Group Interview for a position at the new country club
 

I have a group interview coming up shortly for a position at the new country club that will open sometime this fall. Is anyone familar with this procedure here in the villages? It is with Golf Management Solutions who operates the country clubs in TV. Thanks

Yes it is and it is a common sense interactive scenario that you probably have done before in your previous life.

It is a screening. You will be asked to introduce yourself and then go through several activities. The managers determine from there who they will ask back for an individual interview.

I did it 3 years ago and luckily I made it. I have been with GMS for 3 years this month and enjoying it tremendously. My suggestion, be yourself. Don't try to read I to what you think they want to hear. Be outgoing but not obnoxious. When it comes to the time that you are in a group and need to make decisions, again be your self don't control but, be involved. GOOD LUCK

I haven't done it here but in other places. At the end of the interview go up and shake the hand of the interviewers and comment on something you are looking forward to in the job. They WILL REMEMBER YOU.

It's he most absurd thing that I ever went through.

After they wasted all my time, I told them that I was not interested in working for them.

They expect you to be available 24/7. They tell you that you shouldn't be involved in any clubs or other activities.

I for one am sure glad you walked out on that one!!!!!
Just say in
:)

I'm sorry, but I'm a highly qualified professional with 35 years of experience in the golf industry. I tried to show them my resume and they made me fill out a form and told me to attach my resume to it. Then I asked if I could get an interview with the director of golf. They told me I'd get a call. When I got a call and told that I had an interview I expected a one on once interview with a fellow professional not being tossed in with a group of people that have never worked in the business before and being put through a ridiculous test.

Sounds like they employ a pretty unprofessional process.

The above is far from the truth. They do NOT expect you to be available 24/7! They DO NOT discourage membership in clubs. I am a member in several clubs activities. They have 3 day shifts per week and simply ask that you have your shift covered when you take time off. Anyone who has worked as a manager or supervisor appreciates why that is important.

The initial interview is designed to determine how well you interact with people and express yourself. The core values of The Villages are also used with GMS. They are looking for people who will contribute to making your golfing experience the best possible. Just be yourself and when you are asked to introduce yourself (you will be asked) be succinct, positive and you will have made a positive impression that will get you that next interview. Good luck!

I wouldn't say that, but like many large corporations, everything has to fit into a little box. They have their process and they won't change it for anything.

My husband went through it a year and a half ago and was never told he had to be available 24/7 and should not be involved in clubs or activities. He loves working for them and they are very flexible with schedules etc. The people are super nice and there's usually someone who will cover for you if you need to be off or change your schedule for something.

:BigApplause: Exactly!

I feel your pain, really. We have friends who work for GMS, that do spend a lot of time on call. That wouldn't be my cup of tea, not for $7.50-$8.50 an hour, or whatever they get.

I have two friends who are Golf Ambassadors and they don't make a pot of money, but enjoy doing it. Us old traditional people enjoy saving a little for something special.

Mickey, Have the golf courses improved at all lately?

My first interview was the Group setting, and not sure about why. But after working for about 2 years now, it made since as there are times when you will have a group that you need to speak too and get moving. There are times when I will have a 5 linked groups of 20 people teeing off and they all show up at the same time. You need to be able to take charge and get them all started on time.

Union?
 

Unionize
That is a dirty word but it is coming. Stay tuned!

Seriously? Most people have these jobs not for a "second" career or with the intention that they make a ton of money but do it for fun, because they enjoy meeting people and maybe want a few extra dollars a month and the discount on golf they get.

The group interview has been used for years by many large corporations. I retired from American Airlines in 1998 and the group interview had been used there for years. I participated in several of those interviews and they are very telling.

Are these the same people that hire the people responsible for maintaining our golf courses?

No, they are starter, ambassadors and cart people.

At no time is any ambassador or starter on cal. They work 3 days a week and can if they want fill in for other staff that need time off. And they do not care about your outside activities.

Add, Golf Shop staff, Pool Attendants and Cleaners.

The maintenance workers are contracted and are not a part of The Villages staff.

Correct, sorry I left them out.

If I wanted to be hired for a job, I would not put comments on the worldwide web that indicate I know nothing about their methods and goals for giving the best customer experience possible.

I also wouldn't put into print online that I'm looking for back-door ways of getting around their time-tested procedures designed to observe genuine, impromptu interactions with future co-workers and supervisors.

I also would not publish online that I think I know far more than the employer does about his own business that is obviously prosperous and responsive to the customer.

As an employer I do not hire people who are unwilling to take instruction and direct orders to do the work as I expect, without any back talk. Insubordinate attitude kills many people's chances of getting and keeping a job.

What you have or have not done on other golf courses, anywhere else has very little to do with what you would be asked to do in the villages. The exception would be working as a pga teaching pro at the golf academy. The mission here is a whole different animal. And a very successful one, I might add. I believe all of GMS' 1,000 part time employees would agree.

I am a retired PGA professional. I am still a member of the PGA and have taught in all sorts of different environments including college classes and golf schools as well as private instruction.

I have also managed several golf courses. I worked in the golf business for thirty five years. I think that I can do pretty much any job that I am asked to do. In my years in the business, I have not only worked as a starter and ranger, I have also hired and managed starters and rangers as well as pro shop staff and food and beverage staff.

I don't have any problem taking instruction.

As far as being available 24/7, I may have not explained that properly. I do believe that once you are hired you will be given a schedule and have free time to do as you please. The point that they made was that they wanted to set your schedule according to their needs with little or no regard for your availability. Maybe they emphasized that a bit more than was necessary, but it was said at my interview. Maybe they do take into consideration your availability, but that was not what was explained to me.

It may be different right now, based on the # of applications, but when I applied, if you limited your availability by time or work location, they tended to put the application on the bottom of the stack. Once you got further into the process, you were given more opportunity to tweak your schedule. If you were not applying for a management position, did anyone play the over-qualified card ?

Really? I don't think that TV has any corner on the market of running a successful golf club. The mission (which is to make money) is really the same. For instance, I would like to see the Ambassadors do a better job of enforcing pace of play. Well, that's a whole other rant.

Really, I would like to see golfers follow the rules, they are adults, stop looking for golf balls, stop taking so long to hit, thay know about pace of play, the playing partners can help. It is easy to blame the ambassadors, how about blaming the golfers!!

I have worked for GMS for over 3 years at 2 different facilities and most of what I am seeing is BS. No one is on call, easy to get time off you just need to reciprocate for fellow employees. Most of what I read on here concerning the golf courses is BS!. People have no idea what they're talking about!!!

HERE HERE, GREAT post, and your right most is BS!!!!

It's Theirs
 

Hey, it's their company and the procedure they've found gets the best employees for them. They have the jobs...and now you don't.

Sounds like it might be awhile before you start working on your 36th year of employment in the golf industry. Might be best for everyone concerned.

It Works
 

Maybe they feel their "little box" is time proven and works. As far as I'm concerned it does.

Florida Is Right To Work
 

I doubt it. Florida is one of the 24 states that has passed "right to work" laws. Simply put, right to work laws affirms the right of every Floridian to work for a living without being compelled to belong to a union.

Look around. How many businesses do you see that are unionized?

Wow gang.. So sorry I haven't been around these past 10 days to help. I've owned a career/job search/interview coaching firm for over 40 years. Still do....Bought in Gilchrist but not full-time yet.

I'd be more than happy to share my experience and what we teach our job seekers both in process and attitude. I'm at WorthingtonCareers.com but will be more than happy to help with this by phone pro bono. That's what new friends are for! :o) DDR7749 .. Feel free to call!

Janice Worthington

Why that is just crazy? You should have been hired without having to go through the debasing ordeal of an interview. :doh: