First big time job interview. Advice?

**Castro's** · 01-10-2005, 04:17 PM

Sure seldon, while I'm editing that you have beat me to it and quote it. Thanks.

**UTdave** · 01-10-2005, 04:22 PM

Ask the secretary her bra size "cuz you want to send her something." That one always sets the right tone.

**Pinner** · 01-10-2005, 04:23 PM

Sounds like the job is pretty much yours.

Remember: whatever salary they offer you, they're lowballing.

**Viva** · 01-10-2005, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Castro's

I have a two button suit so can I get away with only buttoning the top button? or do I have to button both?

Also, a lot of advice has suggested asking lots of questions. What type of questions would you recommend? I know a lot about the basic info of the company and I don't want to ask anything with an obvious answer.

Top button on a deuce. You could also go with neither.

Ask specific questions about the job that you're interviewing. Sound like you've already got a handle on that as you've worked something similar already.

**lemon boy** · 01-10-2005, 04:32 PM

What kind of accounting job is it?

If it is with one of the Big 4 be prepared to answer a couple of bullshit psych q's (tell me about a time when you were on a team that wasn't functioning well and what you did about it. Hint: the answer isn't "she said she didn't want to suck me off so I just jammed my pecker in her anus" nor is it "Well gee, that's never happened to me")

I wouldn't worry much about that with a const. co.

Otherwise, be yourself.

Handshake: GRIP THEIR FUCKIN HAND. Be sensitive if it is a woman to the pressure she exerts. Aim for the web, don't wanna get shorted.

At the end of the interview TELL THEM YOU WANT THE JOB. Follow up. If they take you for lunch order small and easy to eat cause you gonna be talkin a bunch.

blahbitty blah blah blah.

KQ · 01-10-2005, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

Handshake: GRIP THEIR FUCKIN HAND. Be sensitive if it is a woman to the pressure she exerts. Aim for the web, don't wanna get shorted.

Yes! Def. want "web to web." I HATE limp, whimpy handshakes. Gives me the hebbies.

Edit: Look them in the eye when you shake their hand. Might want to try and use their name to for memory and to show you are paying attention.

Originally Posted by lemon boy

At the end of the interview TELL THEM YOU WANT THE JOB. Follow up. If they take you for lunch order small and easy to eat cause you gonna be talkin a bunch.

1# rule for business lunches: Never ever attempt to eat cherry tomatoes! Very unpredictable and dangerous.

**El Chupacabra** · 01-10-2005, 04:41 PM

No acid or shrooms for at least 12 hours before the interview.

I wouldn't worry about your suit buttons too much. Everything else (that was serious) was good advice, especially researching the company you're interviewing for.

Most interviews will end with "do you have any questions for me/ about the company ?" You better have some thoughtful questions in mind (i.e., not about vacation, sick time, or powder days). Some examples for topics (use if appropriate only):

- corporate atmosphere -- collegial, structured/ formal
- plans for future -- expansion, other office locations, etc.

Good luck
-Karl

**Castro's** · 01-10-2005, 04:43 PM

Got the handshake thing down. That's the first thing I notice about a person when I meet them is what kind of handshake they have (when I shake their hand of course). I hate wimpy handshakes.

**Pinner** · 01-10-2005, 04:45 PM

The correct answer for safest business lunch is always and uncategorically a caesar salad.

But just for fun, let's think of things you wouldn't particularly be advised to order at a business luncheon. I'll start:

fondue
lobster
fried chicken
anything served on injerra

**Woodsy** · 01-10-2005, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Pinner

The correct answer for safest business lunch is always and uncategorically a caesar salad.

But just for fun, let's think of things you wouldn't particularly be advised to order at a business luncheon. I'll start:

fondue
lobster
fried chicken
anything served on injerra

chicken wings,
double scotch, rocks and dont be stingy
lap dance
Brains & eggs

KQ · 01-10-2005, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Pinner

The correct answer for safest business lunch is always and uncategorically a caesar salad.

But just for fun, let's think of things you wouldn't particularly be advised to order at a business luncheon. I'll start:

fondue
lobster
fried chicken
anything served on injerra

Caesar, huh? Pasta would be good too (shaped or stuffed NOT strand). Mmmmmmm rissotto....dang, now I'm hungry.

**Pinner** · 01-10-2005, 05:16 PM

I had risotto for lunch today!

Caesar is always the safest best. Always.

Pasta is safe if you order very carefully. Sauce can and does fly off to parts unknown, the client/ interviewer/ guest might hate penne, the kitchen might have over-garliced your alfredo, etc. See where this goes?

Always order the least offensive item on the menu. Unless you're in Australia.

**Castro's** · 01-10-2005, 05:28 PM

Well, I just set up an interview for Thursday morning at 10:30. That means I can sleep in and hit the crapper a few times before I leave the house.

Its not a lunch interview, but if it were I'd be sure to order a full slab of baby back ribs and a few Sam Adams to wash them down. I'd also drink the water from the finger bowl is one is available, if they just provided wet naps I would tuck them into my shirt like a bib. I'd also make sure to not use silverware at all costs.

**Woodsy** · 01-10-2005, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Castro's

Well, I just set up an interview for Thursday morning at 10:30. That means I can sleep in and wax the Dolphin a few times before I leave the house.

excellent idea, go in relaxed & happy!

**Viva** · 01-10-2005, 05:32 PM

No pocket protector, either.

**SkiCougar** · 01-10-2005, 05:47 PM

if you want the job ask for it at the end of the interview. be nice to the secretaries/admin. asst. sometimes they have a lot of power in 1 comment to the manager.

and dont get pegged down on a salary. they should either have a range for you or know what the range for you should be as the dept. should've already budgeted for your position. if they havent, then they have issues; and you dont want to jump on that ship.
just in case you want this job and they harass you about what youre looking for, you should be able to find it online, give them the source and tell them thats just a general range as its probably from people working in that industry and it will probably be higher than what your employer has budgeted; but your employer didnt do their homework if they dont know what the position they are looking to fill pays; so they should get used to some sticker shock.(as you probably can tell, i've been thru this; it pissed me off and i dont work for those losers).

good luck to you !

**Lane Meyer** · 01-10-2005, 05:51 PM

Just do it like Spud did:

INT. OFFICE. DAY

The same office. The same team are interviewing Spud.

SPUD
No, actually I went to Craignewton but I was worried that you wouldn't have heard of it so I put the Royal Edinburgh College instead, because they're both schools, right, and we're all in this together, and I wanted to put across the general idea rather than the details, yeah? People get all hung up on details, but what's the point? Like which school? Does it matter? Why? When? Where? Or how many O grades did I get? Could be six, could be one, but that's not important. What's important is that I am, right? That I am.
MAN 1
Mr. Murphy, do you mean that you lied on your application?
SPUD
Only to get my foot in the door. Showing initiative, right?
MAN 1
You were referred here by the Department of Employment. There's no need for you to get you "foot in the door", as you put it.
SPUD
Hey. Right. No problem. Whatever you say, man. You're the man, the governor, the dude in the chair, like. I'm merely here. But obviously I am. Here, that is. I hope I'm not talking too much. I don't usually. I think it's all important though, isn't it?
MAN 2
Mr. Murphy, what attracts you to the leisure industry?
SPUD
In a word, pleasure. My pleasure in other people's leisure.
---------

WOMAN
What do you see as your main strengths?
SPUD
I love people. All people. Even people that no one else loves, I think they're OK, you know. Like Beggars.
WOMAN
Homeless people?
SPUD
No, not homeless people. Beggars, Francis Begbie -- one of my mates. I wouldn't say my best mate, I mean, sometimes the boy goes over the score, like one time when we -- me and him -- were having a laugh and all of a sudden he's fucking gubbed me in the face, right --
---------

WOMAN
Mr. Murphy, {leaving your friend aside,} do you see yourself as having any weaknesses?
SPUD
No. Well, yes. I have to admit it: I'm a perfectionist. For me, it's the best or nothing at all. If things go badly, I can't be bothered, but I have a good feeling about this interview. Seems to me like it's gone pretty well. We've touched on a lot of subjects, a lot of things to think about, for all of us.
MAN 1
Thank you, Mr. Murphy. We'll let you know.
SPUD
The pleasure was mine. Best interview I've ever been to. Thanks.
Spud crosses the room to shake everyone by the hand and kiss them.

**DJSapp** · 01-10-2005, 06:40 PM

If you're straight out of college, they're not interviewing you for your tech skills or knowledge. They already know what you know, and how much money they're going to spend training you. They're interviewing you as the person. How do you do under pressure, what questions do you ask, and do you fit in with the company. Likewise you should do the same, do they seem lazy and you're going to be picking up all of their shit work, or are they balls of fire that charge at every oppertunity?

Since you're going into construction equipment rental, you're going to deal with assholes like me (heavy construction engineer) that tell you you're a worthless piece of shit, your accounts with us are all fucked up, we're going to take our millions of dollars worth of business with you and walk, and we're not going to pay another dime until you straighten it out. Can you handle that or will you freeze in the headlights? They can get any number cruncher straight out of school to stick in a cube and forget about, what you need to give them is someone who fits in, can take it (and dish it out if needed) and has potential to excel.

Do not ask about vacation until you get the job. It reflects lazyness since the answer is blantly obvious. It's two weeks a year everywhere for any entry level position. You can ask about benefits, which is valid and they'll proably mention their vacation package. Much better way to get the info.

Be ready for the standard interview questions with a standard response. Nothing pisses me off more than someone having no clue where they want to be (career-wise) in two to five years. The best answer "your boss"

Best of luck, be yourself, and remember if you don't like them during the interview, you'll hate working for them.

**Stu Gotz** · 01-10-2005, 06:41 PM

Castro,

Is the firm public or private? If the construction co. is a publicly traded company, work the 10-K's and Q's. "I am accountant Jim, not a miracle worker."

If said company is publicly traded, pm me and I'll shoot you a present.

I'll second the shoe shine and add that you should have your dress shirt professionally cleaned and starched.

And as a side note, what is a person with a nickname of Castro's doing applying for a job at a company that is more than likely getting rich off the sweat of the working man. Viva la revolution, my man!

**frerad** · 01-10-2005, 06:45 PM

Shoot the hostage!!

**SLCFreshies** · 01-10-2005, 08:08 PM

The easiest thing to do is NOT BE LATE! Figure out where you're supposed to go and give yourself enough time.

Think of answers to standard questions before hand--your strengths, weaknesses, reason for wanting to work there, goals, etc.

As others have said, learn all you can about your possible employer--the work they do, major clients, size of the company, owners, history, etc. Also, if you know a little about who is interviewing you--that's a bonus.

Finally, ALWAYS have some questions to ask about the employer and the job. You can see facts on a sheet about the place, but how is it to actually WORK there? Ask. How did the position open up? What is the company planning for the future? Any big changes soon? Is there a lot of turnover of staff? Don't be confrontational about it, but ask it in a way that shows that you are genuinely interested.

Remember, the interview process is a two-way street. They want to learn about you, but YOU also need to learn about THEM. Because if the job sucks or is a bad fit, it's BEFORE you take the job that you want to find that out.

Good luck.

**Platinum Pete** · 01-10-2005, 08:25 PM

On the buttons issue: don't forget to unbutton your coat before you sit down, or you'll look bunched up and dumb
On Interviewing the company: know what you'd like to get out of any job over the next couple of years, i.e. what you want to learn, skills to develop, experiences to have, opportunities for growth, potential for travel, etc. Ask them what theyy bring to the table for what you want out of life above and beyond a paycheck.
On being yourself: do use metaphors and examples from your real life as much as possible. For example, when I was interviewing I made sure that when I left they would remember me as "the guy who hiked the Appalachian Trail" and thought of me as someone who knew how to work hard day in and day out, persistant, and able to accomplish a grand task. Some interviewers hated that I put that on my resume, but when they trashed that experience I defended it and they either came around or I knew I didn't want to work there. In the interview for the job I am have now, I had built a little rapport with the interviewer and found out he was a dedicated snowboarder. When he asked about risk I incorporated skiiing into my answer along with other examples from my life, in the next interview we talked more about skiing and I told him that one of my goals was to earn enough commish to go heli-skiiing, and he ate that up. You wan thtem to know who you are and what makes you tick so they can imagine how you'll work with thhe team, what motivates you and if they can provide an environment where you'll thrive. They don't want a bad fit either.
Oh, and if they ask you any of those bullshit psyche out questions, the only answer is, "nigga please."