Changing job - a nightmare

[Benhoor]

Hi guys,

I am a Software Developer. If you see my CV, you say, this is an ideal candidate for the job.

I really want to change my job but it's about 2 months I am struggling.

Because my CV is very good, I receive many calls & emails, but ...

But once I open my mouth almost all the agencies scape.
My stuttering is more blocking rather than prolonging words.

I can't explain how much I hate myself! I try not to but it seems unavoidable.

How do you go to interview and talk with agencies on the phone?

I don't have much problem talking face to face because I can use some of my communication skills, but telephone kills me.

I even got a telephone interview with Microsoft but I couldn't talk properly with the interviewer on the phone (too many blocks).

Please help me if you have any advise

[JDRow]

I don't have any real advice, but could you ask about setting up an in-person interview instead of doing them over the phone?

[bolo]

Seconding JDRow's advice there, From in the past when I've worked through agencies (also a software developer) I've always made it clear I won't do telephone interviews. It would be a disaster of biblical proportions.


Perhaps we should form a Software Development company, I'm sure theres a lot of us !

[nate]

This is the scariest shit, God forbid i have to go thru it. I feel for you bruv.
Nate

[Ayman]

yeah i pretty much avoid the telephone, just use my mobile to text. u know in my uni we have patient interviews we have to attend (actors come in and interview us) and we gotta help the patient, i really found it helpful if my friend practises with me beforehand :)

[climberszen]

I have found through time that be up front about it is much better than trying to hide it. As soon as you finish the greetings, tell the phone interviewer that you stutter and it is worse on the phone. Indicate if it is a problem, you would be happy to perform an in person interview if possible. I suspect that when people try to hide it during interviews.. the "normal" person won't simply say "Oh this guy stutters", rather I suspect the person says, "What is this guy hiding if he is so nervous". The latter is a big negative for any interviewer.

[Cujo]

You are dead right - changing job can be a nightmare, unfortunately I know what it's like from first hand experience.

I've been out of full-time work since January of last year and have done around 22 interviews in that time and even though I was told that it was between me and another candidate on a few occasions, I never got offered the job (Hmmmm, I wonder what swayed their decision? :rolleyes:).

I have updated my skills and keep myself as busy as possible doing freelance work (& going to the gym :p) but calling this whole experience frustrating is the mother of all understatements!

[Benhoor]

Interesting.

Just wondering how do you find freelance jobs? I don't know where to start from

Thanks

[Nemo]

If you have access to a support group, it could help much. In the support group I was, we practised phone calls via role playing. For instance, one person will act as an interviewer and the other as the person being interviewed. We applied our fluency techniques while role playing. We also phoned each other daily in order to maintain our improved telephone fluency.

Some intensive courses also offer telephone-induced stress desensitisation in steps. For instance, you first learn to use your technique perfectly when saying a single, short sentence over a 'dead' phone. You do this until all fears and stress vanish. Then you gradually go on to 'live' phones and more advanced telephone conversations. Everything is recorded for evaluation, and your application of your technique is discussed by all, and all is done in a comforting, controlled and safe environment. Worked very well for me.

[ricardo]

Yesterday I had a research position interview and it was the full day from 8h30 till 17h30, included a board interview, technical test, and 5 separated interviews. I was completly exausted but the good thing is that I hardly stutter or blocked and I was a nerve wreck.

My stuttering is very strange, as there moments where I can be almost 100% fluent and others where I can hardly say a word without blocking or stuttering.

[Benhoor]

Did you get the job offer finally?

[fighter]

In the interviews, i often stutter, often not. But i got 2 job offer during the last month and i impressed them. But in some interviews my words are just blocked. I dont know why it is happening.

[scamper]

I'm a software engineer myself. I've become pretty good at interviews, but phone interviews still get me. I'd much rather be in room drawing on a white board to help my explanations. I think most interviews actually like the fact I just get up and draw diagrams. It sure beats talking about it :P

Most of the time (sign of the times), the first communications is almost always via email. This is pretty ideal, so I normally just toss in the fact that I stutter in the email.

Beyond that, try to attend any sort of recruiting event. Your college or university should have them. If you're good at face to face meetings, then you can get the heavy lifting done here.

All I can say is thank god for e-mail :P It's the stutter's best crutch.

[LostBoyd]

If you have to do a telephone interview and you have severe blocks, you could try a relay service like IP-Relay. These free services have operators speak what you type over the internet.