Interview: Done
So I had the interview. I'd love to sit here and tell you that I aced it and that I have no doubts, but that would be a lie. Truth is, my anxiety disorder kicked into hyperdrive as I sat at a long table with four strangers and one almost-stranger (and a known backstabber) grilled me for forty-five minutes.
I walked into that room and was sat down at the head of the table, all eyes on me. In front of me was a printed sheet with some questions, which was a visual aid to the questions I was being asked. Unfortunately, there was no time to scan the sheet and come up with brilliant answers - I was too busy trying to answer them.
I am told off the bat that I am the third of three applicants and not to assume I had any greater or lesser chance due to my four years in the system. As a matter of fact, before I even set foot in that room I was told bluntly by the H.R. guy who prepped me that my being an internal candidate would cause the search commitee to be tougher on me. I was warned that the interview style would oftentimes be tailored to create some unease, usually by long silences after my answers. I guess this is to encourage me (and other candidates) to embellish or further dig their own graves. Thanks for the heads up.
So back to the interview, these questions are pretty open ended and look like they came out of some corporate handbook. Bullshit questions such as "How do you intend to provide excellent customer service, and please discuss excellent customer service experiences you've had in the past."
Ugh. I have to admit, that's one of the questions I got flustered on. All I could really say was: "To provide excellent customer service, I simply intend to see to my "customers" issues in a timely manner, be polite and not to talk down to them." and for my own experiences, "Uh, when people are polite to me and know what they're talking about?"
Seriously, I was not prepared for that kind of question, and it rattled my confidence considerably. It took me a few questions to fully recover, and I hope I did not do too much damage. I know I referred to myself as a "nerd" and a "geek" on a few occasions, forgetting that many people would see that as self inflamatory and not a bright use of language at a job interview. I was grasping.. to me, a geek is a positive thing, and really... only a geek SHOULD be hired for an A/V Tech position. Not that most of my interviewers really knew dick-all about tech.
I was asked about operating systems, audio equipment, video equipment, software experience (which I got cocky on and went off on a tangent about Adobe products when they clearly wanted to hear about MS Office, but I was able to recover on that one and express that yes, indeed, I have daily experience with most of the Office suite).
I was asked what I liked about working in an educational environment, and so help me.. I hope I did not come off cheesy and insincere. I was flustered on this, though I was expecting the question. I like working in the educational sector because it's more laid back (probably not the best response) and free classes (selfish, but honest reply). I had a better pre-packaged answer that I went blank on, something about how my sisters both teach and how I love learning things and helping to enable others to learn as well, etc.. but none of that came out.
Fuck, now I'm getting really nervous. I want to keep upbeat about my chances, but this fucking anxiety disorder has me scrutinizing every detail and putting my worrisome spin on them. Despite being dog tired and having both jobs tomorrow (today now, actually) I can't sleep a wink. I close my eyes and think of the beads of sweat, the involuntary "I'm sorry!"'s that I let slip every time I got flustered and stammered a bit. I see five sets of eyes fixed on me, seeing every fault and flaw. This is fucking maddening.
Blah.
I do think I ended things well enough, however.. but I do have a little doubt. At the end of the interview, as is standard, it's MY turn to ask questions. Feeling the need to score a few extra points to make up for my social awkwardness.. I decided that asking questions would show some initiative. And I wanted to play up my computer experience a little more, so I brought up an issue that has bothered me for years - the rift between Media and Network Services. Are there any plans to build some bridges between these two departments, as the seperation has caused more harm than good and has had an adverse effect on our classes. We have to use computers with out projectors, and small issues pop up all the time with these machines that are usually simple in nature and easy to fix ... but I am not allowed to do anything about it. We usually have to put in a work order and wait a week or more for any movement, meanwhile we're short more equipment that is in high demand.
I wish I could remember the exact wording I used, but for once in my life I put it delicately, succinctly, yet stern. Some of my interviewers who looked bored and unimpressed through most of the meeting perked up at this and all eyes turned to the head of department Faith (the known backstabber) and a conversation ensued. In short, they felt this was a great point and a problem they were not aware of, and it made me sound intelligent and put a little pressure on Faith.
Of course, putting pressure on her may not have been the best course of action.. especially if I get the job. She's my boss' boss, the one making my boss' life miserable. I may have made an enemy with that comment. But maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Shit, I'm over-thinking all of this. It's done with, regardless of how well or shitty I did I cannot go back and change a single word. I have to have faith that fate will carry me where I need to be, and if I do not get this job then perhaps it just wasn't my time yet. I hope like hell I do get it, though... and I want to think positive.
Well, from all appearances it seems that this committee just wants to get this whole process done and over with as fast as possible. Faith is going on a 2 week vacation on the 4th, so they may even make their decision by then. I hope they do, because the waiting will be torture. Every minute that passes brings with it more doubt, more self loathing for my stupid and stuttered answers to what should have been easy questions. I'll drive myself mad if this draws out until after the holidays.
Oh Flying Spaghetti Monster, please touch me with your noodly appendage and bless my hopes for this job!
I walked into that room and was sat down at the head of the table, all eyes on me. In front of me was a printed sheet with some questions, which was a visual aid to the questions I was being asked. Unfortunately, there was no time to scan the sheet and come up with brilliant answers - I was too busy trying to answer them.
I am told off the bat that I am the third of three applicants and not to assume I had any greater or lesser chance due to my four years in the system. As a matter of fact, before I even set foot in that room I was told bluntly by the H.R. guy who prepped me that my being an internal candidate would cause the search commitee to be tougher on me. I was warned that the interview style would oftentimes be tailored to create some unease, usually by long silences after my answers. I guess this is to encourage me (and other candidates) to embellish or further dig their own graves. Thanks for the heads up.
So back to the interview, these questions are pretty open ended and look like they came out of some corporate handbook. Bullshit questions such as "How do you intend to provide excellent customer service, and please discuss excellent customer service experiences you've had in the past."
Ugh. I have to admit, that's one of the questions I got flustered on. All I could really say was: "To provide excellent customer service, I simply intend to see to my "customers" issues in a timely manner, be polite and not to talk down to them." and for my own experiences, "Uh, when people are polite to me and know what they're talking about?"
Seriously, I was not prepared for that kind of question, and it rattled my confidence considerably. It took me a few questions to fully recover, and I hope I did not do too much damage. I know I referred to myself as a "nerd" and a "geek" on a few occasions, forgetting that many people would see that as self inflamatory and not a bright use of language at a job interview. I was grasping.. to me, a geek is a positive thing, and really... only a geek SHOULD be hired for an A/V Tech position. Not that most of my interviewers really knew dick-all about tech.
I was asked about operating systems, audio equipment, video equipment, software experience (which I got cocky on and went off on a tangent about Adobe products when they clearly wanted to hear about MS Office, but I was able to recover on that one and express that yes, indeed, I have daily experience with most of the Office suite).
I was asked what I liked about working in an educational environment, and so help me.. I hope I did not come off cheesy and insincere. I was flustered on this, though I was expecting the question. I like working in the educational sector because it's more laid back (probably not the best response) and free classes (selfish, but honest reply). I had a better pre-packaged answer that I went blank on, something about how my sisters both teach and how I love learning things and helping to enable others to learn as well, etc.. but none of that came out.
Fuck, now I'm getting really nervous. I want to keep upbeat about my chances, but this fucking anxiety disorder has me scrutinizing every detail and putting my worrisome spin on them. Despite being dog tired and having both jobs tomorrow (today now, actually) I can't sleep a wink. I close my eyes and think of the beads of sweat, the involuntary "I'm sorry!"'s that I let slip every time I got flustered and stammered a bit. I see five sets of eyes fixed on me, seeing every fault and flaw. This is fucking maddening.
Blah.
I do think I ended things well enough, however.. but I do have a little doubt. At the end of the interview, as is standard, it's MY turn to ask questions. Feeling the need to score a few extra points to make up for my social awkwardness.. I decided that asking questions would show some initiative. And I wanted to play up my computer experience a little more, so I brought up an issue that has bothered me for years - the rift between Media and Network Services. Are there any plans to build some bridges between these two departments, as the seperation has caused more harm than good and has had an adverse effect on our classes. We have to use computers with out projectors, and small issues pop up all the time with these machines that are usually simple in nature and easy to fix ... but I am not allowed to do anything about it. We usually have to put in a work order and wait a week or more for any movement, meanwhile we're short more equipment that is in high demand.
I wish I could remember the exact wording I used, but for once in my life I put it delicately, succinctly, yet stern. Some of my interviewers who looked bored and unimpressed through most of the meeting perked up at this and all eyes turned to the head of department Faith (the known backstabber) and a conversation ensued. In short, they felt this was a great point and a problem they were not aware of, and it made me sound intelligent and put a little pressure on Faith.
Of course, putting pressure on her may not have been the best course of action.. especially if I get the job. She's my boss' boss, the one making my boss' life miserable. I may have made an enemy with that comment. But maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Shit, I'm over-thinking all of this. It's done with, regardless of how well or shitty I did I cannot go back and change a single word. I have to have faith that fate will carry me where I need to be, and if I do not get this job then perhaps it just wasn't my time yet. I hope like hell I do get it, though... and I want to think positive.
Well, from all appearances it seems that this committee just wants to get this whole process done and over with as fast as possible. Faith is going on a 2 week vacation on the 4th, so they may even make their decision by then. I hope they do, because the waiting will be torture. Every minute that passes brings with it more doubt, more self loathing for my stupid and stuttered answers to what should have been easy questions. I'll drive myself mad if this draws out until after the holidays.
Oh Flying Spaghetti Monster, please touch me with your noodly appendage and bless my hopes for this job!