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Important Interview Odds & Ends [update 8-29 - I got the job!]
The Crowing One
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
In just shy of two weeks I have an interview scheduled for a position that is, essentially, a slam-dunk as far as experience and specialization is concerned. My concern is that while I've spent the last three years doing this work in the non-profit sector, I'm interviewing for a position across the aisle with a major mortgage servicer.
I'm a bit nervous because I'm very comfortable and used to interacting with individuals and entities within the non-profit sector which, understandably, tends to be more "relaxed" compared to large banks. There are a few things I'm slightly worried/nervous/scared about, as I'm really, really hopeful that this will turn out well. The job itself is specifically perfect for my development and background, and these sorts of opportunities don't come along very often in my location. In the two or so years I have consistently sought postings, this is the first of it's kind that has been based out of my city that I've been able to come across.
Background, if necessary, is that this is a long-term applicant search. I submitted a resume early last month and completed a first phone interview. I was called last week to come in for a face-to-face second interview in two weeks, and the final decision, I was told, would probably be made around late August/early September. The process alone is stretched to nearly three months, which is far from the usual 2-3 day turn around time from resume out to hired I've had for my last three positions in the non-profit world.
Questions that are still lingering:
*I have my eyebrow pierced with a pretty unobtrusive barbell. Behind my glasses it can barely be seen and most people don't even notice. I have never been concerned before, but I'm thinking it's probably a good idea to put in a retainer for the interview to be safe, right? The direct supervisor for the position is located in the south, which tends to have different standards than the northeast.
*References will, in all likelihood, be asked for. I'm having a dilemma in which I believe I can easily provide two good individuals, but I'm a bit stumped for the third and am considering listing an individual that I worked with for a hobby-like "business". He's a author and I published a small collection of his work. Are there any issues with this, as he doesn't have any real professional experience with anything close to relevant?
*I'll be wearing a suit and getting a good haircut the week before, is there anything presentation wise I may be overlooking?
*I'm a heavy smoker, and while this has never been a problem before, I have always been told to not smoke before an interview. I'm, frankly, not really capable of this as otherwise I'll be a nervous wreck. I'm willing to take the chance, but any suggestions on how to not smell like a smoker, even if I have a cigarette 20-30 minutes before it begins?
Lastly, I'm prone to read into things quite a lot. I'm maintaining a confident, "I'm perfect for this" attitude (I am), and feel like I'm being seen as a strong candidate. I'm curious if anyone has been in corporate hiring positions and would know if being made the very first interview in a 2-3 day interview period either could mean something as I was certainly not the first one to go during the first round of phone interviews? (I'm pretty much aware that the answer to this is that I'm being an over-analyzing goof).
Any other advice or words of warning are always appreciated. I know I'm probably stressing over little things, but I want to do my due diligence in ensuring that I feel ready to walk in that door.
I'm a bit nervous because I'm very comfortable and used to interacting with individuals and entities within the non-profit sector which, understandably, tends to be more "relaxed" compared to large banks. There are a few things I'm slightly worried/nervous/scared about, as I'm really, really hopeful that this will turn out well. The job itself is specifically perfect for my development and background, and these sorts of opportunities don't come along very often in my location. In the two or so years I have consistently sought postings, this is the first of it's kind that has been based out of my city that I've been able to come across.
Background, if necessary, is that this is a long-term applicant search. I submitted a resume early last month and completed a first phone interview. I was called last week to come in for a face-to-face second interview in two weeks, and the final decision, I was told, would probably be made around late August/early September. The process alone is stretched to nearly three months, which is far from the usual 2-3 day turn around time from resume out to hired I've had for my last three positions in the non-profit world.
Questions that are still lingering:
*I have my eyebrow pierced with a pretty unobtrusive barbell. Behind my glasses it can barely be seen and most people don't even notice. I have never been concerned before, but I'm thinking it's probably a good idea to put in a retainer for the interview to be safe, right? The direct supervisor for the position is located in the south, which tends to have different standards than the northeast.
*References will, in all likelihood, be asked for. I'm having a dilemma in which I believe I can easily provide two good individuals, but I'm a bit stumped for the third and am considering listing an individual that I worked with for a hobby-like "business". He's a author and I published a small collection of his work. Are there any issues with this, as he doesn't have any real professional experience with anything close to relevant?
*I'll be wearing a suit and getting a good haircut the week before, is there anything presentation wise I may be overlooking?
*I'm a heavy smoker, and while this has never been a problem before, I have always been told to not smoke before an interview. I'm, frankly, not really capable of this as otherwise I'll be a nervous wreck. I'm willing to take the chance, but any suggestions on how to not smell like a smoker, even if I have a cigarette 20-30 minutes before it begins?
Lastly, I'm prone to read into things quite a lot. I'm maintaining a confident, "I'm perfect for this" attitude (I am), and feel like I'm being seen as a strong candidate. I'm curious if anyone has been in corporate hiring positions and would know if being made the very first interview in a 2-3 day interview period either could mean something as I was certainly not the first one to go during the first round of phone interviews? (I'm pretty much aware that the answer to this is that I'm being an over-analyzing goof).
Any other advice or words of warning are always appreciated. I know I'm probably stressing over little things, but I want to do my due diligence in ensuring that I feel ready to walk in that door.
The Crowing One on
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I am sure you will already be sucking on breath mints before hand as well
Good luck!
Take the barbell out. It's unprofessional in the banking sector in all parts of the country, not just in the south.
Do they NEED 3 references? two good ones are better than two good ones and one dodgy one. Is there a client at your NPO that you can use, someone you helped out that can sing your praises rather than someone who sounds unrelated to the job?
Go for the red tie. Power tie ftw.
Being the first interview is usually good. You set the bar, and so only better candidates can beat you out for the job at that point. At least, that's how I always felt when I was conducting the interviews!
And yeah, ditch the barbell. I wouldn't even put the spacer in. You'd be surprised what people can notice.
I'm so very not familiar with banking from the corporate side. No piercing at all? I'm hoping that I won't have to completely remove it, but it may just be a trade-off if I get the job. For the interview it will be gone.
Do you think the tie is necessary? I've never been a tie guy (it didn't even register), but now that I'm thinking about it, it's probably a must, right?
The position, fyi, is a mid-range "specialist" type. A step or two above a case manager-type and my area of responsibility would cover the entire state (I'd be the only one). I'm sure that just reinforces the idea that I should really be as slick and professional as I possibly can be. Not really much of a chance of overdressing (I won't be in my tux), I would think?
I usually carry around a nice Victorinox messenger bag, but I also have a brown leather satchel and a black leather computer bag I use from time to time. I'm guessing that I should probably use whichever of those is in the best condition and avoid the messenger bag entirely? Would it matter?
Use the brown leather satchel.
And yeah, if you get the job, the piercing is gone gone gone.
Also if you're intent on quitting smoking, if you're asked about "what's your greatest weakness" you can play off that.
Good luck.
That's one of those things that I'm just not going to touch, if it doesn't get brought up. No reason to advertise that I'm a smoker.
Definitely go for the tie, and a professional bag and notebook/whatever you're carrying your extra resumes in.
Make sure you've taken a look at samples of behaviour-based interview questions. Your expertise is at best only equally as important as the experiences you can draw on -- and you might not be able to remember them at a moment's notice.
To repeat spool32's question, do you need three references? If not, give them two, if so, give them the best you've got. What people say about you often matters more than who they are (although that is often quite important as well). Showing the diversity of your experiences is often helpful as well; three similar references don't tell an employer much.
In actuality I haven't been asked for references, but I want them ready in case they ask for them. For something like this I can't imagine they wouldn't check.
I'll ready the two (one from a previous employer and one from my time as the executive president of a non-profit, both which are very relevant). They need need a third I can work something out.
I'm good in interview, and I have a stock of probably 20-30 specific stories/events that I tend to use to "toot my horn" in interviews/presentations/trainings/etc. I have no fears about the interview, itself, just the bits and pieces that I'm not thinking about because I've been non-profit for so long.
Thinner ties are fine. Skinny isn't really though, but that doesn't mean you need to wear your dad's ties from the 70s.
I generally either take a fashionable female friend with me, or let the people at Nordstrom advise me. They're generally pretty good about that sort of thing as it's their job. J. Crew actually has some really nice stuff nowadays as well.
Bring 5 copies of your resume and references on heavier-weight paper if possible. Anything labeled "Ink Jet" is OK, just try to avoid "copier" paper. I'd put that third reference down. Label it as "personal" or "professional," or maybe "contract work"?
As for the scheduling, usually the better candidates are interviewed first, but could just be how it worked out. They could offer on the spot, or a month from now, just depends on their urgency and process.
if you have ANY other recourse for eliminating nerves than a real cigarette, do it.
Lasted about 40 minutes. The first half was going over my work history and general interview questions (which overlapped some with my first interview) and the second half was when they re-phrased themselves about wanting someone they, essentially, liked and wanted to work with as there are, apparently, a lot of collaborative aspects. We ended up joking and swapping stories all tangentially related for about 15-20 minutes. We all seemed to get along well.
At one point they shifted their language to a "she'll give you..." as opposed to a "would give you..." for a section concerning a very specific thing that they had been working on. I feel like I'm reading into it too much. I still believe that I'm a very strong candidate.
It'll be another 3 weeks before a decision gets made, so I'm not certain if there's anything else, really, to ask about unless anyone can think of anything else.
Oh, wait.
So I keep getting advised to sent a follow-up note to the interviewers. In this case all communication has been done through a HR rep, and I have none of their contact info. Should I follow-up, and what would be the best way (through HR? track down their emails?). Both interviewers are also on vacation until they come back to make a decision.
Since they'll be on vacation, I'd just ask the rep for their e-mail. Or you can probably figure out the convention if the rep is from their company: Say rep is John Smith, and his email is jsmith@acme.com, so you can guess they'll be FLast@acme.com.
I know their emails, if necessary, through my being in the industry for so long. They didn't give me ANY contact at all.
They do all contact through a different HR person and they gave me their call-back schedule without giving contact info. I dunno, but I don't think they expect nor consider to be necessary a follow-up?
Thanks to everyone who chimed in and lent a hand of support. You all are the best.
You'll :bz perfect for the job.