Do most employers look for someone "bubbly?

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Lol yeah, I'm familiar with partnering with someone like that.

Yeah, just got told on the street again to smile (and then asked for my phone number ).

And, a friend who knows me mainly online commented about another colleague he recently met about how 'pushy' and 'brusque' she is. I'm the exact same way as she is... Stating the facts and not being swayed by emotional outbursts. It's one of the reasons I respect her so much. I told him exactly that, too... I have no filter on truth, lol.

I don't think it is only bubbly people who can find work. But I have been nervous about the interview process because the person before me seemed to get along better with the employer, so I know how you feel.

What has worked very well for me is to practice wearing a certain kind of smile that anybody can wear naturally. It is not a big silly grin that looks crazy, just a peaceful smile that I think of as being "zen-like" - I am told the Chinese smile this way at each other in their business communication. At first it doesn't feel authentic, but over time it sinks in, and it creates a nice mood that has merit on its own without having to be super enthusiastic.

Just be honest in the interview is my motto, and be upfront about your reasons for wanting work. Your reasons don't have to be spectacular, just genuine. I think most people will understand that and they respect that honesty, and the "studies" that say only "likeable" people become hired be damned - because no person is likeable to everyone, but everyone appreciates honesty if it is honesty that we tell about ourselves. There is no shame in being honest, and I really think it puts the other person at ease because they are human too, you know? Their job is not to play with you like a cat plays with a mouse (unless they are a psychopath who relishes that, but only a very small percentage of the population are truly psychopaths, imo way less than the amount that diagnose themselves or others).

That is my take on it.

I had FAR more success when I relaxed and just honestly presented myself rather than follow the "expert" advice that led me nowhere. I am a very passionate person and I wear my heart on my sleeve and as a result, I beat out 500+ people for my current job. I wasn't nervous, I didn't freeze up and I was able to show off my intelligence and excitement. I even said to the interviewers "You are all giving up an hour of your time to interview me. That's an honour by itself!" I must have come across as likable: I even got asked to be an interviewer less than 2 years into my job.

I was thinking of quitting my job, getting a degree and getting a better job but after reading through this thread I'm not so sure. Supposing I had no problem completing the degree but having obtained it I couldn't pass the interview. Then three or four years of study would have been a wasted effort.

Well, however that might be... keep in mind the topics in the 'electronic applications' thread here. You'll never get a shot at the interview if you can't check the box for the degree, because those are filtered out by the HR software.

I wasn't planning to apply for any jobs I wasn't qualified for. The idea was not to try for a skilled job in the first place. Or maybe I should. Making decisions and sticking to them was never one of my strengths.

~chuckles~ I guess I understand.

There have been jobs I applied for, and more that I wanted to, and could've done them without a degree, as they weren't THAT skilled.
So, keeping an open mind when you run across something that sounds like 'you', even if you consider it too skilled, could turn into a happy circumstance.

It's at least been nice for me, in the 2 1/2 years since I graduated, to know that, should I find something higher up, at least now I can tick that box in an app to be considered. Having more options makes me feel less stressed. I worry about losing my health insurance, so, anything that makes me feel more employable helps me sleep at night.
Yeah, I hate having the student loans, but, the job I started 8 months ago would not have happened without that degree.

Really? I just assumed I wouldn't know how to do any skilled work without a degree anyway. What field are you in?

I started out as a 'librarian' for an engineering department, basically looking after their blueprints. They 'required' a 2 year degree there, but, I only had a high school diploma, but, they had problems keeping more skilled people in the role, so they bent the rules. It was easy enough work I could do it. Then, as they moved from paper prints to CAD files, then models (BIM) I picked it up over the years and started getting pretty comfortable with computers.
When I started getting bored with it, I went back and did my degree. I was leaning toward Mechanical Engineering, like my mentor in that job (whom I'd known since I was a teenager), but, couldn't get night classes for that and ended up going for a Computer Science degree.

Now, I'm a system administrator for a small department. I could've gotten another job in a formal cad management or bim management role, but, I didn't want the pressure of construction deadlines in an engineering or architectural office, no thanks!

Back in high school I worked as a temp in an accounting department with my Grandma. They had me doing filing and double-checking basic math. I thought I might go into accounting, as it was the first 'skilled' work I'd really been exposed to and I thought I could ease into it.

I'd reckon a lot of fields have entry-level positions like that where you can get your feet wet, so they might sound complicated, but, are pretty accessible.

The data governance jobs I was looking at had a lot of data entry work posted, and from there you could learn about more of the complex stuff the analysts do.
Same as maybe getting a job stocking shelves in a machine shop or garage. More complex than the usual retail, but,

Hmmm. My employment agent mentioned something about data entry. I never thought it could lead to other jobs. She wants to get me into work straight away rather than studying which is a good idea.... or a bad idea. I can't make up my mind but anything is better than my current job.

A quick search of the most popular local job board shows several ad listings looking for an extrovert, talkative, or outgoing person. Nothing shows up with the introvert search. Some things do for quiet - but many of them are describing the work environment, and a few even say that a quiet person would be a bad fit! Just from this it seems obvious to me that someone outgoing is going to have an easier time getting a job.

I definitely think data entry can be a great way to get your feet wet in any field. You start to see the patterns in the stuff related to your company's work just from repeated exposure, and, once you know the company and it's data, then that's one less thing that would have to be taught to a new hire when you try to move into a more skilled position.

For example, my boss is talking about adding a data entry position to our department in a year or two to help us start tracking new stuff in our Asset Management system. Once those projects are up and running (probably after 2 years), that person will start taking on other work that is currently spread among the rest of the team. Maybe answering questions about work requests, or ordering replacement furniture, etc?
After awhile of that, maybe someone on the team moves on... so then there's an opening for a person to organize department moves or branch renovations, etc. Who looks better to management? Some stranger they don't know, or the person who is familiar with the inside of our organization already?

That librarian job was a simple gig, but, it exposed me to the work my department did and gave me an idea of ways I could help and things I wanted to learn (actually, I got into programming just because the repetitive nature of my job started getting to me , so you just never know).

Best of luck on finding a better fit than your current job.

I would try looking for jobs that don't really require much social interaction, like more physical jobs or jobs where you're constantly fiddling with things. I think one of the main reasons I got hired was because the job required a lot of strength and I'm a rugby player.

Just keep trying. Employers are picky, but you'll eventually find one if you stay diligent and show that you care. Good luck!

The frustrating thing is I don't mind social interaction, just so long as they let me be myself instead of whatever personality it is they want.