Anyone else find that career centers seem hostile

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I think the way my career center at UCLA seems to be very much like socializing is all that matters. THis makes me feel bad beucase I do not want to be valued only for social skills. I cannot search jobs by how much socialization they require. http://career.ucla.edu/Files/PDF/CFA/CFA_IfYouInterviewLikeaCabbage,YoureNotGettigntheJob_FutureBusinessLeadersofAmericaPhiBetaLambda.pdf This just makes me feel horrible. What did cabbages ever do wrong and why are they seen as bad.

Good interviewing skills are essential to getting a job. A person can be a totally different person on paper than in person.

For example, I had a guy submit a resume that stated he had extensive computer experience and was a server engineer.

I was interviewing him and I asked him a simple question "How would you go about removing spyware?"

He answered "You go to Add/Remove programs."

(If you don't know computers well, that is a very wrong answer)

You don't have to be a super star at an interview, but you do have to have some basic skills. Why not learn those skills instead of fighting?

I can understand that being stupid but the questions that make me more mad is "why do you want this job?" Heck I like questions realted to the topic it is the ones about me personally that I hate. I would prefer "Which fiscal policy would you recommend in a recession?" I think this is more triggering an emotional response that I cannot control and get help.

Did you tell them that you have Asperger's, and your specific concerns that arise from this? I told my career center, and they were extremely helpful with this. I imagine the UC system has many resources most do not, and they tend to be more sensitive to these sorts of issues out there.

Hard for me to contact them or think about going there without melting down. IN therapy and with my psychiatrist I have tried talking to them about this issue and they seem to just think it is anxiety but it keeps coming back and not going away.

I hate those dumb questions too, but they are related to the job in a sneaky way. The interviewer wants to find out things about you so that they can determine if your personality and goals are a good fit for the job. For example, if you answer that you love to travel and don't like living in one place for long, they may see you as someone who will quit the job soon and decide not to hire you. You're supposed to say things about yourself that are related to the job, even though they don't ask for that specifically.

Any more examples of good or bad things to say?

It's hard to give examples because the best things to say depend on the job. What I said about traveling would actually probably be a helpful thing to say for someone applying to be a truck driver.

Good things to say:

Hobbies related to the job.
Special school/college projects or a thesis you did that are related to the job, or clubs you belonged to. (for people who are in school or who graduated recently)
Any previous job that had the same job duties.
Mention personal projects related to the job.
Basically anything in your life that is related to the job.
Things about the job that fit with your personality. For example, say you work well independently if interviewing to be an undertaker . Say you are a night person for a night security guard position. Say you love kids for a babysitting job or a position in a school.

Just make it quick and say the most impressive and relevant things, because your answer shouldn't be long. Also, try to sound sure of yourself, because employers are afraid that people who don't really know themselves or what they want will be unreliable and might quit.

That question can tell a lot actually.

From that question I can learn how much you actually know about the job, or about the company.

I can learn if you have passion for the job or if it's just a pay check.

I can learn if your going to be staying a bit or just waiting for the next better offer.

I have trouble with vague job descriptions as well it makes it hard for me to know what to say.

Thats not how you get rid of spyware? Spyware(s) are programs, I want to remove programs, would I not go to Add/Remove programs?