Interviewing Strategy - beginning, middle or end?

[dcarver]

Job interview next week, with various 1 hour sessions throughout the week.

Strategically, is it better to interview at the:

• Beginning (make your mark early, or be forgotten later?)
• Middle (interviewers have bench marked the 'standard', or, get lost in the fray of interviewees?)
• End (leave indelible impression as last interview, or interviewees too burned out to give fair eval?)

Thoughts?

D

 

[Cav47]

Wife, who was a headhunter says she always saved her best person to go last for her clients.

2cents worth

More importantly good luck. Get an interview coach if u realty want the job.

 

[Silver Ranger]

When in the schedule makes no difference as to who I select when I conduct interviews. It's about what sets you apart that sticks with me regardless of how many people I interview. Someone that tells me I can do this or that and I am very good don't score high with me. Someone that tells me about a situation they were involved in and how they work throught it sits at the top. Making a positive connection that lasts is what counts.

 

[Surly]

Hi Don,

I don't really know but I bet you leave a great impression where ever you are in the mix.

Good luck!

 

[Pterodactyl]

Don't think it matters ultimately; I've done hundreds. But, if the word pedophilia comes up, then the interview is not going well.

 

[gregory]

I have been on a few interview panels for the VA, conducted in person and by phone. No matter where you are in the line up, if you have not got our attention by mid interview, your pretty much done for. Two of our tricks is to first ask what kind of animal you would be if you were an animal (love that one because people are really thrown by that question and it's pretty easy to see who is answering honestly and who is looking for my correct answer) followed by "do you have any questions for us?" (makes 'em think we are done with the interview questions) Then we resume with the questions (and see how they recover from the previous two questions) Here, everybody is asked the same questions, in the same order.

I think the strongest thing for you to do is list Bust, Don and Zilla as your references.

Best of luck!

Greg

 

[steveoreno]

I know one thing that irritates the heck out of my g/f who is office manager for a actuarial firm is when some of the new hires start asking how they can advance out of their new position on day one! Moral of the story, be concise, tell them how you can fill the position they are hiring for.

 

[HYCLE]

show up drunk and lie

 

[LKLD]

I agree about it not mattering which position. I went for a interview many, many years ago, and when I arrived the manager informed me they were done taking anymore, and felt they had decided who they were hiring. I politely asked him to give me an opportunity to interview, and if at the end, he doesn't want to consider me, then I'll shake his hand, thank him, and walk out. He hesitantly agreed. I answered all of his questions concisely, sat up straight, looked him in the eye, showed confidence and not cockyness.

He hired me on the spot. January will be 30 years.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Hired (and fired) lots of people in a 30-year engineering career. Doesn't matter where in the order you are. What matters is that you stand apart from the others. Be as calm as you can, answer questions honestly and concisely, and make your answers relevant.

It pays to know what the company does, its competition, and how the industry is doing; that way you understand how you fit into their scheme and how you can contribute to their effort. Don't be afraid to ask questions, if you have some, about the company.

Be yourself. If you have to contort your soul for the job, neither you nor the boss will be happy in 6 weeks.

("What kind of an animal would you be?" You gotta be kidding me. I am an animal; a friggin' human being. Never understood he purpose of those off-the-wall questions.)

Best of luck! Sending out good vibes from the Southland.

 

[Greenzilla]

Conventional wisdom had always been to be first or last. However sitting on the other side of the table I don't think that matters. I can usually tell who will be on my short list by the third question. Outside of the obvious interview dont's, what makes the difference to me is how relevant the answer is to the question in regards to the job they applied for and do they have real life examples to illustrate their point. Interviewers feed off the energy and excitement and engagement of the interviewee. I've been in interviews so bad I felt I needed a nap to continue, and the next person comes in and sends my energy level soaring. Guess which candidate goes to the next step. Two things I'd recommend. Sit down and figure out what questions they will likely ask and practice your answers with someone else, especially if you have not interviewed in a while. Determine what you are bringing to the job that makes you the standout candidate. This would be 3-7 skills or abilities you want to make sure you relay during your interview (fewer if entry level, more if highly technical or upper mgmt). Develop examples that illustrate each of these that you can use and weave them into the answers when appropriate Also if you do get an oddball question or one you are not prepared for, you will likely find you can relate one of these to the question. Good luck!

 

[JamesW]

Headhunter friend years ago told me they know why they want to hire you, that is why you are there, looking for reasons not to.

 

[Tyler]

Don, just be the magnificent human being that you are no matter when you show up. If it's right, it's right. If it's not, there will be other opportunities. Don't overthink it too much because it would stifle you. Just be you.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Why are you worried?? Yer a pigmy goat retard offspring.

Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Like you have a shot at something important.






https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/****.gif

Kisses

 

[CA G-Man]

As a one-time Psych major I would say that primacy effect dictates that all things being equal, the first interviewee and the last will make the most enduring impression (good or bad). I think the research shows that one of those two has a slight advantage over the other, but very slight (and I can't remember which one). The key words are probably "all things being equal" - and of course they never are.

Good luck with the interview!

 

[Geezer]

Forget about the interview. You don't really want a new job at this point. Think of all the good riding you'll miss out on while you're at work.

 

[beemerdons]

Don, just be the magnificent human being that you are no matter when you show up. If it's right, it's right. If it's not, there will be other opportunities. Don't overthink it too much because it would stifle you. Just be you.

Oy Vey, Shalom! JSNS!

 

[ionbeam]

What not to say: I interviewed a young guy not long out of college with a trace of work experience. The interview went well, smart, interested, curious, not just educated but understood the engineering -- great! I say to the probable new hire, "Our company requires alcohol and drug screening tests before we can hire you." Deer in he headlights! After a bit of hemming and hawing he says that he recently smoked some pot, and asked if I think it would show up in the drug test... (At the time, our drug test sensitivity would probably detect pot to around 2 weeks, cocaine for several days.) He politely declined the job offer. Nobody won.

 

[Pterodactyl]

I had a guy show-up bare footed; in Fairbanks, Alaska; in January. He was a local guy and claimed he never wore shoes. His feet did look like Bilbo Baggins'. He had a degree in Mechanical Engineering. No... I did not.