Interview experiences/ advice

[Slobodan]

yes we can kill @Slobodan, good idea.

Don't kill me

 

[lsa]

Don't kill me

just a little?

 

[Slobodan]

just a little?

 

[johnsmithjohnson]

I have a strong expectation that they already know who they want. But you took the words right out of my mouth, I am going to use this to show them who I am.

That's what I would do. Give them a general presentation of yourself not just the things for that job. Remember people give themselves 1/3 the response time they normally give others when nervous so slow down your responses, have a clear plan and order of operations when they ask you about problems. Never say "try harder" have a plan.
Just do that and you'll win even if you don't get it, you'll set yourself up for another job there or if you leave you have a good recommendation from a manager
Best luck friend

 

[llperez22]

That's what I would do. Give them a general presentation of yourself not just the things for that job. Remember people give themselves 1/3 the response time they normally give others when nervous so slow down your responses, have a clear plan and order of operations when they ask you about problems. Never say "try harder" have a plan.
Just do that and you'll win even if you don't get it, you'll set yourself up for another job there or if you leave you have a good recommendation from a manager
Best luck friend

great advice, thank you

 

[Long Dark Blues]

If you have been in the workforce for any amount of time, talk up your work experience to the Nth degree and talk about your education least of all but ideally not at all because it is most likely not relevant.

 

[Satur9]

Suit and tie. Have your own notes, ask questions, even if you know the answers, and contribute to the conversation. It’s an interview, but you have to act like you are accustomed to running things, and that will shine through. You are showing them and not just telling.

 

[llperez22]

Suit and tie. Have your own notes, ask questions, even if you know the answers, and contribute to the conversation. It’s an interview, but you have to act like you are accustomed to running things, and that will shine through. You are showing them and not just telling.

"showing them and not just telling them" is strong advice. You have to make them know you can perform. It cant just be you spouting your resume. They already have that.

 

[Satur9]

"showing them and not just telling them" is strong advice. You have to make them know you can perform. It cant just be you spouting your resume. They already have that.

One of my pops only words of wisdom was words don’t mean much. If you show up and are commanding and taking care of business, you don’t have to tell them you’re the boss. It’s apparent from your actions.

 

[William Huggins]

That's what I would do. Give them a general presentation of yourself not just the things for that job. Remember people give themselves 1/3 the response time they normally give others when nervous so slow down your responses, have a clear plan and order of operations when they ask you about problems. Never say "try harder" have a plan.
Just do that and you'll win even if you don't get it, you'll set yourself up for another job there or if you leave you have a good recommendation from a manager
Best luck friend

Great idea, definitely turn up naked, they need a good idea of what they're getting involved with..... I would throw in, invite them to examine your orifices......

 

[johnsmithjohnson]

great advice, thank you

Thank. Basic stuff like eye contact but not too much "look at their foreheads" if you get nervous during eye contact
Seven second rule of attention meaning if they aren't giving some non verbal or verbal response in 7 seconds you lost them, matching their postures "mirroring", matching sentence length roughly is common stuff most people do automatically.
Always have a plan, want to learn, and wait for fracture points in the meetings. There will be a single point or maybe 2 or 3 where someone shows their hand and how you play it matters. Someone will slip up, the best thing to do is make them understand you understand then move on. It makes you a 3d person not some employee number.
Last thing. Never get involved in their squabbles. You elevate by staying out
Probably too much information but that's the best I got.

 

[William Huggins]

One of my pops only words of wisdom was words don’t mean much. If you show up and are commanding and taking care of business, you don’t have to tell them you’re the boss. It’s apparent from your actions.

I think we've covered the dominance aspects.......

 

[johnsmithjohnson]

Great idea, definitely turn up naked, they need a good idea of what they're getting involved with..... I would throw in, invite them to examine your orifices......

"Orifice Space" starring that one guy.

 

[Satur9]

I think we've covered the dominance aspects.......

I don’t see it as dominance, just showing up trying to emulate others who are in charge, for the role you want. Having worked around the corporate world for some time, and coming from garbage people, I understand the game now. Or I understand it better than I did, to be more precise.

Gotta play the game

 

[llperez22]

Thank. Basic stuff like eye contact but not too much "look at their foreheads" if you get nervous during eye contact
Seven second rule of attention meaning if they aren't giving some non verbal or verbal response in 7 seconds you lost them, matching their postures "mirroring", matching sentence length roughly is common stuff most people do automatically.
Always have a plan, want to learn, and wait for fracture points in the meetings. There will be a single point or maybe 2 or 3 where someone shows their hand and how you play it matters. Someone will slip up, the best thing to do is make them understand you understand then move on. It makes you a 3d person not some employee number.
Last thing. Never get involved in their squabbles. You elevate by staying out
Probably too much information but that's the best I got.

Thanks. I agree with you on not getting involved with squabbles. Obviously this probably wouldn’t be an interview question. But I have seen numerous occasions at work where new management/leadership comes in, people want to vent. They have tried to drag me in. I’ve always felt proud of myself by not getting dragged into drama. New management almost seems relieved that I don’t have more stuff to dump on them

 

[johnsmithjohnson]

Thanks. I agree with you on not getting involved with squabbles. Obviously this probably wouldn’t be an interview question. But I have seen numerous occasions at work where new management/leadership comes in, people want to vent. They have tried to drag me in. I’ve always felt proud of myself by not getting dragged into drama. New management almost seems relieved that I don’t have more stuff to dump on them

If new management came in recently, they are testing you in a good way. Even if you don't get this they will have their eye on you. There's always a hit list and you aren't on it but guarantee other managers are.

 

[William Huggins]

I don’t see it as dominance, just showing up trying to emulate others who are in charge, for the role you want. Having worked around the corporate world for some time, and coming from garbage people, I understand the game now. Or I understand it better than I did, to be more precise.

Gotta play the game

So you need to give the hot meat injection to show dominance?

 

[LEWIS540]

Walk in there, find the biggest, blackest, toughest looking MFer in the room and beat seven bells of shit out of him/her.


But yeah, some are looking for personality some are only concerned about performance and experience. Need to establish which early on.

 

[Satur9]

So you need to give the hot meat injection to show dominance?

Not at all. I’m just not sure of how you are showing dominance from that instead of good old can-do attitude and gumption. I suppose it can be both in certain situations, but you don’t have to act crazy and domineering to come off as a leader in your field, or what have you.

I’ve seen many folks who are extremely loud and domineering also be the least competent. They are small dogs who love to bark loudly, and that’s it.

 

[Tank_Kam]

You guys have any advice for interviews? Any experiences you feel like sharing? I don’t have much so I’m always curious to hear others experiences.

I recently applied for a big promotion at my work. It’s an assistant manager position overseeing about 40 employees and answering to the board of directors. The current manager is older and they are creating an assistant manager position primarily for transition purposes when they retire. But also there is plenty of work on the table to justify the position

I have no idea how many people from outside the company applied or what their credentials are. But from within the company, I’m 1 of 4 to apply. Of the 4 of us, I am the only one who is not currently in a supervisory role. I’m not asked to lead others and I do not have experience like they do meeting with management and board members and coordinating work across departments etc…That’s going to be a huge disadvantage for me, to the point I’d be shocked if I got the job.

However, when it comes to certification and education that is “highly desired” per the application, I am the only one who checks all the boxes. I dance circles around the other 3 when it comes to degrees, certs, licenses etc…. My hope is that they see how driven I am and that I have the aptitude to learn and thus maybe if I blow them away in the interview, it might be worth investing in me despite the steep learning curve.

Some things I'd recommend as someone who's gone from individual contributor to leadership:
- Think/talk about leading without a title - how do you display leadership qualities in your current role, and outside of work.
- Sign up for a management course on Udemy or something before hand and bring that up in the interview
- Be vulnerable but confident, show passion about why you want to be in a leadership position
- Leverage your skills that other applicants don't have, and how bringing your unique perspective to the team can really help
- Look for someone in a leadership position at your job that can mentor you, try to shadow them in meetings, take notes etc.

Good luck on the interview! That shit is nerve wracking but sounds like you're in a good spot to leverage your skillset and show your value!