h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a job interview tomorrow!!

(No, I'm not out of w**k, I'm trying to move departments)

Fingers crossed

Congrats Broe

Good luck!

Thanks!

So, how did it go?

Yes! How did it go?!!

*twiddles thumbs*

*Shifts restlessly from cheek to cheek*

Sorry, am I oversharing?

It went... ehhh.

I'm sure it probably wasn't awful, but I didn't walk away from it feeling very confident.

I can do the job, I have no doubt. I've *been* doing it for two years (it's only just recently become an actual position). I was prepared to talk about all of the things I am already doing on this job, I had examples of my work. I was prepared to talk about everything I do in my actual assigned job, and examples of my accomplishments there. It was up to me to sell myself into this job against other similarly qualified applicants who mostly have the *one* thing I lack - a degree.

But what really derailed me are the "negatives", when they ask you where you are developmentally lacking, career-wise. "Tell me about a time when you dealt with conflict." "Give me a specific instance where you had to deal with confrontation and how you reacted." "What are your shortcomings?"

So I stumbled here, seriously. I was losing the thread of the points I was trying to make. I think I came across as somewhat inarticulate in some respects.

So, I should hear something by the end of next week one way or another. There were some encouraging aspects... I never got the impression that the decision had already been made and my interview was merely a courtesy. One of the interviewers promised a call back regardless, with honest feedback. Another gave me a timeline for transitioning into the position when a decision is made. There wasn't a point during the interview that I got the sense that I had just lost it.

I'll really be pleasantly surprised if I get an offer. But I'm really not sure where to go from here. It was mentioned that there would be one more position posted in the next few weeks. I guess if I bombed the interview and get honest feedback about exactly where I went wrong, I can take that to better prepare myself for an interview for the next position... Don't know if I'd get another interview though, not sure how that process works.

I guess we'll wait and see.

Thanks everyone for your support and concern.

"What are your shortcomings?"

Two things: Why do interviewers think you're going to answer that honestly, and I thought the fifth amendment gave you protection from self incrimination anyway. Interviews used to be about finding out about your experience. Now they're a psychological examination.

Ah well, you might have done better than you thought

I was supposed to hear something by the end of last week, but I know one of the managers had a death in the family so maybe that's what's delaying it. Still, they haven't called me back to say I haven't got it yet, either (and they did say they would).

Maybe I'll hear something by the end of today... I leave on vacation tomorrow. It would be nice to have something to celebrate with a frou-frou drink on the beach.

- and enjoy your holidays, no matter what!

Holidays were fab! I decided about halfway home that given my choice between living on the ocean and living in the mountains, I'd be very hard pressed to make a decision.

And I had a voice mail when I got to the office this morning from sometime last week. It was from an assistant to the Human Resources guy that I interviewed with telling me that they were still in the review process and that I was still in consideration for the position.

Nice

broe, I have my fingers crossed.

Mountains or seaside. I'm not sure, either. Having been landlocked for so long, I think I'd choose the sea.

*fingerscrossed*

Seaside for me, I guess. I grew up by the sea and although I think mountains are nice to spend a holiday in, I don't think I'd like to live there.

My anticipation has been favorably resolved.

Well done!