Selling yourself in an interview

[mikester]

I hate it when engineers won't call for help. I never had problem saying I don't know and I have always been up front with where I am weak as well as where I feel I am strong.

[jkarolyi]

>I personally don't say "sir" and never did... if i was hiring and a candidate was like "sir" this and "sir" that, i would find that very annoying.

I think this has something to do with the area of the country where you interview. I sell my technology consulting services to corporate managers all over the country, so I am "interviewed" several times a month.

I would never say "sir" or "ma'am" to an interviewer in New York or California, where such formalities are considered annoying. But in the southeast and Texas (where I think Lube is from), it's considered polite and respectful and might even score you some points.

[legion]

I view job interviews as a two-way street. Not only is the company trying to get a handle on me, but I'm trying to get a handle on them. I know if they are trying to determine if I will fit in with the corporate culture, but I'm always mindful of if I would enjoy working at the company. It's always been my attitude to present myself exactly as I am, so that they can determine if I am a good fit. I also try to draw my own conclusion. I figure that there is no experience more miserable than working for a company that you really don't fit in with.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by island911
BS or not...

When I interview people (well, not really "people", but engineers ) I give them "test questions."

The one's who try to BS me do NOT get the job. The ones who can easily say "I don't know" I like. ...it's the worst having BS'ers selling you how their end of a project is moving fwd --not. Or, when they believe some half-baked sol'n can be sold as good enough...

it is interesting, who here sees their job as producing BS. . ...but at least they look sincere.

I agree, good employees produce good results, are honest with their project assessments, don't skirt around issues and don't give you half-baked answers.
When you don't know something, it's best to say that you don't than to try and BS some half-concocted story to make yourself sound good.

being straightforward and honest are good qualities. I've worked with employees that were allowed to work on failing projects for a lot more time than they should have, due to bad management.

[M.D. Holloway]

Supe - you blew my punchline (sorta). The close is as important as any other aspect of the interview fer sure. I will get into that in a bit.

As afar as calling someone sir or ma'am, I think it is a Southern thing and also a military thing. I spent the past two days in Brooklyn and Queens NY. We called on many construction companies, carting companies, trash haulers and even a few factories. I have a strong northeastern accent that gets even tigher when I am in the NE for more than 20 minutes. These guys all knew I grew up in CT but now live in Texas. They are also as rough a guy as you will meet and give Tony Soprano a run. For real! I refered to each guy I met and worked with as sir. Not once did I get any grief in fact we had a fantastic run - best yet! If you are straight up, don't BS and treat a man(or woman) with respect and dignity and do the same for others under him, they become yours.

[911Rob]

Love to help you out.... and good luck!

My weakpoints?
Well, I'm a work-aholic and perfectionist.

Go out and find the best job you could imagine and then offer the president a Free 2 week trial....... he's not totally happy with your work after 2 weeks, its free and good-bye. If he is happy, then you stay on.

I've always found work for the workers in life, they're few are far between.

Good Luck

[M.D. Holloway]

Now - getting back to the interview. Say you have done a fairly good job up to this point. You and the interveiwer have exchanged questions and answers. Now comes the close? Not yet grasshopper...now comes the sell!

The busy work is done now it is time for you to lay out the cards and take some control over the interview. This will provide you some additional info but also should show this guy that you are focused and driven and are here to get the job.

Forst off, hopefully you have taken good notes up till now. Hopefully they wrer on important things, not benefits or vacation. That is not neogotable and all compnaies are pretty much the same these days anyway so who the ***** cares. What you want to have taken notes on is the following basics:
1) What is the definition and scope of the job?
2) What are the performance requirements to do the job at peak levels?
3) What impcat does the job and your future projects have on the companies bottom line?

Now the sell - recap what you know uptill now but lay it out in a Problem/Solution format. This is what I mean. I will have to use a ficticious scenerio to convey my point.

"I certainly appriciate the chance to meet with you in person to day to discuss the opportunitiy at your company. As I undertand it, you have a need for an engineer to take on the challenge of developing a new transition magneto coupler to interface with the positron ignoblat that your partner company has developed. The challenge is to bring on board an engineer who has a through understanding of the mateiral, processes and application of interfacing such a unit and developing test and application protocols to see this through scale-up. The [roblemm as I see it is the challenge in finding such an engineer.

As you know, I have developed interface modules with the application potential for just such an application and my experience with linked abortaion induction will help speed the development cycle.

Sir, I feel strong about being part of this team and working for you on this project and future projects. I sure would like the opportunity to develop this product and help you grow this company. Have I been able to address all of your requirements to fill this post? Is there any areas that you feel I have not adequately addressed or that you feel there is a weakness?"

This is what I call the "gamble" becuase you are gambling that he will come back with a "no, everything looks great", then you close him. But, he could come back with "Well Mikester, your ability to develop modulated induction interfaces are without question fine examples of sound engineering but you do have a fundimental lack of borrated contpendium exporianus. That is something I will have to address."

"Sir, I hear what you are saying and I agree, on the surface my direction engineering experiance does lack borrated contpendium exporianus, yet I feel that my strengths in appleated jellybean indignation can more than addequately compensate and, not to mention my experience in develping a hugamawhatismas that brought my last compnaye a direct revinue stream of $4M at introduction and increases sales of 7% per quarter for 6 quarters had directborrated contpendium exporianus analogues."

"That being said, I relize yoiu have some choices to make. Sir, I want this opportunitiy and the chance to continue to prove and improve. When would the start date be?"

Kinda ballzy but if you were respectfull and confident going in and during then it's time to lift the skirt and get to the goods. If the guy gets turned off by you being aggresive to ask for the job using this slightly unconventional way, he is a puss and will be a puss manager not worth yur time nor energy.

[mikester]

I appreciate all the feedback and I'll keep you posted.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by mikester
I appreciate all the feedback and I'll keep you posted.

Thats it? Man, I feel like it's Firday night after I had to pleasure her in the ways of the french and I'm left with 4 minutes to 'get'r done'...



Wheres the luv? I need the constant reaffirmation that I have brought you through the vast tangles of obtaining sustainance and finding self-worth.

not even a reach around...

[mikester]

Lubie...sorry man - I treasure your input more than the rub of my underwear....well...maybe about the same really.

It was very helpful though; I've been doing a lot of thinking about it and reading up on the things the first tech fellow advised me to read up on.

[M.D. Holloway]

OK then, I feel validated and valuable. It isn't everyday a guy is compared to chafing with affection.

Seriously - I hope that you land the job you like.

[Westy]

FYI, nobody (well, almnost nobody) likes a kiss a$$. You really do have to watch the 'Sirs' and 'Maams'. I've gotten every job I've interviewed for in the last twenty years. As previously stated, you would be surprised how many interviewees have little or no knowledge of the company. Homework does wonders.

If you're nervous, I can't help you. I love the stage and am eager to talk with any prospective employer.

Closing is the most important IMHO. I have a patent close that I have shared with a few close friends, and they have gotten the job. I think when all is said and done, the panel only remembers the close. Everyone pretty much says the same thing in an interview, but VERY FEW people close. It's a twenty second investment into your future. I memorize it, and when the time comes, it seems to flow from my heart. If nothing else, trust me on the close. It's the professional end to an interview.

[mikester]

So westy - are you going to share the close or leave me hanging?

[Westy]

PM sent

[M.D. Holloway]

Thats just wrong westy - we could all do the PM gig but it really goes agenst the spirit of the OT.

Your better than that...share or don't voice. It ain't cool to keep in tight...

[EdT82SC]

I am not even looking for a job right now, but I still want to thank everyone for the great advice. I'm sure I will use a lot of the stuff here in the future.

[Fishcop]

I'm with Island...

When I hire, I need to know if they can actually do the job - so they get a skills test. When they pass that, then I can get on with working out if I like 'em, and if they'll fit into the team.

Anyone can talk the talk, I need them to walk the walk... When I'm satisfied with that aspect, then comes the personality grillin'

[Westy]

Lube,,,,, I thought everyone else already had a job and I was just tryin' to help Mikester. I'ver already deleted my PM, maybe he can post it up if he still has it. Sorry

[mikester]

Westy, I actually do have a job right now...this is just an opportunity that has come up.

-quote westy

It always helps if the panel had name tags in front of them. Otherwise you need to try and remember their names. The caveat is that while you're trying to memorize names you could be missing your own interview, so be careful there. Also, remember that what works for one person might not work for another. The close can always be modified to fit ones personality. That being said, it goes something like this.

At the end of the interview someone on the panel will ask if you have anything you would like to add. This is the standard way of telling you that the interview is over, what do you have to say? You need to tell them you're the best without getting cocky. DON'T RUSH THROUGH THIS. TAKE YOUR TIME. IF YOU ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GET OUT OF THERE, THEY WILL SENSE IT. TAKE A BIG BREATH AND EXHALE SLOWLY.

****I would like to thank the panel for the time afforded me in this interview (your stare wanders,,,don't afix eye contact on one person). I realize I have only had a short amount of time to impress upon you my qualifications and desire for this position and I hope I've acomplished this to your satisfaction That being said, if there is nothing else from the panel I would like to personally thank each of you.

(stand up)

Mr. Jones - handshake
Ms. Smith - handshake
Mr. Green - handshake

They should then say, 'thank you, and we'll let you know', but they need to excuse you. Don't just turn and walk away.

I'm telling you, this is 20 seconds, but is impressive. I've sat on so many orals, everyone saying the same thing. You have to stand out. Memorize this and practice it with friends and/or family. It might be uncomfortable, but if you can't do this in front of friends, why would you think you could do it in front of strangers. If I had 10 people, all of similar qualifications,,,,this one gets my vote.

Good luck,,,,Brian W

--end quote westy

Again, I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of the help fellas. Up until recently I had gotten every job I wanted without much effort.

[Westy]

Thanx Mikester