Preparing for the interview

During this recent bout of unemployment, I don't really get a lot of interview experience (I have only interviewed for two positions since being laid off).  This topic was suggested to me by a friend- and it's a good one.  I'm sure everyone has their own method of preparing for an interview.  Here's mine...

Research, research, research.  I research the daylights out of the company.  I go to their website, I look through their product line making notes of things I like and things I think could be added to make improvements to their line.  If possible, I go to their store and check out their product in person.  I google the company name and look at recent news articles.  If I know the names of people I'm interviewing with, I look at their profiles on LinkedIn.  I think this is where my technical side comes in- if I learned anything as a chemist, it's how to research.

Prepare interview questions.  I used to HATE that part of the interview when they ask, "Do you have any questions for us?"  I would try to wing it and then blank out when the question was asked.  "Uh... not right now..." was a common response.  Not cool.  Now, I know how to prepare for it. 

A good place to start is about.com.  I highly recommend going through the entire job searching section from this site.  I will go to this site for advice before each and every interview because every position is going to require a different approach depending on who is interviewing you, what information is readily available in the job description, or given to you ahead of time.  As I see a question I think is relevant, I write it down.

Next, I go to my "Job Search Notes" file.  You see, I save all these notes I take.  Every interview I have had I can tell you who was there, which position I was applying for, what questions I had asked, and what I wrote in the thank you note(s).  I reference this file A LOT.  I get good ideas for new questions to ask based on what I have asked other interviewers.  Any question I think is relevant I add onto my list.

Other references I use to prepare interview questions are the notes I have saved from various unemployment workshops.  Believe it or not, the unemployment office offers some very useful workshops to help the job seeker. 

I'll share with you some of my favorite questions to ask during the interview:

• Where do you see {Company X} growing in the upcoming years?  How might that equate to personal growth within the company?
• How do people at {Company X} interact and work together?
• What individual qualities and traits are most important for this position?
• Is there anything that I have not clearly explained, which you would like me to readdress?
• What would you say are the most challenging aspects of this position?
• How do you celebrate successes?  When is the last time the department celebrated and what was the occasion?
• How do you set goals at {Company X} and how are these goals evaluated?
• Describe the work culture at {Company X}?

Prepare the interview outfit.  I spend WAY too much time on this one.  They say the goal is to dress one step above the people who will be interviewing you.  But how can you portent that information?  Common sense and intuition come into play- I would follow that simple advice more than I would most of the "expert" advice out there.  For example, here's the advice for a woman from about.com: 

Women's Interview Attire

• Solid color, conservative suit
• Coordinated blouse
• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse make-up & perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

I know that here in the Pacific Northwest, if I were to show up for an interview at a creative company, I would be labeled as stodgy and old-fashioned if I showed up to an interview wearing a conservative suit with hose.  And I would NEVER wear perfume to an interview- you never know who is going to have a sensitivity to your favorite scent. 

No matter what I ALWAYS run my outfit by a trusted loved one before I leave the house.

You may have noticed that I have not mentioned anything about preparing for the questions that may be asked to you.  That is another important step in this process, but that is a whole topic in and of itself. 

To be continued...

I-really-want-this-job-itis

My psychology changes after I have interviewed for a job I really want.  I can't be the only one who experiences this, but a brief google search came up with no results.  The closest article I could find was this gem about that little twinge of disappointment you feel when your phone rings and its someone from your real life, and not the job offer of your dreams. 

The reason this topic is so pertinent for me right now is because I'm in the middle of the job search waiting game.  Last month I interviewed for a position at a really great company.  I knew it would take this long to hear back from them because at the time of the interview they didn't have the OK from the higher-ups for the new position. Update- I was just asked for a second interview.  Yay!!!!!  Oh, but that means more waiting.  

I'm calling this change in my behavior I-really-want-this-job-itis.  The symptoms are as follows:

Procrastination- I know I'm perfect for the job.  I love the company.  The people who work there all seem really great.  How can they not hire me?  I seem to get frozen by this concept that I may have a job very soon, and it prevents me from making decisions about things.  What if I say yes to doing this one thing and then I have a  job and then finishing this one thing interferes with work.  So I don't say yes and I don't say no and I just wait. 

Decreased interest in other jobs- My job search routine slows WAY down when I've got I-really-want-this-job-itis.  Other jobs just can't compare to this one that I really want.  Friends have asked if I was applying for holiday sales associate positions.  I agree that that's a good idea- but I haven't done it because I would really rather be an assistant patternmaker.  This is the worst symptom of I-really-want-this-job-itis because when I don't get the dream job I don't have anything else in the line-up, and it takes a long while to build that momentum up again. 

Phone call anxiety- Did I just hear my phone ring?  Oh, it's that guy's phone six blocks away.  Oh, wait, is that my phone?  Nope- that was a car driving by.  Is that my phone now?  Nope- just the dog barking.  That must be my phone!  Oh, it's just a text message.  How about now, that sounds like my phone ring.  It is!!!  Oh, it's just my husband. 

E-mail anxiety- I only check my email somewhere around constantly.

The only known cure for I-really-want-this-job-itis is an answer.  "No" means some tears will be shed and I start panicking about my future.  "Yes" means a nice bottle of celebration wine.  I've got the chiller ready.

Interview Stories

It seems like there are a lot of interview horror stories out there about the interviewee.  You've heard the stories- poorly dressed applicants, rude behavior, awkward bodily functions, bad question responses...  I think these stories are supposed to make us job seekers feel better about ourselves after bombing an interview, or they are meant to be a wake-up call to the poorly dressed, rude, farting, and unprepared.  If you would like some good ones:
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/businesscareers/2159.html

There are also some really good stories out there from the other side of the desk:
http://www.yelp.com/topic/chicago-funny-or-strange-interview-stories
http://www.snagajob.com/job-interview/funny-interview-stories.aspx
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/job-interview-horror-stories/story?id=8940390#.TrROabKipiN

We Decided You're Overqualified

My worst interview was for a job I never applied for.  The ad I responded to was from a scientific company that made HPLC columns (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography- I do have a chemistry degree after all).  They were looking for a stockroom assistant.  I did not have aspirations of being the next Einstein (in fact, I had yet to figure out what I wanted to do with my life) so this job seemed like it would be a good way for me to stay current in the scientific world while I figured out what I really wanted to do.

The company called me right away to schedule the interview.  I came prepared with my resume and a list of questions specifically related to the position of stockroom assistant.  When I showed up for the interview, they showed me where the stockroom was, then said, "we couldn't understand why you applied for this position as a stockroom assistant.  We decided you are overqualified for this position, but we're interviewing you today to see if you would be a good fit with one of our research and development teams."

Um... OK... You see the specialty of my studies was physical chemistry- quantum mechanics.  Organic chemistry, an understanding of which is extremely important for HPLC, was my least favorite subject ever.

 So the nice people at this HPLC column company decided to put me through a day-long interview where I was grilled one-on-one with each of their PhD research chemists on HPLC.  It was like a graduate level final exam on HPLC six-times over with six different exam practitioners in one day. Needless to say, I failed each one.  At least I got a free lunch out of the deal, where I got to meet other random members of the R&D teams.  They were probably wondering why I hadn't applied to the stockroom assistant position.

There was one other time I was interviewed for a position to which I did not apply.  In this case I was qualified for the position, but it was not the kind of work I was really hoping to do.  I think they sensed this at the interview and I never heard from the company again.  Special note to HR people- if you think a candidate is a better fit for a different position in the company, PLEASE talk to that person.  Tell them about the different position, explain to them why you are considering them.  Ask them if they would like to be interviewed for the position.  It can be a waste of time for everyone involved if you make a bad assumption.

I Think You Would Be Bored

Speaking of making assumptions... I worry that my education and work history in the physical sciences are intimidating to potential employers.  When I graduated from the Art Institute, I thought my history would be an advantage.  I expected that employers would say, "Wow!  Here is someone who is both creative and technical.  We need to get her on board now!"  My experience, however, has been completely the opposite. 

Not long after graduating from the Art Institute, I interviewed with a company known for their children's wear.  The position was Product Development Administrative Assistant.  They were basically looking for someone to handle all the shipping and receiving for the product development team, and provide other assistance as needed (like spec measurements).  I saw it as a foot in the door, even though it is a small company with low turnover. 

The HR Assistant called me for the first interview.  She was very nice and friendly and seemed impressed by my background.  She scheduled me right away for an in-person interview with the Product Development manager. 

The Product Development manager also noted my background, but in a much more negative way.  I had to defend myself during the interview against her allegations that I would be bored with the position.  That was pretty much the whole interview, from my recollection.  However, I didn't leave the interview with a totally negative impression.  I thought I defended myself well and she did admit that she liked me and thought I could be useful to her beyond the scope of the position.

I did not get the job.  The reason why, I was told, is that the Product Development Manager could not get over the fact that I "would be bored" with the position and with the low turnover at the company she didn't think I would last in the position for very long because of it.  As a result of this feedback, I immediately changed my resume, removing my prior degrees and downplayed my 10-year experience as a lab analyst.  I dumbed down my resume!

Jump ahead nine months.  The same company is hiring for a very similar position.  I apply.  The same very nice HR Assistant calls me for the first interview.  Again she seems impressed by my background.  She schedules me right away for the in-person interview with the Product Development Manager.  I admit to her that I had applied for the position before, tell her the feedback I had received, and defend myself against these allegations of boredom.

Not even ten minutes later the nice HR Assistant calls me back.  The Product Development Manager remembered me and would not change her mind about me.  She canceled my interview. 

And, by the way, the reason the position was open nine months later was because they had promoted the person they had hired. 

The Boss is Mean

My most awkward moment during an interview was recently after graduating from the Art Institute.  I was interviewing for a Product Development Assistant position at a very small company that sells their product nationally.  Cheap is the name of the game for this company.  They bang out tons of their product for a low price.  Things like fit and comfort are a secondary concern.  Already this is not my ideal work place.

There were only two people in the dingy office:  the Product Developer, and the owner of the company.  Their product was showcased on giant rolling garment racks and old dusty 1970's-era mannequins.  The office did not have a good vibe to it. 

After filling out a very lengthy application, I met with the Product Developer.  She was friendly but quiet.  I don't remember much about her except that when I left I couldn't help but feel a little sad for her.  Then I met with the owner of the company.  She was very direct and seemed like someone who you did not want to cross.  The owner of the company thought it would be a good idea for me to meet the Warehouse Manager. 

She called him in to the office and he took me back into the warehouse.  This was a completely different atmosphere.  There was a whole team of people working back here sorting product.  He showed me around the bustling warehouse and took me into his office.  He asked me how things were going so far and talked with me a little bit about the company.  He specifically asked how I got along with the owner of the company and explained to me that the reason this was an important question is because she can be mean to her employees.   I don't even remember how I responded to that.  That was the icing on the cake.  I did not want this job. 

This was the first and only time that I did not respond back to the company after the interview.  I did not send thank you notes, I didn't follow up with an email to check on my application status.  A few weeks later I received an email that they had "decided to follow through with other candidates."  That was the best I could hope for. 

Who the @%#* Do You Think You Are?

A friend of mine owns title to having the worst interview ever.  He was interviewing for a supervisor-type position at a restaurant.  He had already been on a multitude of phone and in-person interviews with various people within the company.  Finally, they brought him in to interview with the manager of that particular restaurant.

Since this was his fourth interview, he felt that he had asked all the "do you have any questions for us?" and had all the information about the job and the company that he needed.  So he showed up for the interview with just himself.

Immediately, the manager berated him.  Who the @%#* do you think you are walking in here unprepared?  You don't even have a &%$#ing notebook!  Why the &%*^ should I talk to you when you obviously don't care enough about this $#^#ing job to come prepared to the #%&ing interview?

My friend was berated and cursed at the entire time he was there.  Needless to say he did not get the job.  Nor did he want it.

See, I'm not the only one who doesn't want to work for a mean boss.

Please, feel free to share your interview stories in the comments.  I would love to hear them.

Entrepreneurship 101, Parts 3 and 4

Part 3 of the Entrepreneurship 101 series took us into the world of licensing a new business. I still haven't gotten over the panic-inducing class on economic feasibility, so I had some reluctance about continuing the series.

It turns out that getting your business license appears to be super easy.  All you have to do is go to http://filinginoregon.com/ , click on "Register a Business" and away you go!  It's $50 for a 2 year license to set up a sole proprietorship, and $100 per year to set up a limited liability corporation.  Easy peasy, if you have the money.

But of course, before you do this you need to know what your business name is going to be.  I've been racking my brains for the ~perfect~ name for quite awhile.   I evaluate the perfection of a name by how I imagine it looks on a label inside a gorgeous pair of handmade pumps (like these, perhaps):

I have a few ideas that are good, but not perfect yet.

Anyway... back on topic... So the first thing to do is check the state registry to find out if your business name is taken.   Good news!  The name that's in the lead for my business is available.

We also got all kinds of information about tricks for filing (select all counties), the basics of LLCs version sole proprietorships, and how to check if your business idea is going to require a special license or permit.

We were advised to check with your city about any special fees/taxes/coding requirements that are sometimes locally required.  Funny thing about that.  My city directs me to a special website called "Clackamas County Tools for Business".  Yeah, the link is broken.  Way to go Clackamas County.

Part 4 of the Entrepreneurship 101 series was the last class.  I was a little worried going into it because of the topic- Financing and Loans.  Augh!  Not another financial class!

Okay, this class was not that bad.  We spent most of the time going over the pros and cons of different funding options:  grants, friends & family, personal money (ie savings), retirement accounts, credit cards, investors, lines of credit, home equity loans, business loans, and SBA-guaranteed loans.

At the end of the class we talked about the idea of a strategic start-up, which sounds exactly like a business model I can handle.  She gave us a great example to illustrate the idea:  a woman going through our class had big ideas and dreams to open a restaurant.  Restaurants are EXPENSIVE to open and very risky.  Opening the restaurant of her dreams was beyond what her finances could take, so she opted instead to start smaller.  She broke her dream into smaller pieces and looked into opening a food cart.  When even that proved outside her financial ability, she pared back even more.  She certified her home kitchen and started making sandwiches.  Today she drives around to several businesses selling homemade sandwiches from her car.  She's making money like crazy and has saved enough to buy her food cart.

Final thoughts on the Entrepreneurship 101 series.  I left this class with three general thoughts about starting my own business.  1)  I'm not ready yet.  I still need to do some serious work researching and learning about my own finances as well as the monetary needs my business would have.  2)  I need to figure out what I want to do.  If I were to start a business, what would it be?  I know it would be making something because people who ooze awesomeness make things.  I've dreamt of making shoes- but what kind?  How would I sell them?  Who would be my customer?  3)  Whatever idea I come up with for a business I need to pair it back into a simpler model for my strategic start-up.  Would this be making moccasins?  Selling the headbands I've been making out of my fabric scraps?  How would those things relate to the "ideal shoe" I see with my label in it?

For now... I hear Columbia is hiring...