September 20, 2007
-
The First Interview
In job hunting there are a few inevitable things. There’s the endless search, where you sort through page after page of position descriptions, rejecting the ones that are outside of your range (doesn’t pay enough, requires 25 years of experience in some area, etc.), and then applying for all the ones that you may fit into. I have been using Craig’s List as a jumping point, but Monster.com and USA Jobs are also big.
As a side note, a few weeks ago, Monster.com laid off 8,000 people. I wonder where they posted their resumes.
This morning I had to travel into New Jersey to interview for an Area Operations Manager position with a very large company. Interestingly, I found this while looking in the newspaper, something I was pretty much opposed to doing except for on the one day I actually did it. After speaking with the interviewer, I get a good vibe from it. It was also my first interview, so I have a lot to glean from it. The questions weren’t that hard, but since I hadn’t encountered them before, this was a time to take it in, and use it for future interviews. Here are some of the questions asked, in no particular order:
- Has there ever been a time where you came upon something that was completely messed up, and how did you fix it?
- How would your friends describe you?
- Give two words that describe your leadership style.
- What characteristics make good customer service?
- Define “Leadership”?
- Who would you consider a hero? (I don’t have any)
- If you could sell anything, what would you sell and why?
- Growing up, what job did you want?
- Do you have any mentors?
- What is your definition of “management”?
- How would you handle overseeing operations in multiple areas? (It’s funny, because I’ve already done this).
- You’ve been made the head of customer service. What do you do to improve things.
- Tell me everything that you know about the company.
A funny thing about that last question. I had studied up on the company on the website. While I was doing this, there was a part that was supposed to show available jobs (the company doesn’t accept unsolicited resumes, so you have to directly apply for a position that is currently open). Well, when I went to check it, the link looped to itself, and was basically broken, which was bad, because the interviewer mentioned that the website was “a huge part of how we get information about ourselves out there.” Of all the interviews that he’s done, I was apparently the first person to mention this fact to him, as he immediately took a minute so that he could shoot an email off to the tech guys.
Right now, I am sitting in the Saddle Brook Marriott, which is still in NJ. The only reason that I am here is because I have another job interview in the morning, and there was no train that ran to this part of New Jersey early enough in the morning. unfortunately, as handcuffed as I am, it was either stay here or don’t come. One night here costs $209! Yeah, that’s right. It’s insane. So I looked at the website to see what the hotel offered. There was a weight room, a fitness center, and internet access. There were other things, but they did not interest me. Getting here, I learn that the Internet access costs $9 a day (WTF is that initial $209 paying for), and the weight room was pretty much a joke. At least the coffee in the room is free. I have plans to use the entire roll of toilet paper just so I can get my money’s worth. I also plan to take many showers, and use all of the towels. I am also wearing the robe.
Black 6, out.
Comments (3)
Hi, Thank you for your birthday
comment. I hope you b-day was grand. Mine was horrible so there
Okay, I am having fun with the “new” smiles thing..Okay, where is Tigger??? Just reading those questions gave me a headache. I was going to suggestion Craig’s List for looking for job–but you’ve done that. Now when I was at the hotel other week in AL– it was under $50. At least they had a working TV. I use to work for Marriott. Really enjoyed the few nights and discounts. Well take care. Good Luck!!! 
I suggest leaving the room in less than perfect shape so that you get your money’s worth of the maid service and make sure you use your little ice bucket and all the many amenities inside the hotel room, IE open the bible (its a commonly known fact that sometimes people put money in them and forget it) and open all the draws and such. It sounds crazy but every time I enter a hotel room I check everything, I guess Im a little paranoid but I check for everything to make sure someone before me didnt leave something that they could possibly come back for. In my searches I have found several insignificant things. None of which has ever been money. Maids service is a joke! Hope you enjoy stay in your rented palace.
Don’t write off the 25-year experience ones, Pat. I got to interview for an amazingly cool company that does re-entry work for the Shuttle, because I sent them an awesome opening email.
You can always trade money for experience. They were looking for someone uber to pay 6 digits to, so my email said something along the lines of “I have had extensive exposure to abc, particularly blah blah blah, as it was part of my job at yada yada. However, I have less direct experience with xyz as it appears you desire. If your needs are flexible,
and there is time to grow into the position, please consider me as a
cheaper (insert price range here) alternative to your posted ad. I am well-rounded,
and may be of use to you in multiple areas.”
That line has gotten me a number of callbacks from places that were looking to hire very experienced people. Sometimes the need is not immediate, and if you pitch a price that’s 10, 20, or even 30 grand below what they expected to pay for the position, but is still acceptable to you, they’ll usually perk up. Every department of every company is over-budget, so you can trade the potential salary to compete with the older guys who don’t have that option because they need to pay off their mortgage and childrens’ colleges.