Shouldn't have felt disrespected?

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Tk11

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I went on an interview a few weeks ago for an emt job. We haven't even really got into the interview yet, the interviewer was just going over and asking basic things. Then he asks "Do you know what an emt does?" In a voice like I don't know anything or what an emt is. Then he asks "What's an emt do?" In that same type of tone like I don't know anything. It really pi*sed me off. Really dude, you have my license and certificates in front of you, I went through months of training and lectures to get licensed and he asks me if I even know what an emt does. I know im young but really.... The tone he asked them in was like a "you're stupid" tone. I was offered a job but didn't take it because of that, I felt like it wasn't very a professional thing to say or am I wrong? These weren't part of his "interview questions" it was out of the blue.
 
You're absolutely wrong.

Gauging a job prospect's response to basic questions about what they think the primary responsibilities will be is completely reasonable. If I were interviewing someone for an EMT position and asked this question, I'd be looking more for answers that emphasized customer service and compassion and didn't mention anything about lifesaving or heroism.
 
chaz90 said:
You're absolutely wrong.

Gauging a job prospect's response to basic questions about what they think the primary responsibilities will be is completely reasonable. If I were interviewing someone for an EMT position and asked this question, I'd be looking more for answers that emphasized customer service and compassion and didn't mention anything about lifesaving or heroism.
Click to expand...

This. For every single one of my interviews for seasonal firefighter I was asked what's the primary role of a firefighter 1? The typical cookie cutter answer is fighting fires, medical aids, traffic collisions, etc. What people forget is there's also the "out of the box answer" such as training, cooking, cleaning, and station maintenance. Anyone can answer what a EMT or firefighter does. But few can answer what a EMT and firefighter really do.
 
This is a common interview question. A job is never the same as training. They want to know if you know what the job really entails and arent going in with different expectations
 
I think it would be especially reasonable to ask if your job would be mostly non emergency transports. A lot of new EMTs have no idea about non emergency transports and think they are going to be responding to 911 calls.
 
It's a common interview , asking basic question . I think its normal that they asked or are you expecting a difficult one ? . I always remember that we all start at basic before we continue moving on to advance level .
 
You were wrong. Simple. Fair question and you took offense for whatever reason. While his tone may have been perceived inaccurately by you, the question was legitimate. You then referenced your age, so maybe you have a chip on your shoulder about that as well??

Then you wrote this...

Tk11 said:
We haven't even really got into the interview yet, the interviewer was just going over and asking basic things.
Click to expand...

WRONG! You were already in the interview and did not even know it. As one who interviews and employs often, the "interview" starts from the moment we have ANY form of communication. Be it an email, phone call, you in person handing me a CV asking for an interview...the process has already started. I am evaluating you when you speak to me, when you speak to my staff and how you interact with them (future coworkers), I even watch how you act as you walk in or walk out and what you do in the parking lot. I do not go out of my way to do this but if I am near the door or window I will; watching how someone carries themselves when they are not knowing they are observed is HUGE.

I will even ask my other staff what their thoughts, interactions and first impressions were. Every thing you do the moment you communicate with me or step on my property IS part of the interview process.

When someone gets a polygraph, do you think all the questions they ask before hooking you up or the innocuous questions after they hook you up are not part of the interview? No, they are establishing base line. Any question asked of you during a scheduled meeting IS an interview.

Hope I made it clear to you and all potential applicants...be prepared, be professional and be prompt.
 
akflightmedic said:
WRONG! You were already in the interview and did not even know it. As one who interviews and employs often, the "interview" starts from the moment we have ANY form of communication. Be it an email, phone call, you in person handing me a CV asking for an interview...the process has already started. I am evaluating you when you speak to me, when you speak to my staff and how you interact with them (future coworkers), I even watch how you act as you walk in or walk out and what you do in the parking lot. I do not go out of my way to do this but if I am near the door or window I will; watching how someone carries themselves when they are not knowing they are observed is HUGE.
Click to expand...

So you're saying I should get my car washed and finally fix that dent...
 
In the past, I have watched two candidates litter MY property. If they disrespect my company after an interview then they will disrespect me when I hire them...therefore I did not. :)

Smokers and Gum Chewers...the wrappers and the butts do NOT go on the ground.
 
Just to build on what others have said, Tk, sometimes questions are asked in a confrontational or aggressive way to see how you respond. You're going to run into lots of unpleasant people in the field, so it's reasonable to gauge how well you'll handle that.
 
Tk11 said:
I went on an interview a few weeks ago for an emt job. We haven't even really got into the interview yet, the interviewer was just going over and asking basic things. Then he asks "Do you know what an emt does?" In a voice like I don't know anything or what an emt is. Then he asks "What's an emt do?" In that same type of tone like I don't know anything. It really pi*sed me off. Really dude, you have my license and certificates in front of you, I went through months of training and lectures to get licensed and he asks me if I even know what an emt does. I know im young but really.... The tone he asked them in was like a "you're stupid" tone. I was offered a job but didn't take it because of that, I felt like it wasn't very a professional thing to say or am I wrong? These weren't part of his "interview questions" it was out of the blue.
Click to expand...
"Months of training and lecture."

Real talk: you had a 120ish hours of vocational training requiring minimal critical thinking. You have barely set foot on an ambulance, if at all. You don't know what it is an EMT does. You think you do, but you do not learn the job in class. You learn the skills, and that's it.
 
I just had an interviewee tailgate me all the way into our parking lot, while watching them fool around with their paperwork while driving...
 
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