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Interesting job app response. How do I handle this?

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Seriously? None of you understood the e-mail?
As for those of you who said "too tough, move on," enjoy being an unimaginative slacker.

While this is for manufacturing/carpentry, it sounds akin to the type of open-ended questions that you see out of some software companies. They are asking for an expression of your enthusiasm and creativity to show what you would bring to the company and how you would fit in with their culture. The fact that you don't "get" that is probably evidence enough. They don't just want references or a list of work, they want to know who you are.
No, he did not mean the rest is downhill, he is means that the interview process is rigorous and that this is just the start of an increasingly difficult series of challenges. Basically, if you want in, bring your A-game. I don't know the caliber of this company--maybe it's worth the trouble, maybe they're being overly self-important. That's up for you to decide.
 
Chronoshock said:
Seriously? None of you understood the e-mail?
Click to expand...

A couple of us did. It was designed to lure suckers like you (and apparently the OP) into doing free work. Now, go show off your "enthusiasm and creativity" while the rest of us make "income".
 
The problem is that there is very high turnover in that field. They will spend thousands of dollars training someone and after they get their first paycheck they never show up again. It's incredibly frustrating for a small business. The interviewer wants to make sure that you are serious and aren't going to bail after a few weeks. Properly installed cabinets are difficult to do and it requires a lot of training and practice. Sure, any monkey can throw one up in an afternoon (as many here have pointed out), but installing a cabinet that is going to look good and last for the life of the house is something that takes a lot of talent.

It's up to you what you want to do, but it looks like this guy wants someone who is going to be there for many years.
 
Send him this and tell him that this is the type of organization you want to work for, and he can lose your application if his company doesn't fit the mold:
------
Employment Standards determined a small woodworking shop owner was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him.

"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent.

"Well, there's Jake my finisher who's been with me for 3 years, I pay him $900 a week.

The apprentice Tom has been here for 6 months, and I pay him $500 a week.

Then there's the half-wit that works here about 18 hours a day. He makes $10 a week and I buy him a case of beer every Friday," replied the owner.

"That's the guy I want to talk to; the half-wit," says the agent."

The owner says, "That would be me."
----------
 
I have worked in construction for 20 years and that probably gives me some insight here.

Cut your ring finger off and send it to him.
 
Chronoshock said:
Seriously? None of you understood the e-mail?
As for those of you who said "too tough, move on," enjoy being an unimaginative slacker.

While this is for manufacturing/carpentry, it sounds akin to the type of open-ended questions that you see out of some software companies. They are asking for an expression of your enthusiasm and creativity to show what you would bring to the company and how you would fit in with their culture. The fact that you don't "get" that is probably evidence enough. They don't just want references or a list of work, they want to know who you are.
No, he did not mean the rest is downhill, he is means that the interview process is rigorous and that this is just the start of an increasingly difficult series of challenges. Basically, if you want in, bring your A-game. I don't know the caliber of this company--maybe it's worth the trouble, maybe they're being overly self-important. That's up for you to decide.
Click to expand...

^^^
+1

What /I/ would do is build a scale model cabinet, and carry it in to them. They're looking for someone who isn't a drone. It's nice to know that some companies still value creativity, and not the lowest common denominator.
 
That response is annoying to read. I don't know what this guy wants from you. I would skip it personally.
 
Tell them you will work for one week at minimum wage ...40 hours if they don't like you. If they do like you then you want to be paid x dollars an hour from day 1 on.
 
Chronoshock said:
Seriously? None of you understood the e-mail?
As for those of you who said "too tough, move on," enjoy being an unimaginative slacker.

While this is for manufacturing/carpentry, it sounds akin to the type of open-ended questions that you see out of some software companies. They are asking for an expression of your enthusiasm and creativity to show what you would bring to the company and how you would fit in with their culture. The fact that you don't "get" that is probably evidence enough. They don't just want references or a list of work, they want to know who you are.
No, he did not mean the rest is downhill, he is means that the interview process is rigorous and that this is just the start of an increasingly difficult series of challenges. Basically, if you want in, bring your A-game. I don't know the caliber of this company--maybe it's worth the trouble, maybe they're being overly self-important. That's up for you to decide.
Click to expand...

It's not so much that we didn't understand it, as it is that it's just a really poorly written email for a professional atmosphere. Honestly, I've had foreign language scammers compose better messages than that.
 
syrillus said:
It's not so much that we didn't understand it, as it is that it's just a really poorly written email for a professional atmosphere. Honestly, I've had foreign language scammers compose better messages than that.
Click to expand...

It was written fine. This isn't the head of the IT dept looking for a new sys admin. It's a tradesman, looking for another tradesman to fill a position. The guy may not have even graduated high school, but he probably does what he does well.
 
SunnyD said:
If you build it, they will hire you.
Click to expand...

This is your answer. You need to show them how well you can build. Take pictures of stuff you have done and if you can't do that offer to build something they need for them free of charge and put a bunch of effort into it.
 
Is this an apprentice position? Are they willing to train you to install cabinets or do they expect you to already have all the necessary skills?

Skilled labor is cheap and unemployment is high where I live. I see tons of ads like these on Craigslist from scumbag employers trying to get a few weeks of free labor out of desperate folks by dangling the promise of employment in front of them. Sometimes the exact same ad runs repeatedly for months.

If this guy was seriously about filling the spot he wouldn't have sent you such a poorly worded, cryptic email. He would have spelled out exactly what he needed from you to move the interview process forward.

Anyway, stop debating this on here and just call him and figure out what his game is. You can always say no thanks after he asks you to remodel his kitchen for free to prove you want the job.

Good luck.
 
stinkynathan said:
I need to know how you will prove your desire for the position.

[FONT=&quot]I am not looking for words at this point. Instead, I need to have solid, tangible proof that you have the desire and capabilities to do the job. [/FONT]
Click to expand...

Translation:

I need you to work for free, so i can see the work that you do, and judge the work you perform.
 
Uphill comment = "everything will be positive from there on in and you will relish these opportunities. It'll be worth it."

Poor use of the word but I'm pretty sure that's what he meant.

Sample of work = in the web design world you have people asking for a preview of what you can do for them, something like a framework of what's to come. Same thing here.
 
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