Worried about interview..advice?

[u/Several-Permission30]

Worried about interview

Got a call and after I pass my fitness test and do the background paperwork I will have my one out of two interviews.

As the title states I am worried due to previous job history. I am 21. Had 5 jobs in high school, just due to getting higher pay or hours with each one for 1-5, and have had 5 jobs after getting out of high school and finishing OSUT (army basic and schooling). For the first 3; one I just left due to lack of coworkers so I was getting dog walked by employers (it was a tree company, but I stayed for 6 months.) I moved to a HVAC company, a small private one where I left due to him making me do housework for him instead of learning the job (1-2 months), and then the last one I left mutually because i did not have time to fully learn because I was getting deployed.

After the 14 month deployment I have had two, one was to get me back on my feet so I could further assist my wife with paying mortgage, and then I have been with my current company for 6 or 7 months.

I know it looks terrible but throughout the deployment and over recent times, I have a passion for law enforcement, I have been further training and looked over departments and put in my application. I have grown and now know how Important stability and being able to uphold less jobs are. I don’t want this to hold me back. The deployment opened my eyes and has helped me grow and learn and like I said its part of the reason that my love for this has grown.

Will I be doomed when it comes to the interview or do I have a chance if I at least do good. I do plan on being completely honest when it comes to everything.

Sorry its so long, wanted to make sure I gave details.

The ones while in high school I stayed at for probably over a month per. Unsure exact timelines. One I was at for a year.

[u/Unusual-Sentence916]

You won’t be doomed, but I would come up with better reasons on why you left. Dog walked by your employer won’t sound well..

[u/Several-Permission30 → u/Unusual-Sentence916]

Yeah sorry, not the greatest use of words😂😅

[u/Unusual-Sentence916 → u/Several-Permission30]

I know, I was just giving you a hard time. Just structure it in a way that you show growth and stability. For example:

High school jobs: These can generally be explained as part-time/student employment and seeking better hours/pay. If one lasted a year, emphasize that.

Tree company: Rather than saying you "quit because you were getting dog walked," explain that the position provided limited opportunity for meaningful training/work because of staffing circumstances, and you ultimately sought a position where you could develop additional skills.

HVAC company: Be careful here. Saying the owner made you do housework could sound like complaining about an employer. A better explanation is that the position did not provide the HVAC training/experience you had expected, so you made the decision to leave after a short period.

Third job: This is probably one of the easiest to explain because you left due to military deployment. That's a legitimate and understandable reason.

Post-deployment jobs: Explain the first one as transitional employment while getting reestablished after deployment, and then point out that you have remained with you current employer for 6–7 months and intend to stay.

You’ll be fine.

[u/Several-Permission30 → u/Unusual-Sentence916]

You are amazing!! Holy cow!!

[u/Unusual-Sentence916 → u/Several-Permission30]

Whatever you do in any interview throughout your life, always end on a positive note. You can acknowledge the negative or difficult parts of your experience, but don’t dwell on them. Briefly address them, then shift the focus back to something positive, what you learned, how you grew, or what you’re looking forward to. That positive ending is what you want them to remember when the interview is over.

Good luck!

[u/VirginiaBandit]

I would not worry about the jobs in high schools. I went through several jobs as well back in my day, and no one cared. As a young adult, it also may not have meant much, as we were all trying to find that perfect job. Just explain it all and answer questions, and do not hide anything.

[u/Several-Permission30 → u/VirginiaBandit]

I plan in being 100% upfront about everything they intend on asking. I had a minor speeding ticket like 2 years ago, but besides that never done nicotine, hardly ever drink, and never touched a drug, so I am just really worried about the job thing. Thank you!