Gainful Employment?

[zjohnson84]

I have a phone interview with Syngenta, which is a agribusiness about an hour south of here. I'd be working on crop genetics, which is exactly what I'm looking for right now. However, I have never had a phone interview. How does it work? What sort of things should I expect? I figure both Cameron and Sam would have more experience in this kind

Comments

[dola0079]

I don't know what they'll ask or what you should expect, but you should give them your growliest man voice. In the background I could be dropping beakers and yelling out scientific things and you could complain to them about the incompetent assistant that you hired for your private genetics lab. That would make you sound important.

In like, 25 hours you'll have no hair :(

[cdsorden]

Sad! Your shorn locks will rob you of your strength and you'll be merciless against fork taunts.

[cdsorden]

It will work exactly like a normal interview. Just relax, be prepared with common interview answers, and make sure you sound polite, intelligent, and friendly. The more composed and professional you sound, the better shot you have at an in-person interview.

[lucius2021]

Questions I've gotten:

- Why are you interested in [field]?
- Tell me about [current/previous job].
- Are you willing to obtain [certification]?
- Are you willing to [move for job]?

Many of the questions I've been asked seem to be centered my interest in the position and willingness to relocate and be their bitch. Not so much on my particular abilities and background, although the biochemistry guy had some questions about the work that I did in a biochem lab.

It seems like a good idea to have some questions that you would like answered, whether you actually care about the answer or not - probably shows that you're paying attention. "Who would I be working with," questions to flesh out the job role - bench time, field time, travel time, etc. Also probably a good idea to bone up on the company's organization and goals in case they ask about that.

But I've done this at most twice more than you have, so I'm not sure how good any of this advice is. :)

[lucius2021]

It's maybe most important to do what Cameron as says and be personable, clear, and excited but not unhinged about the prospect of working for them.

ALSO most importantly congratulations, kick ass! Sorry about the hair..

[lucius2021]

ALSO I just chatted up a friend whose dad works for (I think?) Syngenta's Golden Harvest subdivision. She says he really likes his job and the company as a whole, so that's a good sign

[lucius2021]

you can also call Amanda Kinnitchzke if you like, she says she did an internship at the Northfield research station one summer. email me if you want the number, henl0017@umn.edu

[kram006]

Make sure you ask them what the next steps in the interview process are and when you will be notified

[kram006]

One last thing, make sure to thank them for their time.