Interview on Friday

[2000Z-71]

Well i passed the phone interview yesterday and I've got a face to face interview on Friday. After a year of unemployment with very few opportunities, it feels like a major victory just getting an interview. It's bacically starting over again in a completely new career field. I'd be taking a 60% reduction in pay from what I made last year, but tuition for an MBA is 100% covered so that helps to offset it.

I'm looking forward to it and very positive. On one hand it does feel like I'm turning my back on what has been a 15 year career in Architecture. On the other hand there isn't exactly a demand for design or construction services right now and the forecasts for the next couple of years don't look good either. It is a good opportunity to ride out the current storm, get my MBA and either stay in the new field or return to design and construction with more skills.

 

[BarbC]

It does sound like an exciting new opportunity!

 

[bellevance]

Best of luck to you!

 

[11B Lifer]

Better to have a job while looking for another. And if they will send you to school (or pay for it) that's pretty plush!

 

[PALADIN85020]

Good luck! As a former HR executive, I'll offer just two pieces of advice for the interview:

1. Emphasize your achievements in your past work history. I.e, have you saved your former employers money, have you increased sales, what have you contributed that was above and beyond the ordinary?

2. Make 'em believe that this is the job you've always wanted. Enthusiasm for the company counts for a lot. Prepare by finding out about the company and what it does.

John

 

[tops]

I wish you good luck. Larry

 

[29aholic]

Good luck
I know how careers can change. I spent almost 20 years in gun shops, but couldnt make any money working for someone else. towards the end of that career I decide to go to college (at 30). Got a Master's of Accountancy and worked in that field for about 5 years during which I passed both the Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Fraud Examiner exams. I worked as an Internal Auditor for the company I work for now for 4 years. My job was checking up on hotels within our company. I spent over 300 days a year on the road in a hotel room. Got burnt out with that so I took a Head of Maintenance job at one of the properties, which I am going on 4 years now.

 

[bmhiii]

.....

1. Emphasize your achievements in your past work history. I.e, have you saved your former employers money, have you increased sales, what have you contributed that was above and beyond the ordinary?

2. Make 'em believe that this is the job you've always wanted. Enthusiasm for the company counts for a lot. Prepare by finding out about the company and what it does.

John

Excellent advice. I also try and identify with the interviewer by maybe asking them a question about themselves. Look around their office for hints. Or ask them about their career at the company. People love to talk about themselves.

John, please correct me if this is bad advice....

Good luck on the interview!

 

[PALADIN85020]

Excellent advice. I also try and identify with the interviewer by maybe asking them a question about themselves. Look around their office for hints. Or ask them about their career at the company. People love to talk about themselves.

John, please correct me if this is bad advice....

Good luck on the interview!

Barry, that's certainly good if not overdone. Small talk to begin with is fine, but anything too extensive might be perceived as sucking up - definitely NOT a good thing.

John

 

[Farmer17]

I'm in the construction industry and our area is supposed to have one of the best local economies in the nation, but if that's the case I'd sure hate to see the worst. The last two years have been terrible for me but things seem to be doing better lately, and if you can get ANY kind of a job I would say "go for it" since it will be a while before construction and architecture will be a lucrative career.

 

[Vegetaman]

Good luck. I got my bachelor of science degree in May and am still unemployed. A few interviews, but nothing seems to pan out. I just need experience and am not even worried about the pay that much.

Best of luck to you, sir.

 

[DeathGrip]

Go for it.You'll never know 'til you try.Best of luck to you.

D.G.

 

[OLDFED]

IMHO, Paladin nailed it! I once interviewed a job seeker who after telling me how great he was, said: "So, what do you guys do here?" Needless to say, Mr. Nonprepared didn't get the job.

 

[Forester]

Good luck!

 

[bmhiii]

Barry, that's certainly good if not overdone. Small talk to begin with is fine, but anything too extensive might be perceived as sucking up - definitely NOT a good thing.

John

John,

Very much agree with you. Thanks for the fine tuning....

 

[VM]

Good Luck with your interview Z-71!

Don't eat any garlic bagels for breakfast

 

[fanocool]

Good for you let us know how it goes, we will be pulling for ya

fanocool

 

[MO_mule]

2000Z-71:

It's almost Friday! Best of luck and let us know how things go.

Chris

 

[scoutsdad]

My last job I interviewed with the GM who's wife volunteered at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, where I was a docent. We never talked about the job position and I was hired on the spot. Positive volunteer activity is a plus for every resume and interview.

I applied for a job once where I had to speak to an agency, where I was interviewed, background checked and computer proficiency tested. The program used for the test was really wacked out. I spent the whole time reconfiguring the software program. When I asked if I could take the test again after I fixed it, I was told that I passed the bigger test. Go figure.

 

[bellevance]

Kindly tell us the story when you get a chance, 2000Z.

Hope they realized they have to have you!