MetaChat - I haz interview!

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11 January 2008

I haz interview! Hurrah. Sent off a resume/cover letter/clips at noon yesterday, and they called me at 4 to set up an interview.→[More:]

You know when you read a personal ad, whether you're on the market or not, and every single point just makes it seem like that person is made for you? That's the way this job ad was.

-- They're looking for someone with my exact skill set (though they asked for 3 years' experience and I have ten years on top of that).
-- They want someone who can deal with legislators, and I used to work for the Texas House of Reps.
-- It's a foundation/nonprofit that does educational work on a subject I'm really interested in.
-- It pays really well and has benefits, so I could abandon the life of the poor freelancer.

Oh man, I really want this job. Interview's on Monday. I have the weekend to figure out how to wow them.

Favored interview tips accepted here.

post by: mudpuppie at: 13:04 | 29 comments

Nice. Quick responses are gratifying.

posted by mullacc 11 January | 13:06

Yes! It almost certainly means that they saw my qualifications, loved my articles, and had to call me RIGHT AWAY before I accepted another job or anything.

Either that, or they were about to close the position and I got in just under the wire. (No closing date posted, and they put it on CL the week before xmas. Weird timing on their part.)

posted by mudpuppie 11 January | 13:11

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by essexjan 11 January | 13:16

Yay! Yay yay yay!

I have no favored interview tips. I tend to find that I get jobs from bosses who like to talk a lot, because I am a good listener, and don't get jobs from bosses who like to listen a lot, because I'm not always a very talkative interviewee.

Which I figure is a good thing, since I'm not generally a very talkative employee, either.

So, I guess my interview tip is: Get interviewed by someone who likes you. :-)

posted by occhiblu 11 January | 13:21

Good luck mup. I'll cross stuff on your behalf!

posted by richat 11 January | 13:22

I dunno. A girlfriend and now a job.

We'll NEVER see you now!

posted by danf 11 January | 13:24

WooHoo and goodluck kid!

posted by arse_hat 11 January | 13:26

That's really exciting. Congratulations.

WRT favored interview tips, my experience being on my hiring committee is that the candidates who are most prepared while simultaneously being most relaxed are the ones who make the best impression. For us at least, when we ask why people want to work for us, we're looking for a thoughtful answer, not a generic "I love the work you guys do" kind of answer. Eschew alcohol but drink lots of water the night before, get plenty of rest, make sure your clothes not only look good on you but are comfortable, wake up early enough that you're wide awake and thinking for the interview, and remember that they like what they've seen of your work so much, they want to talk to you in person. It's a great confidence booster.

But I suspect you already know all of this. :) The very best of luck to you.

posted by Lassie 11 January | 13:28

Yay pup!

Oh, right, interview tips. Uh, if you bring beer to the interview, be sure that it's something decent (no Schmidt), and always offer your interviewer the first bottle.

posted by bmarkey 11 January | 13:29

Congrats! When that happened to me (faxed over resume at 10, called for interview by 1), the interviewer spent all of her time trying to convince me to work for them. She hardly asked me any questions about my experience or anything. I know you'll do great!

posted by rhapsodie 11 January | 13:36

Best wishes for a good interview - And, just say everything you said in your post (more formally, of course) and you should do well!

posted by mightshould 11 January | 13:37

Sounds very promising - go get em!

posted by rainbaby 11 January | 13:43

Awesome on the quick response. Good luck & let us know what happens!

posted by chewatadistance 11 January | 13:46

Everything's coming up mudpuppie! Good luck, my friend. Remember: They want to like you. I had a director give me that advice when I had a touch of stage fright once and I've found that it applies in a zillion situations, including job interviews. They want to like you.

posted by jrossi4r 11 January | 13:58

Congrats, pup! I'll send you good vibes, but I've never had a job interview in my life, so I don't have any tips for you.

posted by gaspode 11 January | 13:58

Fantastic! Yay, go mudpuppie! Oh, and lassie's tips are good; I have nothing to add except wear nice underwear because it always makes me feel weirdly more confident.

posted by mygothlaundry 11 January | 13:59

You feel more confident when mudpuppie wears nice underwear? No wonder you feel weird about that. :-)

posted by occhiblu 11 January | 14:11

Yay pupps!!! Good luck!

posted by BoringPostcards 11 January | 14:18

Keeping my fingers crossed for you, mups!

posted by deborah 11 January | 14:22

Listen to jrossi: they do want to like you, or they wouldn't have leapt on you so quickly.

Let's hope you like them too! Nothing like RECIPROCAL ENTHUSIASM!

posted by tangerine 11 January | 14:31

My advice to you is to avoid babbling on about somno-gallus chicken therapy. Despite the fact that you are the world's leading expert on said technique, I doubt it will help land this job.

posted by deadcowdan 11 January | 14:52

Goooood luck!

posted by Miko 11 January | 14:56

Like rhapsodie said, sounds like you'll have to work to tank the interview. Good luck!

My all-time tips:
-It's like picking up a girl (or guy). Try to ask questions and get them talking. I could write a book on why this works.
-Answer quickly. Have enough professional anecdotes that you can answer any "describe a time when..." question without thinking. (These questions are generally common situations on the job, so the faster you can reply the more experience it looks like you have.)
-Your weakness should be an actual weakness. Talk about how you overcome it. That's the point.

posted by pokermonk 11 January | 16:32

Break a leg, dear!!!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 11 January | 17:06

Well done! You'll ace the 'view.

(No tips from me because I am a stranger to the world of work.)

posted by chrismear 11 January | 17:32

Since it's on a Monday, be alert but relaxed and let the interviewer set the tone.

i take it you are buying the next round, miss gainful employee.

posted by ethylene 11 January | 18:32

Congrats, mudpupster! You'll impress the hell out of them. I know it.

Tips? Well, judging by one guy I didn't hire, don't complain for twenty minutes about what an idiot your last boss was, and don't perform a simulation of the various duties you disliked most about that job. Also, shower. I have a feeling you don't need to be reminded of any of those things, though.

posted by elizard 11 January | 18:51

You'll do just fine pups! I'll keep every appendage crossed.

posted by ramix 11 January | 20:16

YAY!

posted by sperose 12 January | 18:14

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