Job offer - opinions please!!
Jan 19th 2006, 1:08 pm
#16
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Glasgowgirl
Just been to my first US interview (after the battles with USCIS to get my EAD!) and I'm 99.9% sure that I'll get offered the job.
Job itself sounds good and I like the guy I'd be working for, but the owner/manager of the company spent most of the time telling me how he thought Brits were work-shy and how did we get anything done with the short hours we worked and when we took naps in the middle of the day (!!??) I answered all his objections which seemed to amuse him, but I lost count of the amount of times he stressed that it's not a 9-5 job (he reckons he works 5am-midnight) and that they don't do vacation time.
I'm aware of the diffrent culture here and have no problem working long hours with hardly any holidays, but I'm not sure if they sound extreme even for the US. As it was my first interview I don't have anything to compare it to so was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about it all. I'm aware that I'm lucky to get offered a job that I like so quickly given the problems I've read here that people seem to have, but also wary of taking the job for the wrong reasons when I'm unsure about the culture of the company.
Any thoughts? Cheers!
Job itself sounds good and I like the guy I'd be working for, but the owner/manager of the company spent most of the time telling me how he thought Brits were work-shy and how did we get anything done with the short hours we worked and when we took naps in the middle of the day (!!??) I answered all his objections which seemed to amuse him, but I lost count of the amount of times he stressed that it's not a 9-5 job (he reckons he works 5am-midnight) and that they don't do vacation time.
I'm aware of the diffrent culture here and have no problem working long hours with hardly any holidays, but I'm not sure if they sound extreme even for the US. As it was my first interview I don't have anything to compare it to so was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about it all. I'm aware that I'm lucky to get offered a job that I like so quickly given the problems I've read here that people seem to have, but also wary of taking the job for the wrong reasons when I'm unsure about the culture of the company.
Any thoughts? Cheers!
Jan 19th 2006, 2:21 pm
#17
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Plus points:
* Can take a long time to find a suitable job; this one's in the bag and looks relevant and useful to your skills.
* If the idiot's as stupid as he sounds (i.e. breaks every employment law in the meager book), work there long enough to gather the evidence, then sue the bastard.
* You're lacking US job experience; this will give it to you.
* The best negotiating position for a new dream job is from a similar job.
* You can always leave if it gets unbearable.
Minus points:
* If you can't stand it for a reasonable length of time, going to look a bit iffy on the old resume.
* It's difficult to get a new job when all you have time to do is work and sleep because of the current one.
* Can take a long time to find a suitable job; this one's in the bag and looks relevant and useful to your skills.
* If the idiot's as stupid as he sounds (i.e. breaks every employment law in the meager book), work there long enough to gather the evidence, then sue the bastard.
* You're lacking US job experience; this will give it to you.
* The best negotiating position for a new dream job is from a similar job.
* You can always leave if it gets unbearable.
Minus points:
* If you can't stand it for a reasonable length of time, going to look a bit iffy on the old resume.
* It's difficult to get a new job when all you have time to do is work and sleep because of the current one.
Jan 19th 2006, 2:26 pm
#18
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,095
Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
OMG! I have interviewed many people and I can tell you that he broke so many laws during his interview with you. If you don't get the job, you can always sue him for National Ethnicity discrimination! What a jerkoff! 
Jan 19th 2006, 4:13 pm
#19
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Take the job and keep looking. Maybe you'll make contacts for the next job! 
Jan 19th 2006, 5:24 pm
#20
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Pigtails
OMG! I have interviewed many people and I can tell you that he broke so many laws during his interview with you. If you don't get the job, you can always sue him for National Ethnicity discrimination! What a jerkoff!
That did cross my mind
I think part of his problem was that he is an immigrant to the US (middle eastern) and obviously though it gave him free reign to say what he liked. The more things I remember I'm starting to wonder if he had a particular problem with Brits - during a conversation about my visa and EAD he commented that 'you lot seem to be everywhere'. (I can only imagine what the reaction would have been had this comment been the other way around). But on the other hand he seemed keen for me to join the company?!I took the attitude in the interview not to antagonise the situation at the moment because I'd rather the decision was mine to make and not his, but at one point I almost lost my cool and things got a bit heated. He stared at me for a while and laughed and said 'you're fiesty, you'll do well here'.
Suddenly Glasgow is looking quite appealing again.....
Jan 19th 2006, 5:42 pm
#21
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Glasgowgirl
. The more things I remember I'm starting to wonder if he had a particular problem with Brits - during a conversation about my visa and EAD he commented that 'you lot seem to be everywhere'. (I can only imagine what the reaction would have been had this comment been the other way around). But on the other hand he seemed keen for me to join the company?!
I took the attitude in the interview not to antagonise the situation at the moment because I'd rather the decision was mine to make and not his, but at one point I almost lost my cool and things got a bit heated. He stared at me for a while and laughed and said 'you're fiesty, you'll do well here'.
Suddenly Glasgow is looking quite appealing again.....
I took the attitude in the interview not to antagonise the situation at the moment because I'd rather the decision was mine to make and not his, but at one point I almost lost my cool and things got a bit heated. He stared at me for a while and laughed and said 'you're fiesty, you'll do well here'.
Suddenly Glasgow is looking quite appealing again.....
and why can't an employer ask about kids then?
...I'd say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnightsigned ..desperate housewife
Jan 19th 2006, 5:43 pm
#22
Septicity
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
and why can't an employer ask about kids then? ...I'd say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnight
...I'd say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnight
Jan 19th 2006, 6:14 pm
#23
Thinking about it
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Glasgowgirl
That did cross my mind I think part of his problem was that he is an immigrant to the US (middle eastern) and obviously though it gave him free reign to say what he liked. The more things I remember I'm starting to wonder if he had a particular problem with Brits - during a conversation about my visa and EAD he commented that 'you lot seem to be everywhere'. (I can only imagine what the reaction would have been had this comment been the other way around). But on the other hand he seemed keen for me to join the company?!
I took the attitude in the interview not to antagonise the situation at the moment because I'd rather the decision was mine to make and not his, but at one point I almost lost my cool and things got a bit heated. He stared at me for a while and laughed and said 'you're fiesty, you'll do well here'.
Suddenly Glasgow is looking quite appealing again.....
I think part of his problem was that he is an immigrant to the US (middle eastern) and obviously though it gave him free reign to say what he liked. The more things I remember I'm starting to wonder if he had a particular problem with Brits - during a conversation about my visa and EAD he commented that 'you lot seem to be everywhere'. (I can only imagine what the reaction would have been had this comment been the other way around). But on the other hand he seemed keen for me to join the company?!I took the attitude in the interview not to antagonise the situation at the moment because I'd rather the decision was mine to make and not his, but at one point I almost lost my cool and things got a bit heated. He stared at me for a while and laughed and said 'you're fiesty, you'll do well here'.
Suddenly Glasgow is looking quite appealing again.....
Forget about it, and besides if he had that many issues with you he would hardly be offering you a job.
As for the British thing - well its probably true - we come from the greatest country in the world and that makes a lot of people jealous.
Jan 19th 2006, 6:18 pm
#24
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
I know the laws here are strong about what questions you can and cant ask and kids is definitely one of them. Why dont you call the nice guy confidentially and ask him about your concerns, maybe you could say your boss seems to have a problem with Brits, who knows he may say that he was just testing you. It might be a way of getting to the bottom of it all and finding out a bit more about this guy. It would be a pity to miss out on it if its a good job. However bear in mind it is your first offer, if you were to have a few more offers think about whether you would consider this job then?
Jan 19th 2006, 6:33 pm
#25
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
However bear in mind it is your first offer, if you were to have a few more offers think about whether you would consider this job then?[/QUOTE]
That's the thing that is annoying me, if I had another offer I wouldn't even consider this company. I guess my main fear is rejecting this job and then struggling to get another offer. I have just stated looking in the last few weeks but I'm well aware how hard it can be.
That's the thing that is annoying me, if I had another offer I wouldn't even consider this company. I guess my main fear is rejecting this job and then struggling to get another offer. I have just stated looking in the last few weeks but I'm well aware how hard it can be.
Jan 19th 2006, 6:37 pm
#26
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
and why can't an employer ask about kids then? ...'d say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnight
signed ..desperate housewife
...'d say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnightsigned ..desperate housewife
Jan 19th 2006, 6:39 pm
#27
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by BigDavyG
OK, I'm not trying to be racist here, but the fact that he is middle eastern and you are a woman could explain his attitude in your interview.
I have to admit that this crossed my mind too, but to be honest if that's the reason then I don't think I would last long working for someone like that before telling him to stick it.
I've also just spoken to the nice guy at the company and asked about the person who was in the job before me and why they left (forgot this question yesterday in my shocked state). Seemed a pretty OK answer but he did let slip that there had been 8 people employed in the position in the last 10 years.....
Jan 19th 2006, 6:51 pm
#28
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Glasgowgirl
he did let slip that there had been 8 people employed in the position in the last 10 years.....
looking for Mr/Mrs Right maybe?? I think you'd better follow your gut on this one
Jan 19th 2006, 6:55 pm
#29
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Celtic_Angel
well I'm the last one to give anybody job advice..but I'd keep looking if I was you...it all sounds very strange......... :scared:
and why can't an employer ask about kids then? ...I'd say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnight
signed ..desperate housewife
and why can't an employer ask about kids then?
...I'd say it was a very valid question because if you have kids you have other HUGE commitments and prob won't be avaliable from 5a.m til midnightsigned ..desperate housewife
Jan 19th 2006, 6:57 pm
#30
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Re: Job offer - opinions please!!
Originally Posted by Glasgowgirl
I have to admit that this crossed my mind too, but to be honest if that's the reason then I don't think I would last long working for someone like that before telling him to stick it.
I've also just spoken to the nice guy at the company and asked about the person who was in the job before me and why they left (forgot this question yesterday in my shocked state). Seemed a pretty OK answer but he did let slip that there had been 8 people employed in the position in the last 10 years.....
I've also just spoken to the nice guy at the company and asked about the person who was in the job before me and why they left (forgot this question yesterday in my shocked state). Seemed a pretty OK answer but he did let slip that there had been 8 people employed in the position in the last 10 years.....
