I applied as a Claim Associate (ILR) with State Farm. The position appeared to be a really great match compared to my working skills so I decided to give it a try. I was previously layed off from my last employer and I was hoping to relocate to Atlanta and work at State Farm in Dunwoody. This would have been a great chance to get back into the workforce with an entry level position at a legacy insurance company. My entire ordeal with the application process took about two weeks. I applied online and received paperwork in my email indicating that my signature was needed for additional testing in which I could complete online. I emailed the paperwork back and then I received the test information. The test was compiled of general questions about work ethics and I also remember taking a data entry and typing test.
A day or two later, I received another email saying that my test results were competitive. Not too long afterwards, I received a phone call from a recruiter detailing more information about the job. She set up a phone interview for someone else to interview me. The following week I got the call for my phone interview on the exact day and time that I specified. The interview was 30 minutes long and I really thought it went well. The interviewer asked some general questions like "Why do you want to work for State Farm," "Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult customer," "Tell me about a time when you had to multi-task," "How did you deal with a team member who wasn't pulling their weight," and "Tell me about yourself." There may have been one or two more, but those were the questions that really stood out.
After the interview, the woman told me a little more about the job position and the needs of the operation. She also asked some standard questions such as if I was authorized to work in the U.S. and things of that nature. I thanked her and she said I would know either by phone or email within that same day or the next day if I got the position. When she said I would here back from them, I kind of knew at that moment that I didn't get the job, but I still remained hopeful. A day had passed and I still had not heard anything so I looked up my profile on State Farm and discovered that they had already updated it for the job I applied and interviewed for. It was from there that I learned that I was not selected for the position. I was very disappointed because I believed I did everything right and even practiced with my mom over the phone how I would answer some of the anticipated interview questions. Even though I did not get the position, I sent a thank you letter to the recruiter who had initially contacted me and just thanked her for the opportunity to apply and interview.
The only thing I can think of for not being offered the job is because I have not worked in about a year, but I have still been actively searching. I even applied for two positions with the U.S. Post Office a few months back. I passed the postal exam, took the interview, and completed a drug test for them already. I'm still on the their waiting list and I didn't want to put in too many other applications just in case they called me to start the job. Many companies in my area are either shutting their doors or cutting back in staff. The town I live in has very little job opportunities with descent pay so that's why I was hoping to move to Atlanta. I live just two hours away from the city, and with no husband or children of my own as of yet, it would have been very easy to make the move. In addition, the job doesn't start for another two months so it would have been ideal to get myself settled.
I have been looking for a good job since I was layed off and it can be really tough getting back into the workforce. I think if you don't work for a long time, hiring managers frown upon that as if it's your fault that your office building closed down in the first place. I'm trying not to settle for just a minimum wage job because I have a degree and I would really like to stay within my fields of interest. I have faith and I'll continue to apply for jobs that match my skills until something comes through. If I have to, I decided to just stay local and apply for something that will pay the bills for a while, but eventually I am still looking to leave this town for better job opportunities in a bigger city. Although it did not work out for me, I wish anyone the best who applies for this position:)
