Fellas, what are some do's and don't's when interviewing for a position? What should I do to prepare myself and what would give me the upper hand. I return statside in a couple weeks (yes, my stint in the Corps is officially over...damn) and I'm trying to get in where I fit in. The last interview I did was when that damn recruiter asked me if I'd ever smoked weed or if I'd thought about having sexual relations with farm animals(none of which I'd admitted to :-D), so that's the last interview that I'd have. Any pointers?
Devil Dog,
Good question. My first 'do' is relax and gauge them. I've found in my experience that if the interview is conducted in a stiff up-themselves attitude - then avoid the company....it's likely the entire company is the same way...I know from experience. You could find yourself with the job from hell.....and leave first chance you get.
In fact, I've done best going to an interview not giving a toss whether I got the job or not, and having some good informal conversation with the interviewers. If they are relaxed and friendly, good chance the company atmosphere is the same. And if the money and benefits match up with your requirements, you'll likely be happy there. I'm sure others will chip in with advice....and good luck and enjoy being a civilian. By the way - I'm a Waipahu boy (one of two haoles at Waipahu HS - the other got stabbed - Marine boot camp was a summer vacation compared to Waipahu) and Hawaii is part of the US. You're going to the mainland....not stateside.
Semper Fi!
Do a little research on the company you're interviewing with, much like you've done here on the site. If they have a web site, familiarize yourself with it, and learn things like how big the company is, do they have multiple locations/sites/offices, how long have they been in business, etc...
Be on time for the appointment (5-10 minutes early is always good), wear a decent suit (the $150 model from J.C. Penney is fine), shine your shoes (like I have to tell you to do that!), and make sure your vehicle is cleaned out- I've seen instances where they like you and say "Let's go to lunch- you drive..." and they check out your car. Apparently there's a theory that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at how they maintain their vehicle. I know it's silly as hell; I'm just telling you what I've seen...
Ask some questions; in your own mind, you're interviewing them to see if you want to work there. What are the shift hours? Is there any overtime? What's their turnover rate? If they're a contract lab, how much time is left on their contract? Is there good upward mobility in the company? Did the president grow up on the bench, or are they a Harvard Business School graduate? What was the average percentage of increase in salary raises last year? Is there any shift differential in terms of pay? Who runs the snack bar? Is there a company softball team? Do they have company parties, picnics, group outings to special events?
All the answers are gauged to answer some basic questions: does this company take care of their people and their customers? Will they be around for a while, or fold under pressure? Am I going to work for them for 20 years or bolt at the first opportunity?
Something else to consider: it's relatively early in your career. You may not want a 20-year gig in one location right now. I know guys who have taken opportunities all over the world, either to try something new or make some more money, and then they settle down in a place they ultimately want to stay in and raise their family. When you settle down is up to you, of course. It's taken me 17 years to settle in to a permanent position since I got out... ...and what will I end up doing in my new role? Reliability engineering and running the calibration lab for a pharmaceutical company. I guess in one way or another we all migrate back towards our roots somehow...
OK, good luck, and let us know how it goes!
Quote from: clacoste on 12-14-2005 -- 04:45:38
Devil Dog,
Good question. My first 'do' is relax and gauge them. I've found in my experience that if the interview is conducted in a stiff up-themselves attitude - then avoid the company....it's likely the entire company is the same way...I know from experience. You could find yourself with the job from hell.....and leave first chance you get.
In fact, I've done best going to an interview not giving a toss whether I got the job or not, and having some good informal conversation with the interviewers. If they are relaxed and friendly, good chance the company atmosphere is the same. And if the money and benefits match up with your requirements, you'll likely be happy there. I'm sure others will chip in with advice....and good luck and enjoy being a civilian. By the way - I'm a Waipahu boy (one of two haoles at Waipahu HS - the other got stabbed - Marine boot camp was a summer vacation compared to Waipahu) and Hawaii is part of the US. You're going to the mainland....not stateside. Thanks for the info, Clacoste. Up grew up here? Ah bra, what fo you da kinda? :wink: I guess i'm a little nervous, but two tears in a bucket...Yeah, I know it's "mainland", but you'll feel like its a whole different country here...Anyway, thanks for your input...by the way, I'm on terminal leave and I'm not leaving the island untilmy wife gets out on XMAS eve. She's telling me to shave, buy I'm like screw you. What do you think, oh salty-one? :mrgreen:
Semper Fi!
Good info, Doc, thanks once again. You've been super helpful since I logged on to this site. There's some angles that I didn't think about esp about going to lunch with me driving (my wife and I drives an Escalade). As far as suits go, I should maybe ditch my Uncle Leroy's organe/brown polyester, bell-bottomed suit with the butterfly collar :wink: :mrgreen:
Before I left the army, I started practicing interviews locally. It did not matter what the job was, I figured the practice could not hurt. I think it did help me. Also, work on your resume now, have it as ready as you can before you get out. And above all!!!! During one of my practice interviews, I dozed off whle they were talking to me. They were sooooo boring. DONT do that, lol they did not offer me a job either.
I'll try not to doze off, D.A... At times like that were I'm on the edge of dozing off, I just think of my grandma taking a dump. Interesting. Hummmmm......