Well, I had a second interview at a not for profit company in Chelsea, NYC last week. I sat down at the conference table with the two people who were interviewing me and noticed that the woman who was at the other end of the table with the paper cutter was planning on continuing her chopping. I have to admit that was kind of distracting and truth be told annoying and inconsiderate.
But I pressed on and went through my well rehearsed history of my working life story trying to talk above the chops. I had all of the experience that the organization was looking for. The job they were looking to fill was Director of Information Systems. My last job was VP of IT, although I changed the job title on my resume to director in order to get the interview. I was told that down sizing your last job was OK.
I have been on a lot of interviews in my life. I have interviewed many people for jobs in companies I have been employed in. I actually enjoy job interviews. They are like first dates, full of promise and hope, with the added bonus of nerves and uncertainty. I know a good interviewer when I see one. They are prepared with a list of question, they are at ease and they control the flow of the interview.
I was not in the presence of good interviewers. This tends to make the whole experience awkward for all parties. I sat there, trying to ignore the paper chopper, looking at two people who were at least ten years younger than I was, and who were wearing clothes that made casual Friday’s look like the senior prom. I was in a business attire and clearly out of place. I was prepared and polished, the interviewers were unprepared and unpolished. But I pressed on, hoping to get to the next round of interviews.
Yes, they were having three interview rounds for a job I could wear flip flops to. Unreal, but this is the state of todays job market.
I think the whole thing went south when one of the interviewers, the Director of Finance who to her credit was not wearing a T shirt with a print on it, asked me how much money I was looking to make. Why can’t they just post the salary and save us both the trouble? Every one these days posts “Salary Commensurate with Experience”. Which is job speak for take what you can get. I tried to dance around the issue, knowing that interview etiquette is pretty clear, wait for them to make an offer, do not tell them what you are looking to make.
I told her that the salary was only one aspect of the job, other important factors included the benefits package and other intangibles such as the office environment (which looked like a frat house).
She didn’t come back with the question I would have answered honestly “What was the salary at your last job?” So I just left it at that and let the interview continue. I still don’t know the salary and I went on two interviews.
We talked a little while longer about the organization and it’s needs. We ended the interview with pleasantries and I expressed my hope that I would be invited back for round three.
Unfortunately, a few days later I got an email stated that I would not be invited back. I have to say I was a bit disappointed and surprised. Not because I wanted to work in there, but because I wasn’t invited back for round three. But it was nice to get an email. I have been on several interviews and have never heard back. I guess they just think that silence equals you didn’t get the job.
I am looking forward to taking a look at the non profit web site in a few months to see who was hired. They list all of the employees bios. At least I’ll see who beat me out for the job.
So my job search continues, although I am getting tired of sending out resumes. I have sent almost 500 in the 10 months I have been out of work. I am thinking I might just forget it for a while. It feels like banging my head against the wall and I have a headache.
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