Got a Job Interview Story?

One of my interviews was conducted at a picnic table in a park. Started at the office, but the engineering manager said, "Please get in the car." So, off we went.

Negotiated the whole deal there, including salary.

The former owner of my former company conducted an interview while cleaning his handgun. I don't think the applicant got the job, but he gave us all a great story.

This may not be overly strange, but i was totally unprepared for it. In my current position I was asked to choose between a dictionary, a bottle of water, and a box of wet-nap hand wipes, without any explanation. I was then told I had 10 minutes to come up with a 3-5 minute impromtu presentation/explanation of the item.

In hindsight it made very good sense of seeing how well one could perform under pressure, and how well one could quickly and effectively communicate. My company is privately owned and very frequently the Owner/CEO will call my boss asking for an update and there is no time to put together a planned out, triple checked, typo free report. He just wants quick honest informative answers. Nonetheless being faced with three extremely random objects was something no-one had thought to prepare me for.

-T

I campaigned for a Public Service Position and a seat on a State Legislature authorized Airport Authority. Since as long as I have lived in this town, I had done what I could to maintain the local community airport.

Letters I'd written had been published in the papers, and I had shown up for Town Council meetings, and had given commentaries on the local radio.

My stance was that towns and cities live or die depending on how they function as a port. My stance was that even the smallest airport was an important part of a communities transportation infrastructure, and an economic multiplier.

Where I live the University is the major power.

I was called to meet with the man who the University had put in charge of the Airport Authority appointments at the University.

In the County there was much opposition to having an airport.

The University wants the airport land to turn into a Campus extension.

The airport was to be relocated.

What I call the "Landed gentry." didn't want any airport near them.

I was called to a meeting with this man. He said, "We want to work with you."

"Good." - I said. Win, Win, you get the airport land, and the airport gets moved to the Landfill, by the highway, by some train tracks, and is maintained and made business friendly.

Met for coffee with a State Senator. She said, "You'll lose."

Chancellor of the University was visited by a consortium of the well off, who said having an airport in the County was a bother to them.

Chancellor promised to have no airport in the county.

State said, "Well okay, guess we don't need an Airport Authority."

Unusual situation. - Guy I worked for at the time, and had worked for for nine years, was one of those who had a sign in his yard saying "No Airport."

Economic downturn, work slow, I was fired.

Local economy now really getting worse.

Even the Temporary Labor Offices of the University have closed now.

Last high level professional sort of interview I have had, and otherwise so far, only paying work was with an ex-CIA guy who runs a surplus store who hired me to make Frankenstein furniture, and help during his Halloween Season of sales.

I continue to apply on line for positions as a writer.

Was offered a job looking at porno all day and writing reviews.

If you were actually part of our community

& not just another drive by guest

you could have a vote

One of my friend told me this; I never faced such a question. One interviewer of a very large industrial group (India) put up just one question to all 160 applicants when they entered the room to face him; How do you maintain a "Motor". I am not qualified to attend that interview. I could have answered it in few seconds to few hours for the same question. Simplest answer is "Good". Longest answer is to explain about all types of Motors elaborately.

This is about my first experience. I was 17 y/o and traveling in a train to Cochin to join Cochin-Shipyard as a trainee. I was talking to my co-passenger addressing him as Uncle (as per local tradition). He has shown me some automatic filling machine catalogues and told me that he got a factory to manufacture such machies. I could identify all important parts inside the machines during the discussion. He wondered at my grasping power and told me that he took 5 years to design the machine that I explained him in no time. He then and there itself offered me a very good job of my liking. I served him from 1975 to 1979 at his Bangalore factory. I have learned a lot there.

My interview for my first job as a design engineer they asked me how to solve a problem they were having with a new design synchonising a video frame store card to capture a picture taken with a flash. (Bit of a cheek really getting free consultation...but a good test)
I spouted generalities for a moment or two to buy time...
Then I simply said " I wouldn't ! "
They looked at me dumb founded.
I then said,
"Let the push button tell the computer that you want to fire the flash, you then let the computer actually fire it when the video capture card is ready, not the other way round. Sync the flash to the card, not the card to the flash.
It will be quick enough so that you won't tell the difference."
Del

Yeah, I got the job

Daggonit Del, are you to blame for why my digital camera doesn't act right?

Tell me ain't so.

good presentation Del, Had one simulair but it was'nt my first job. The company had me com in twice the second time to "Test my Cadd Skills" Had to design a rather difficult transition layout for shop fabrication. It took 2 hours. He bitch that I was doing it in 3D.

I got the job and one of my first projects on the floor was to salvage the mess they had with......the same transition they tried on their own.

I search in the cadd library and found my old "test drawing" I did for them. and made scab pieces for them to repair the exist layout.

wonder how many interviewers they had.....and if they hire one before me that I did not know about

I had submitted a resume online for a technician position at a box manufacturing plant. The parent company is owned by Coca Cola.

1) submit online resume

2) fill out online questionair

3) 30 minute phone interview with human resources

4) 45 minute phone interview with maintenance manager

5) 90 minute in person round table interview with maintenance manager, production manager, lead mechanic & HR

6) Skills test, in person interview with 1st maintenance manager, followed by Plant manager 150 minutes

7) 30 minute phone interview with maintenance manager explaining their decision to go with a different candidate [supposedly better PLC skills]

8) 10 minute phone interview with maintenance manager, confirming my continued interest in the position, should their choice not work out

9) 10 minute phone interview to set up a time to restart process around step 5, I had him call back a few days later

10) 15 minute phone interview, where I declined. I basically told him I didn't think I had the right temperament work for a organization who had such a difficult time making decisions.

They at least followed up...

Most companies don't feel obligated to inform you of their decision

& if I follow up, act as if I am somehow imposing on them...

Worked freelance a lot.

Actually ran a business, really.

Actually hired people.

Was working one day, before email, and all, when it was real common to talk with people on the phone about work.

Had a pager you know.

Got paged, went to a phone booth on the street when I had a chance.

Called.

"Can you give us a bid?"

"Sorry, I don't have time. Tell me who I'm bidding against?"

They told me.

I said, "You know they bid low, but come in high."

I did get that job.

-Reputation matters.

"don't feel obligated to inform "

...
How many time do I have to tell you illigerant colonials... it's bloody OBLIGED.
Less letters and sounds better...
It's the naugthy step for for you Garth...we'll have you scrubbing out the bath thread
Del

Either word

The assholes don't show the slightest amount of respect

They're romulans & I'm a klingon.

I question HR's right to exist

You need to move with the times Del the english language is like cricket you may have invented it but others perfected it.

I too faced one such streams and rounds of interviews during a job change and finally they felt very happy to offer me a job for less than 50% of my that time current salary; I just stud up collected all my papers/ PP size photo/ etc from their tables and walked out...

There have also been several interviews where the discussion revealed conditions or situations that were unacceptable to me.

Salary insufficient,

rotating shifts or too many hours...this is usually a sign of bad management or strange corporate structure. Any organization that expects you to totally forgo a personal life, had better be willing to provide compensation commensurate with that level of commitment.

Unions- I don't mind being in a union, but it certainly depends on which one. I'm in no hurry to join the food workers or teamsters around here...

When I get to the point where I know it's not going to work out, I tell the interviewer that & wrap things up on the best terms possible. I usually try to dig for those points quickly & discreetly. I may apply for a position & decline further interviews, after I get enough information to do some research.

No hard feelings, just the way these things go

Good Money, Good Project, Good People, must have two out of three.