Friday Five-Interviews

"Songbird just had an interview for a "vague and interesting" possibility, and More Cows than People is doing campus visits for doctoral programs. There always seem to be a few RevGals applying for new positions, and I just got my first call for this year's preliminary interviews for college teaching jobs at the American Academy of Religion meeting in San Diego coming up in a few weeks. It's for my dream job among this year's offerings, and I am flipflopping between excitement and nervousness. So please keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for everyone facing such conversations, and share your thoughts on the wonderful world of interviews:"

This is a topic near and dear to my heart because I've been on a lot of interviews, I've done a lot of interviews and I'm a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in my current gig, so some of my staff teach people how to interview. dress for interviews, answer those tricky questions like "have you ever been arrested. (actually that's illegal.)

1. What was the most memorable interview you ever had? Probably the interview for my current job. It was a promotion.
I was hating my job and this had come up at just the right time. It was supervising a unit of counselors like the unit I was in, in a different office. My supervisor at the time was an unkind person. The interview committee-yes you heard that right was 7 people as I recall. They had a written list of questions and when they asked about something, I talked about how I acquired my disability and started crying-not sobbing, just verklempt. I got the job anyhow. I really wanted that job! And I really like it!

2. Have you ever been the interviewer rather than the interviewee? If so, are you a tiger, a creampuff, or somewhere in between?
Often, in different settings. And I'm usually either a creampuff or somewhere in between. I worked for NOW NYC as Development Director before grad. school. One of my jobs was to supervise the phone bank. Phone banks, I've noticed, attract an edgy group of people. This one was no different. I should have been tougher and asked more questions, but hindsight is 20/20.I hired a guy who later turned out to be Hedda Lettuce the local drag queen. I had to fire him and his parting shot was to call me a fat bitch. I thought I was kind of svelt at the time!

3. Do phone interviews make you more or less nervous than in-person ones?
Never had one.

4. What was the best advice you ever got to prepare for an interview? How about the worst?
My advice to you. Be on time! Be yourself. Be prepared and well rested. Make sure there are no typos on you c.v. or resume. Ask the interviewers what about this company (or whatever) would make you want to work there. (I used this at my current job and it worked well) Know a good joke but don't tell it unless asked (and I have been asked, really.)

5. Do you have any pre-interview rituals that give you confidence?
No

Good luck!