Interviews

[JJ]

Did said individual have a cavalier attitude towards employment?

[dazie]

Did said individual have a cavalier attitude towards employment?

I said we weren't going there!

[meredith]

I wanted to point out earlier that the red herring questions are an unfortunate side effect of having people who bullshit (read: lie) through interviews, but I didn't want to drudge that subject up.

[nishi]

Letter my brother wrote?

didn't you post a letter that he wrote (aside: do you even have a brother?? i could be totally misremembering this. i know for a fact that i'm speaking of something that happened well over a year ago) trying to get a job as... a cook? something. where he waxed rhapsodic about not actually having any experience whatsoever, but that he thought that the job would be really cool, and so he should get it.

thank god jessie remembers something similar.

[Beefy]

I remember that, too, though out of context.  It could very well have been anyone's letter as far as I can remember.

[Alice]

Ohhhhhh, I know what you're talking about.

http://www.juntoonline.com/forum/index.php?topic=6845.0


And yes, I do have a brother.

[dazie]

I wonder if he got the job?

Damn you PE for not keeping us informed!

[JJ]

Tips from an HR type (copied from an old email):

As for interview tips... all of the "essentials" apply.  If it's not an HR interview, they're going to do it based on how much they "like" you.  (Which, as most companies have found out, is a very bad way to hire people...)  However, if it's an HR interview it's going to be based on how much analogous experience you have to this particular position and how you feel it translates into what they do.  Be that as I did HR, and I'm not an authority on making people "like" you, I am going to assume it's an HR interview and not a "spot" interview.

The key really is to figure out what this company does and what you'll be doing for it.  Ask yourself "If I were a client, why would I choose this particular place?"  Let them know that you understand that and what they're all about.  You really stand out if you seem like you understand the company, their philosophy, and what they're all about over a guy who just applied.

Next, figure out exactly what your position entails and what you've done in the past that will make you really good at doing it for them.  Convey that information-- you've done what they're looking for, you've had success doing it, you understand what they want, and you're the person who can deliver it.  They're hiring to fix something or because they have a need that has to be filled-- you have to be that "need" or "fix."  "I used to do XYZ, with results ABC... which is analogous to what you do in your company."

Bottom line-- figure out what the company is all about and let them know you understand that.  Next, figure out exactly what the job entails, and find stuff in your background that demonstrates you'll be good at doing it.

Finally, the red flags.  Never ever bad mouth anyone.  Keep everything real positive.  "it sucked ass" should come out as "it was very challenging."  You're leaving because you don't feel your current company is growing at a rate which will put you where you want to be, etc.... but keep everything positive.

---

All good advice.

[nishi]

aha! i now know why i thought it was you - because of the reference to The Reader. i knew it happened in chicago, and i couldn't put PE there.

you are a genius for finding it!

[Alice]

aha! i now know why i thought it was you - because of the reference to The Reader. i knew it happened in chicago, and i couldn't put PE there.

you are a genius for finding it!

I was just glad I wasn't going insane and forgetting something hysterical that my brother had done.