Got my interview tomorrow afternoon...

[morea]

and my computer is acting up and doesn't want to print my resume and references, lol.

I also did loads of gardening today, AND stepped on a nail out in the yard - so I'm sure I'll hobble in looking like the hunchback of notre dame.

This will definitely be interesting.

[JPnyc]

What about Neuro's? No printer on his?

[morea]

we share, lol. I sent him the file and it printed just FINE from HIS computer.
The printer doesn't like me! :o

Remember how I wasn't going to get nervous? It didn't work! :p

[Kool]

Well as the worlds worst interviewee I have no advice, But good luck. :)

[morea]

lol, thanks Kool. As long as I have internet access (which is more of a 50-50 chance) tomorrow afternoon, I'll let you guys know how I did! :)

[JPnyc]

Be yourself, that's the secret. Interviews are what get me jobs. My resume bites. Just be yourself, be personable but professional, fun and flexible, but not flighty. That's my best advice.

[morea]

Be yourself
but not flighty
^ I'll figure this out, eventually. LOL! :D


I have a lot more confidence in both myself AND my portfolio this time than last go round, and I also have the advantage of not being desperate for a job yet.

I studied up on the company, wrote a list of questions I want to go over in the interview, and printed out directions to the office and put them with my portfolio and other paperwork.

I feel prepared, and that's what's important. I usually interview pretty well, it's just a matter of hitting the proper dynamic with the interviewer.

[JPnyc]

Yeah that's true. There were 2 interviews that I knew were flops the moment I walked in because I instantly pegged the interviewer as a complete excretive orifice. There was no WAY i was going to relate to this humanoid.

[cjoe]

Good luck!

[morea]

I instantly pegged the interviewer as a complete excretive orifice.

lmao! How wonderfully descriptive! :D

[Ned]

Be yourself, that's the secret.

This might work for Morea, but it wouldn't be a good idea for me... :rolleyes:

[morea]

lol @ Ned!

there, there. We love you just the way you are. (((HUG)))

[JPnyc]

Have ya ever just walked into a room, taken one look at someone and felt INSTANT dislike for them? One of the 2 was one of those guys with the shirt collar wide open and OUTSIDE his jacket collar (this was the mid 80s, not the 70s), jewelry, loud colored clothes and talked like a californian used car salesman. That whole "So what makes you a good salesman, babe?" thing. Good thing I hadn't eaten.

The other was a polar opposite. 3 piece suit (in 2001), everything including the collar and the tie too snug, round glasses, and anal retentive in the extreme. Also knew DIDDLY of a technical nature, and this was a technical position I was interviewing for. But hey, that's only 2 out of a lifetime.

[Neballer]

good luck morea. :D

[Tyger]

Knock'em dead! well at least not until you get the job :)

[orkaknos12]

Have Fun, Morea! Make sure your sketchbook opens! :) the amount of times I've waitied for people to open their complicated portfolio contraptions... Best of luck!

-Jon

[senjula]

Good Luck today!!!:)

[greyghost]

Good luck Morea! I am sure you will do fine. :)

[YNOT]

Yeah...good luck to you!!! I'm sure you will do fine!

[TheBluePanda]

If you act like this cat, they will give you the job on the spot!

http://www.big.or.jp/~misako/jousetsu/sample/soft/anime/cat.GIF

Good luck! :)

[reuber1]

Good luck morea.

[Mynock]

Good skill.

[balou]

Sending good vibes your way!

[morea]

I love you guys. :D

[Logo-Mechanix]

Good Luck Morea, your a shoe in.

[G-Man79]

Git-r-done, Mo!

Make sure you put Kool down as one of your references. I'm sure he'll say nice things about you. ;)

[morea]

my plan is thus:

first, shall I go to the casbah.

next, I shall proceed to rock the casbah.

My hope is that a successful rocking will result in a new and better working environment. :D

[danedawg99]

Rock the Casbah! Rock the Casbah!
Good luck, Mo. Not that you'll need it! :D

[rickself]

Happy cat dance coming your way!

[JPnyc]

Well from your descriptions of your last job, M, I would say BETTER working environment is pretty much a certainty, I mean unless you land a job in Siberia.

[Satchel]

g'luck Mo... we're all pulling for ya!

[Ned]

So, did you get it yet, Morea? Oh yeah... you said AFTERNOON! Sorry, too impatient. We're excited for you! :)

[EC]

I'm a little late, but hey it's still 8:14am way up here. Good luck morea! :)

[uncle carbunkle]

the only difference between nervousness and excitement is fear.

don't be scared.

[morea]

thanks guys. Good point, unc!

I wasn't really nervous after all. It was kind of interesting... it was the first time I've been interviewed by a woman. Also the first time I've ever been interviewed by someone who (I think) is younger than me.

I feel that I am 100% capable of doing that job, and it sounds like a good company. It's a good distance to drive, easy to find, looks like they offer nice benefits.
I think that I did a good job of recounting the progress I have made in my career and my goals for the near future. I think that I was open, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, and I was happy with my portfolio.

It went fine overall, though I honestly have no idea if it will result in an offer or not. I hate it that I can't read people's minds, lol.

[JPnyc]

Well sounds like it went ok to me.

[Navian]

Follow up with a good thank you letter, and send it asap. :)

Most people forget about the thank you letter. I personaly find it important.

1) It will be a personal and genuine thank you.
2) It will also give a good lasting impression and a reminder to them about you and how you can contribute to there company in the position you interviewed for.

It helps to move your name/resume up to the top of the pile. ;)

:crosses fingers:

[morea]

I'm printing it now. ;)

[JPnyc]

Sounds like a decent idea, although I've never done it. I would worry just a bit about appearing too over-anxious.

[morea]

nah, I always send thank yous... most people appreciate that gesture... they just don't really care for being stalked. (From what I've been told, lol.)

I shall send my thank you letter with a $20 stapled to it, for further consideration. :p

[TheBluePanda]

Follow up with a good thank you letter, and send it asap. :)


Yes indeed, in fact its often considered a good idea to hand the interviewer a thank-you letter during the interview. :D

Sounds like you did awesome Mo, all we can do now is cross our fingers! :)

[Navian]

When I get an interview (in the morning or early afternoon), I have one already to be sent (stamped ect.), I'll find a post office box to drop it in after I walk out or when I'm driving back from the interview., so they get it that day or following day (aka follow up / thank you).

Being over anxious, would be like: buying them a lunch or a gift card ect..

Thank you letters are like a handwritten letter from a friend/family member. Its geniune, and professional.

Besides everyone likes a letter addressed to them (its like christmas), especially when its a positive letter.

[JPnyc]

Oh. Then I guess giving them my sister's phone number was a bad idea.

[Kool]

Yes indeed, in fact its often considered a good idea to hand the interviewer a thank-you letter during the interview. :D

Really? I've never heard of that. I always thought of the thank you letter as serving two purposes; first to of course say thank you, and second to bring you back into the front of the interviewer's mind a few days later. It should be personal and if possible reference aspects of the interview itself.

[Navian]

Depends, did you attach a photo with the number? ;)

[JPnyc]

Well it would be kinda tough to do, as I am an only child. Is that a problem, ya think? :)

[morea]

Really? I've never heard of that. I always thought of the thank you letter as serving two purposes; first to of course say thank you, and second to bring you back into the front of the interviewer's mind a few days later. It should be personal and if possible reference aspects of the interview itself.

that's what I do too. Same reasons.

[TheBluePanda]

Really? I've never heard of that. I always thought of the thank you letter as serving two purposes; first to of course say thank you, and second to bring you back into the front of the interviewer's mind a few days later. It should be personal and if possible reference aspects of the interview itself.

Erm.. I was being silly. :) I wouldnt ever stop the interview to give them the followup letter. :D

[morea]

some people DO bring one though and leave it with the receptionist (or whoever) on their way out.

I like to mail mine, so it reinforces who I am after a couple days.

[Navian]

Well it would be kinda tough to do, as I am an only child. Is that a problem, ya think? :)

Well it could pose a problem.

[JPnyc]

Guess sending an email makes me look lazy, eh? Well it's probably for the best. Why set up false expectations that I'll fail to live up to, should they hire me.

[Kool]

Doh! you need to use the winky smiley then Panda :D

[JPnyc]

On the last 2 jobs that I got I didn't send anything. In fact there wasn't even time to do so. They either called or emailed with the offer of the job within a week of the interview.

[morea]

well quit being so charming, damn it. You're making the rest of us look bad.

;)

[JPnyc]

Charming my butt, I bribed em silly

[Navian]

Charming my butt, I bribed em silly

Is that why you attached the $50 to your resume? lol

[JPnyc]

HA~! That ain't no bribe in NYC, that's a tip. :D I just attached my savings acct. info.

[Navian]

HA~! That ain't no bribe in NYC, that's a tip. :D I just attached my savings acct. info.

And what was that info again? :p

[JPnyc]

Dunno, he changed the password, the bastage.

[jena4]

Ah...Now I'm feeling bad, because I just had an interview a week ago and sent no thank you. I have in the past and was so swamped I didn't get to it. I know, no excuse. Then on top of that, I left my coat there and e-mailed to find out what their office hours were so I could have someone pick it up! Now that makes me seem a little scatter brained huh? AHH!! Seems like you (I) always mess up on the ones that matter. My job now, I thought the interview went horribly, but did send a thank you and got the job. We'll see what happens. Morea- hope you get the job. Haven't heard much about the job you have now, but sounds like it sucks and I know it's no fun to be in a bad work situation.

[morea]

it was a no-fun job, and I got laid off a month ago (the company wasn't making money and several of us were 'let go').

If you are still interested in the job, a week really isn't too long to wait to send the thank you, it wouldn't hurt anyway.

And don't be too hard on yourself - interviewing is really stressful, and I am sure that the others understand a little bit of "scatter brainedness". ;)

[jena4]

I guess a week isn't that long, but now I would feel like I'm harassing them after the whole coat incident. Wouldn't want to give out the stalker image you were talking about. :) Or seem over desperate. Hope you get that job. Getting laid off doesn't sound like fun.

[JPnyc]

I was laid off a month after 9/11 and it was quite a shocker, even though we all knew it was coming. Can't pay people if you're not making any money, and we weren't. But i went back to school and got into an entirely different profession. Worked out pretty well, so far.

[flutterby nut]

I shall send my thank you letter with a $20 stapled to it, for further consideration. :p

please cc a letter to me too (with the $20 attached)...please note: carbon copies of $20 bills will not be accepted! :D

[danedawg99]

yeah, the job i'm at now, I was gonna send a thank you, but, I forgot the name of one of my interviewers!(there were two) but, before I got the chance to call nd find it out, I got a call from them (ironically, from the guy I couldn't remember the name of) offering me the job.

My thank you's must suck, tho... it seems the jobs i send one to, don't hire me; and the ones i don't send one to, do hire me. wierd... :D

[reuber1]

it was a no-fun job, and I got laid off a month ago (the company wasn't making money and several of us were 'let go').

If you are still interested in the job, a week really isn't too long to wait to send the thank you, it wouldn't hurt anyway.

And don't be too hard on yourself - interviewing is really stressful, and I am sure that the others understand a little bit of "scatter brainedness". ;)Huh huh, you said "laid".

Huh huh, you said "hard on."

[balou]

Huh huh, you said "laid".

Huh huh, you said "hard on."

Bevis or Butthead?

[1ooScreamingTrees]

Heh JP - I thought sending a thank you was viewed of as virtually mandatory until I read your comments.

On a side note...I was reading a book the other day that talked about how the most common mistake designers make in interviews is "showing their portfolio to themselves, rather than the interviewer." You'd be amazed how many designers go in there and oggle their work as it faces them, rather than the person(s) they are speaking with.

[JPnyc]

Maybe it is, I really dunno. I was never that good at the whole process, I mean going by the book. I dunno how I get jobs, but somehow I do. It has to be the bribery.

[jena4]

I think you can go by the book as much as you want, but really it just depends on the interviewer. I know that I've interviewed people before and really thought someone was right for the job. Just because I wasn't sent a thank-you, I didn't count them out. Some interviewers may care more about it than others. I think it's really just personal preference so I'm not sure there's a right answer. I was promoted 3 times in 5 years at one job then left and went somewhere else. Ended up answering the phone most of the day so I left there and moved on. My boss where I am now thought it was great that I had so much experience and was impressed that my previous employers had such faith in my work. Now, I've interviewed elsewhere and they question why I've had so many jobs. All personal preference and how people view things. But I wonder, if you do want to go by the books and your interview is a two-interview process, when do you send the thank you? After the first interview or hope you get a second, and send it then? Doesn't seem like you'd want to send one after each.

[1ooScreamingTrees]

Short'n'sweet E-mail after the first, formal card/letter after the second!