid and dogs. One of my dogs has been pretty sick this week so been to the vet a few times and can't imagine trying to work that around working from the office or taking time off just to pop him in at 9am and pick him up at 4. My wife was getting ready to go out a few hours ago and I could hear the little one screaming so I popped down and grabbed her for 5 minutes and read her a story. Just little things that I find being at home helps with. Again though, each to their own, I just like having the choice. I question why a business thinks we shouldn't have that choice in 2025.

 

[Jatz]

We live in a golden era for it, that's for sure.

I'm a little more old school I guess.

 

[SM]

We live in a golden era for it, that's for sure.

I'm a little more old school I guess.

I mean as I said I have zero issue with people wanting to work from the office, it's the lack of choice I take issue with. Don't know if that's 'new school'. My Mum back in the 90s was able to work from home as a Uni lecturer outside of actually giving the lectures for instance, so she was able to take advantage of that choice.

 

[Jatz]

I mean as I said I have zero issue with people wanting to work from the office, it's the lack of choice I take issue with. Don't know if that's 'new school'. My Mum back in the 90s was able to work from home as a Uni lecturer outside of actually giving the lectures for instance, so she was able to take advantage of that choice.

Working from home has mostly only become vogue in the last 10 years or so. Certainly in my experience across multiple businesses.

I just personally don't see an issue with a business dictating that you're present during work hours. It's no different to expecting kids to be at school etc.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Yeah you would think a good employer would put employee happiness up near the top, especially if that employee has consistently delivered wfh. My international employer pressuring to come in an extra day (currently two a week in office) it a few of us not budging. Oh but Asia office does is their reply. Who gives a f*** is our thought as we are at the least as productive as they are

 

[Quivorir]

I can do my entire job without stepping foot into the office yet I am required every day simply so my boss has the ability to physically walk up to us for discussions. Apparently Teams isn't good enough for that.

 

[SM]

Working from home has mostly only become vogue in the last 10 years or so. Certainly in my experience across multiple businesses.

I just personally don't see an issue with a business dictating that you're present during work hours. It's no different to expecting kids to be at school etc.

Yeah see the notion that you can't be present while at home or that the hours saved in commuting time might actually be beneficial to the employee is what gets me with that attitude.

It's entirely different to needing kids to be at school. The fact you're comparing grown adults' ability to manage their time to kids is the entire problem. Employers treating their staff as if they're children. It's almost as if we got through an entire world pandemic working from home and systems didn't crash.

 

[Frank Bunn]

This interview is in person (which I prefer anyway). The role is 100% in the office (which again, I prefer).

Got a week to prepare though so shouldn't be an issue I hope.

I always did well in interviews - because I prepared, such as thinking of answers to 'tell me a time when...' questions. But also because I treated it like a two way conversation rather an interrogation. When they asked at the end "do you have any questions?" I usually said no, because I had asked them already.

My favourite interview was with a bank in the UK. The project manager took me through my resume then said "I'll hand you over to Bob for some technical questions."
Bob - "I see you play football. That's great, you'll be able to join our five-a-side team!"

 

[SM]

I can do my entire job without stepping foot into the office yet I am required every day simply so my boss has the ability to physically walk up to us for discussions. Apparently Teams isn't good enough for that.

At my previous employer I was required in five days a week because they wanted to set a good example for the construction staff out on job sites, and when I requested that I work from home one day a fortnight to manage the dogs for the hour that our cleaner was over I was denied. This was late 2020 before the second wave of COVID. The reality was they had signed a lease on a new office space in 2019 and were committed to the space post first lockdown so got everyone back in full time as quickly as possible for no added benefit other than putting staff at risk of COVID. One of my colleagues actually ended up getting it pretty badly at the time as a result.

 

[SM]

I always did well in interviews - because I prepared, such as thinking of answers to 'tell me a time when...' questions. But also because I treated it like a two way conversation rather an interrogation. When they asked at the end "do you have any questions?" I usually said no, because I had asked them already.

My favourite interview was with a bank in the UK. The project manager took me through my resume then said "I'll hand you over to Bob for some technical questions."
Bob - "I see you play football. That's great, you'll be able to join our five-a-side team!"

As a tip, this is a fail. When I go for an interview, I'll have usually met with the interviewer beforehand, the person who did the role previously, as well as other stakeholders, and I will still always come up with a question to ask in this segment. Even if it's as simple as 'what are the next steps from here?' They ask that question for a reason. They want you to show that you're an inquisitive person and always looking to learn more. There's always questions to ask.

 

[Bradesmaen]

I can do my entire job without stepping foot into the office yet I am required every day simply so my boss has the ability to physically walk up to us for discussions. Apparently Teams isn't good enough for that.

A lot of my colleagues ignore teams messages. Can take days for them to respond so I prefer everyone in an office. Especially the people doing drafting for me. One watches YouTube while in the office, god knows what she does at home.

 

[Loonerty]

I can do my entire job without stepping foot into the office yet I am required every day simply so my boss has the ability to physically walk up to us for discussions. Apparently Teams isn't good enough for that.

I think there is definitely some value in having office days for these kinds of in person interactions but agreed that forcing people in every day isn't necessary anymore.

 

[Cruyff14]

Yeah, COVID changed everything in relation to where you can actually work from. It proved that people are as productive, or if not more productive WFH, I know I was. When I worked in the city, I would save myself nearly two hours of travel time not having to go in. I could spend more time with my daughter, and get more things done around the house. Not having to commute was a huge thing.

Forcing people back in because of "culture" is ****ing rubbish. If people can do their job from as good at home, why force them to sit behind a desk to do the same thing they can do at home, where ultimately they are more productive and happier? If people want to go in, fine. But don't force people into the office.

As for asking questions in job interviews, I am a big fan of it. What are some challenges I can expect to face? What would you say the culture is like here? Is there high staff turnover? Is there room for progression? What are the best things staff would say about working here?

There are so many good questions that can be asked.

 

[SM]

Yeah, COVID changed everything in relation to where you can actually work from. It proved that people are as productive, or if not more productive WFH, I know I was. When I worked in the city, I would save myself nearly two hours of travel time not having to go in. I could spend more time with my daughter, and get more things done around the house. Not having to commute was a huge thing.

Forcing people back in because of "culture" is ****ing rubbish. If people can do their job from as good at home, why force them to sit behind a desk to do the same thing they can do at home, where ultimately they are more productive and happier? If people want to go in, fine. But don't force people into the office.

As for asking questions in job interviews, I am a big fan of it. What are some challenges I can expect to face? What would you say the culture is like here? Is there high staff turnover? Is there room for progression? What are the best things staff would say about working here?

There are so many good questions that can be asked.

The irony for me as well is that 90-95% of my team is Melbourne based, so I could go into the office 5 days a week, I'd still be communicating with people via screens.

 

[Jatz]

The irony for me as well is that 90-95% of my team is Melbourne based, so I could go into the office 5 days a week, I'd still be communicating with people via screens.

You're in finance aren't you? I'm assuming not the same company you were at when we used to catch up in the city?

 

[SM]

You're in finance aren't you? I'm assuming not the same company you were at when we used to catch up in the city?

Pretty sure that was back when I was at KPMG so yeah been to a few places since then, but current place I've been at for 4ish years now. Team is pretty roughly split 50/50 between Sydney and Melbourne at a total org level, but in my team it just so happens that majority of people are in Melbourne.

I'm still happy going into the office every so often as we have great events on a Thursday, but have zero drive to go in more regularly than that (other than next Tuesday for the Cup).

As I said, no issues if some people want to go in 5 days a week - not everyone has a full office set up at home with dual screen etc. (my set up at home is actually better than it was in our old office), or have house mates who would be noisy, or whatever else it may be, but if my company told me I had to go in 5 days a week (1 hr+ commute each way + cost) just to sit at a screen and chat to my Melbourne based team from the office, I'd be pretty filthy.

 

[Cruyff14]

Meetings are definitely easier to have in the office with everyone together and I think having one forced day (at most) and any other optional day is fine.

But as SM said, forcing people to go in (my old work was 3 days a week) and you couldn't have Monday or Friday at home which was ****ing ridiculous, is just bad for morale. Management know best though