How do you prep for an interview?

Good luck!

Just got a call from a research company to come in and talk about running a few big projects. Timely thread.

I personally prepare by researching the company and position, and prep by thinking about possible generic questions and coming up with scenarios to recall from past employment I've held. Most job interviews I've done are of the "tell me a time when you..." variety, which really is a poor way of interviewing but whatever.

I've found that being prepared is best for me - and I'm sure the opposite is true for some. There's a fine line between preparing and coming across as disingenuous, just as there is a fine line between appearing "genuine and off-the-cuff" and just looking unprepared.

z31maniac wrote: One that I always ask that has stumped every interviewer in every job I've received is along the lines of: "What objectives will be used to measure my performance/competency, etc etc" Essentially, how are you going to determine I'm doing good for performance reviews, ie, $$$$

The version of that that I taught my daughter to ask is "How does the company evaluate employees to make sure that they are more valuable every year".

It can be phrased in many ways, but I always maintained that if my guys are not more skilled and experienced at the end of each year, then I am not doing my job as a manager.

And you are right, seldom is the employer ready to answer this one. Good way to become memorable.

NOHOME wrote:

z31maniac wrote: One that I always ask that has stumped every interviewer in every job I've received is along the lines of: "What objectives will be used to measure my performance/competency, etc etc" Essentially, how are you going to determine I'm doing good for performance reviews, ie, $$$$

The version of that that I taught my daughter to ask is "How does the company evaluate employees to make sure that they are more valuable every year". It can be phrased in many ways, but I always maintained that if my guys are not more skilled and experienced at the end of each year, then I am not doing my job as a manager. And you are right, seldom is the employer ready to answer this one. Good way to become memorable.

Yeah, z31maniac nailed it! The response was something along the lines of "Wow, very good question, not sure how to answer that."

Think it went very well overall, I feel that I answered all the questions well and got a good vibe from the interviewers. They're a healthy company, they're growing, and my inkling that this would be a great fit was only confirmed. Should know by the end of the week whether I make the cut and where we go from there.

Good luck!

Fingers crossed for ya. Hope to raise a celebratory glass by week's end.

Course I can do "Commiserate with a beer" just as well if need be.

Forgot to post the update, but found out friday: no dice

Really had my hopes up, so it was pretty disappointing at first, but in circumspect I'm actually pretty pleased with myself. They mentioned 6 other people had interviewed, 2 or 3 of which had MBAs, knew I was light on experience, and yet I still got the distinct sense I was right up there in the running. So it's actually been pretty confidence inspiring and good experience if nothing else.

In reply to Furious_E:

Excellent!

Gods experience for the next (better) job interview!!