Is it possible to interview and get a job when I want to say

Question

that I don't want to climb the corporate ladder. I just want a job, I want to do my job to the very best of my abilities and I want to go home on time to my family. I will work my *** off, but I hate the fact that in interviews it's all a bunch of lies that need to be told in order to be considered. Why do I have to lie about my goals and desires and where I want to see myself in 5 years? I just want to do my job, get my paycheck and that's it. I don't want to "sell myself" (w***e myself out). I was in the mortgage industry for 20 years and now have to find something new and I'm too old to learn new tricks

Answer 1

Well of course you can, but it means applying for a dead end job.  That's sort of the definition, really:  if you don't want to ever move up, you need to consider jobs that HAVE no up.  There are lots of those out there, but most people aren't searching for those, nor do they typically pay that well (although they might, if they have trouble staffing a dead end.

It sounds like you want to do the proverbial "stop the rat race, I want to get out", which is cool, I suppose, but I think what you really want is just to 'find your bliss'.  Find the job you want to do, the job that excites you, the job you WANT to move ahead in.

But what do I know?

Answer 2

Just be honest during the interview; but do sound more energetic and enthusiastic.  Explain that you are a knowledgeable, loyal, and hard worker, and can be a strong asset to their organization, but that you don't aspire to a management position because you are at the time in your life where other priorities are more important.

I resigned from a high-stress management position in a large hospital after many years of working far too many hours and not having any time for myself of my family.  A year later, I got a part time job working directly for the lab manager at the local (small) hospital.  I help her do all sorts of management and administrative tasks, such as writing policies and procedures and helping to prepare the lab for periodic inspections, but I have none of the responsibility for scheduling personnel or dealing with any problems.  My manager knows I am completely loyal to her and have no desire to steal her job, and she really appreciates that.  I take a huge load off of her, yet I don't have any of the stress she has to do deal with.  A perfect job!

One of the reasons President Bush selected d**k Chaney for VP was because he was highly knowledgeable and experienced, but had no further political aspirations, which meant that Bush didn't have to worry about being undermined by his VP.

What I'm saying is that there are hiring managers out there that would love to have someone like you work for them.