Monday, May 2, 2005

THE INTERVIEW

I went up North to interview for a new position in the company I now work for. It was an intense ninety minutes. The position is in a different department with a totally different customer base and market conditions. They guys in the department here in Lexington prepared me for the questions that more than likely would be thrown at me. Many of them came up, but several were new and unanticipated and a bit unsettling.

You can prepare yourself all you want, but you can not cover every scenario. And the biggest one being I was not convinced I wanted this position.  I decided that I better stop being so charming and give myself some wiggle room. It arrived with the question, "What three things would you change in yourself if given the opportunity?"

I took a deep breath and thought, "What you see is what you get" and then I started to talk. I could not believe what I was doing! I'm certain they were as shocked as I!! I had already anticipated this question and had my little stock pile of things that on the surface sound like faults, but really are not. Such as, "I am too competive, I wish I could relax on week ends rather than think about work." The usual line of B.S. Everyone knows it, everyone expects it.

I was honest. I said, "As long as I am being candid, why stop now. I wish I were a better listener. I think everyone can improvement in this area. Everyday I run across people who hear what they want to hear, not what is being said to them. I want to improve that in myself."

"I wish I had more of a sense of urgency. My procrastination is a constant source of stress."

"And last I wish I were less of a perfectionist. I hate to wake up in the mornings with my very first thought as I sit upright in bed, "I MUST CHECK ON THAT FIRST THING!!"

With my luck it will back fire and they will be totally amazed at my confidence and verve.

I am also having a telephone interview with one of the major radio stations in the area! Now that sounds like FUN! I am also sending a resume to the PBS station. They are looking for a commission only advertising executive, make your own hours. I keep thinking of the long snowy winters.

Us Southerners make terrible winter drivers.

 

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hope you are successful in whatever one you would like to do the most .

Anonymous said...

Well I pray you get a place and job that will make you happy. Its hard to make decisions.

Anonymous said...

..........Life is but a dream..........row, row, row your boat............You will be great at whatever you do and they will be lucky to have you.   Anne

Anonymous said...

I hope it works out so that the opportunity you want lands at your feet.

Anonymous said...

Cool picture...I hope you land the job you want the most.  Good luck!  JAE

Anonymous said...

I wish you luck. You never know what someone may think of something so candid. They may feel that you are honest and genuine and that may be seen as a strong positive. I went through this and when I wasn't sure how I impressed someone on my last job the woman stood up and said " You would be an asset to this company. You think outside the box." I need to find another job and I dread the interviews. Good luck to you! Nelle

Anonymous said...

Personally, I admire those individuals (like yourself) who are willing to take a risk and be candid rather than feed me a line of BS that is all too often expected.  My strategy has always been to interview THEM.  Sure, let them ask all the questions they want, but ultimately I turn the table around and ask the same questions of them, the company, and/or the position.  My strategy isn't for everyone, but it's always done wonders for me.
Good luck with your endeavors.
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

you are in my thoughts. You are wonderful and I hope they will see it!! judi

Anonymous said...

How wonderful that you have so many opportunities for jobs in your new area.  Good luck on whichever path you end up taking.  
How is the house selling going?  Have you found a new place yet?

Anonymous said...

Yes, you southern drivers scare the crap out of us northerners in the winter when we find you driving behind us!

Good luck with the interviews!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

I think it's great you were so open with them!  It was probably very refreshing for them.  Good luck with the job search and let us know what happens.  Pamela

Anonymous said...

Hello...nice journal.

Anonymous said...

terrible winter drivers...yes, very well put! LOL!

Good luck with the jobs, I hope you get the one you want...

Anonymous said...

super photo for this entry...I wish you the best, I hope it all works out...

~  www.jerseygirljournal.com

Anonymous said...

Honesty is the best policy. If they cannot take it, you're probably better off not getting the job. I think though that most people admire honesty and reward those who have it. Praying for you. http://journals.aol.com/dcmeyer420/DearDiary/    

Anonymous said...

I would've admired your honesty and said you were hired on the spot!  It was actually something that I said out of total honesty that got me my job at Expedia - and I was positive it had blown it out the door.  But, the manager jumped out of her seat and told me if I passed the drug and criminal check I was HIRED.  :-)  Did I mention I was stunned when I let that bit of honesty slip out? LOL  Anyway, wishing you all the best.

Monica

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful example of quick thinking!  I would never have had answers already lined up.  I am always totally candid at job interviews.  Maybe that's why I never get hired!  LOL!  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

If you go for an interview at PBS. wear the red velvet jacket. They'll love it.

Anonymous said...

I hope you find exactly what you are looking for!
Fun would be good. New beginnings are so of exciting!
                         *** Coy ***




Anonymous said...

BTW ... love the light at the end of the tunnel photo!
                     *** Coy ***


Anonymous said...

For what it's worth...*I* liked the answers to your interview questions. LOL I, er, hope you get the job??

Anonymous said...

Love the picture!

Personally I would appreciate your answers. They sound sincere and not detrimental in the least bit to doing a great job. But, good luck with whatever it is you wind up with! :-) ---Robbie

Anonymous said...

All the luck in the world. Which ever job you land, I hope it is the one that you really wanted more than anything!
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/JMoranCoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

Great Pic!
I hope you get what you want.
V

Anonymous said...

I LOVE that interview answer! So candid. Perfect for wiggle room. (But as you said, it might just have endeared them to you even more!) I hope it all works out the way you want it to. (Great photo, too, by the way.)

Anonymous said...

what will be, will be...
I hope it all works out for the best.
Marti

Anonymous said...

Best of luck! I'm in much the same boat - facing a layoff after seven years with the same company, looking for a job, and wondering what the future holds.

Anonymous said...

You know, the last time I interviewed, I decided I was going to be bluntly honest.  (It helps when you really neither need nor insanely want the job!)  I figured if they wanted me, they were going to know what they were getting or if they didn't like me, then they didn't like me for me and I would never be plagued with the "what if I had been me" questions.

They didn't want me.

That was okay.  I didn't want them either.  But I never regretted that interview.

I hope things go exactly as you want them to go.  And I hope the radio station is the oldies one with Jim and Kerry in the morning.  If not, I hope it's WOWO.

And remember Southerner winter driver -- ahem -- you're gonna be in MY neck of the icy woods.  I drive a little blue PT Cruiser, so if you see me coming, DUCK!

~~ jennifer

Anonymous said...

As I begin to consider this whole process I admire your efforts and know it will work out wonderfully for you! Enjoy!