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female
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anonymous
writes: I have been stressing out over a job i really want and didn't hear back from. Turns out they want me to come in for a second interview.I didn't have the best of luck today though..i have some vmails saved due to personal reasons and business..i was at work and at a meeting and an employer called and left a vmail and then literally 2 minutes later I see the job I want called and the vmail was full at that time which I didn't think it would be. It just seemed ironic they called 2 minutes after and they couldn't leave a message.I felt anxious..i called back and left a vmail explaining Hi. Ms. last name, this is full name----I am returning your call and I think you may have called me at this time b/c i see a missed call from this number. I said I am sorry and that I received a few vmail's this morning that filled up my mailbox and if you want call me back at I felt a little flustered etc with this vmail and I hope i didn't do anything where they will use it againt me.I kept my eye on the phone at work and then someone decided to basically talk to me when that employer calls! I never did this before but I decided to say I really need to take this call, I'm sorry i'll be right back. I knew they would understand. I didn't want to play phone tag and make HR's life harder. I answered while walking away but couldn't speak too freely..she couldn't hear me too well and she said can I talk? and i said yes, one second, i didn't want to miss your call.So again, I feel like I am all flustered..she said she wants me to come in again to meet with another person. I agreed saying that's great and thanked her saying her first name. I definitely sounded very happy when i said thank you..i hope it wasn't overboard.Is it weird I went from saying Ms. so and so in my vmail to using her first name? She doesn't seem ALOT older where i would feel its disrespectful to say her first name, i felt weird calling her otherwise.I just hope its not used against me how flustered and hard it was b/c I am at work..i can't pick up right awayI just feel like it was alot of bad luck today.Will something like this be used against me when they sit down and make their final decision? Its hard to do all of this while working..i just think i sounded pretty flustered with the voicemil and also picking up at work b/c i didn't want to play phone tag and make her life harder by doing so.
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male
reader, anonymous, writes (13 September 2011): THe VM snafu is not something they will hold against you. Just respond to their contacting you in a professional manner each time, as you did. I wouldn't get into the technicalities, like explaining that your VM box was full...they wont care. Just apologise when you miss a call when you call them back. Better yet, dont apologise, but thank them for their call and leave it at that. HR people understand job searchers are busy people too.As far as being flustered, be sure to give a recruiter or potential employer your full attention on a phone interview or in person. Dont be distracted with stuff. If you cant talk openly because you are at work, make an appointment to talk to them at a specific time when you will be free.As far as correspondence and address, always do like for like. If they call you, call them. If they email, email them. If they call you by first name and you know theirs, use theirs. An exception might be if you are talking to an exec. in which case it should always be Mr. or Mrs. xxx. Also, military or Federal jobs you may have to address a different way too. But most HR people and lower level employees wwill appreciate first names. It can vary though with regions and businesses. If in doubt, go with more formal.
A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (13 September 2011):
 Relax ; how are you going to give an excellent performance in some important job if you get all tied in knots so easily ?:)
Nothing wrong happened. They called you, you called back ASAP , properly and correctly.
To tell you the truth, calling your perspective employer by her first name ,here where I live would be a major blunder - but I know that in other places, like USA, things are much less formal and it would be no big deal.
Anyway, here too HR have a heart, deep down ;) ultimately, they would probably chalk it up to nerves/ emotion / inexperience .
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A
female
reader, hannah76  +, writes (13 September 2011):
 Hi,
You are stressed about getting this job so you are analysing every minute detail. That's normal. I had a job interview once, changed shoes, tights, top about 3 times, looked in mirror, changed hair style, changed it back, changed make-up, changed shoes again etc. I didnt get the job. Another time, i just wore a trouser suit I had been wearing all day and sailed through the interview and got the job! You see what I mean? If you ever took a driving test exam you feel that tension and feel nervous, stressed and it has a habit of distracting you. Just take the second interview and see how things go. Most companies look at a candidate to see if they "fit" into their company. They may be qualified and experienced but they need to fit. Hope you get it!
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (13 September 2011): Oh dear.......relax...you were fine, they know you have a job and rang you during work hours...it looks good that you couldn't pick up,shows your busy and professional.
As for calling her by her first name thats no big deal either, she was HR and nowadays its all pretty relaxed. She probably forgot anything bar the date for interview soon as the call ended. And happiness/excitement beats a not bothered attitude anyday
Good luck..hope you get it x
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