Job Agency Interviews

[KevC]

Any advice on these? I'm planning to go to AppleOne for finding a job. They require an interview.

Are they out to weed out the "useless" applicants or are these interviews supposed to help them figure out what you want to do with your life?

Am I trying to prove I'm worth their time?

Either way I'll try to do my best at the interview, but I just feel a little better knowing what they're looking for hehe.

Any tips?

[Firebot]

You'll do a couple of aptitude tests (i.e. typing tests, language tests), you tell them what type of job you are looking, they tell you what you should be doing (telemarking / call centre), and they'll let you know if they have positions available that you can fill in.

It's not a job interview but you should work to score well. Sometimes the employer does require an interview themselves for some positions, but most of the time they expect the agency to have already done this weeding out.

[idpeaceb]

I'm actually with AppleOne right now - at my 2nd job placement by them.

When I went in, I just did some tests (will depend on what kind of job you're looking for (I was looking for office work - did testing on Excel, Word, Powerpoint & typing)

The interview basically is the recruiter trying to find out what kind of job you want, where you want to work, your expected salary range, etc.

Just be yourself, they do ask questions about your past jobs, etc, etc.

Good luck! =)

[delphine]

I went last Thursday at the Scarborough branch. Make sure you fill out their online application in their website before you go in for the interview. When I went in to see the Recruiter, I had to bring with me: photo ID, a void cheque, SIN card (if you don't know it by heart), 2 work references, and 2 peer references (personal references like your friends/family/neighbour who know your character). I filled out a bunch of forms. Then I had an interview with the Recruiter.... she asked me a bunch of questions about my work history, what kind of job I'm looking for, what I like and didn't like, and what type of salary I'm looking for. The testing (in my case, it's administrative work) was done at my home computer. And lastly, dress business casual -- meaning don't dress like a bum. :lol:

[kingfencer]

went in applied for general labour, cause my network diploma is toilet paper, she recommened me to customer service. not bad... but some of the work teams are small, my first one was only 1 week.

[KevC]

@(#*&@# AppleOne just cancelled my appointment with them because I told them I wanted to get into office work but they said they don't touch anyone without any experience. Disappointing, I was trying to explain I'd take any position but she said "sorry" and hung up!!!

Ack. I'm going to Quantum in person soon. Any other job agency suggestions?

[Firebot]

@(#*&@# AppleOne just cancelled my appointment with them because I told them I wanted to get into office work but they said they don't touch anyone without any experience. Disappointing, I was trying to explain I'd take any position but she said "sorry" and hung up!!!

Ack. I'm going to Quantum in person soon. Any other job agency suggestions?

That's the first I've ever heard of an agency rejecting someone outright. Was your resume that bland? You'd probably want to try for general labour in that case.

[KevC]

That's the first I've ever heard of an agency rejecting someone outright. Was your resume that bland? You'd probably want to try for general labour in that case.

My resume was a lot of nothing hahaha. I didn't lie when I said I don't really have experience. Best Buy Tech, Shoppers Cashier, Lifeguard/Swim Instructor. Nothing office related unfortunately.

But I'm not sure if they had even looked at my resume. I linked to it at their site, then scheduled the appointment. I had put of filling the online interview because I was busy at home, then they called (today) and basically that's what happened. Very depressing cos I really need to find a job.

General Labour? Is that like... lifting boxes and etc? The money isn't the issue, I just want experience and it seems stuff like that is dead end :(

[idpeaceb]

You can also try Adecco & OfficeTeam.

[delphine]

@(#*&@# AppleOne just cancelled my appointment with them because I told them I wanted to get into office work but they said they don't touch anyone without any experience. Disappointing, I was trying to explain I'd take any position but she said "sorry" and hung up!!!

Ack. I'm going to Quantum in person soon. Any other job agency suggestions?

Whoaaaaa... first time I ever heard of this happening. Kind of rude of him/her though. Which branch did you go to?? Just because you don't have office experience doesn't mean your only option is labour work. When I graduated from college, many moons ago.. lol, I had no office work experience so I wrote letters to the big companies. You might want to try that route. Another way to gain office experience is by volunteering.

http://www.charityvillage.ca

[Mad.Whack]

Ack. I'm going to Quantum in person soon. Any other job agency suggestions?

Don't use agencies. Apply to companies, you're bound to find one that requires no experience eventually.

Any given agency makes 25% - 50%+ off your salary. (IE. You get paid 10/h agency keeps 5/h)

[KevC]

Whoaaaaa... first time I ever heard of this happening. Kind of rude of him/her though. Which branch did you go to?? Just because you don't have office experience doesn't mean your only option is labour work. When I graduated from college, many moons ago.. lol, I had no office work experience so I wrote letters to the big companies. You might want to try that route. Another way to gain office experience is by volunteering.

http://www.charityvillage.ca

This was AppleOne, North York branch. They called me, and cancelled the appointment. Yup. I even tried asking her if there's anything that AppleOne could do for me, even if it's not office work etc... and she gave me a brief "no" and hung up. Ouch!

I'll definitely look into volunteering if nothing shows up.

[felix]

Don't use agencies. Apply to companies, you're bound to find one that requires no experience eventually.

Any given agency makes 25% - 50%+ off your salary. (IE. You get paid 10/h agency keeps 5/h)
Agreed. Those from temp agencies are the first to be laid off. Not to mention you'll feel ripped off when everybody else is getting paid more money doing the exact same job as a regular employee. Those tests they give you were so basic it was insulting to say the least (comparable to a grade 6 test). I did many temp jobs before when I was a student, but won't recommend temp agencies anymore unless you're really desperate for money and nobody else wants to hire you.