World Tour 2007
By SteveMy “Please Hire Me, Please” 2007 World Tour has finally kicked off. No more fun. It’s all serious work from here on out.
So, with that in mind, I have my resume polished to mediocrity. (Seriously, it ain’t good.) I’m dusting off all of my clichés for my interviews. (What the hell does “self-starter” really mean?) I’m having a problem with the whole “suit and tie” thing, as I’ve had no occasion to wear either in… er, 13-14 years. I burned my ties in effigy when I moved to Vermont.
I hate interviews. I feel very self-conscious when sitting down with large groups of people who are asking all sorts of questions about how I would do things, most of which require more information than I currently possess for reasonable answers. (At least this is how the last couple of interviews have gone, though it’s been a while.) “If X happens, what would you do?” How the hell should I know; I’m not even sure what X means in your company, and if Y is available to me, and if Z is possible.
I tend to be direct and honest when I’d probably be better served by being more… sales-y. Only in the “selling yourself” sense. And don’t even get me started on salary negotiations, ugh. I’ve never asked for a raise in my life, and unsurprisingly, I’ve rarely received any raises. I’m very uncomfortable discussing salary, and feel I should be paid what I’m worth. And they should be able to figure that out, and hopefully I’m fine with that. This has probably doomed me to being forever underpaid.
April 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Watch out for that old chestnut, “What would you say is your greatest weakness?” I’m never quite sure which is worse: being honest or smarmily giving a positive as your negative (”I’m a perfectionist!”). That’s why I always answer “My binge drinking.”
Best of luck, Steve.
April 4th, 2007 at 12:47 am
“You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like you.”
…was that helpful?
April 4th, 2007 at 9:32 am
I’m way too honest and (I suppose the best term is) shy about interviews too. I too can almost never make small talk or quick answers to vague questions, and I can’t say that’s ever been helpful.
In fact, that’s probably why I still don’t have a formal job… I’ve been selling computers freelance (on and off - mostly off) & doing the occasional repair job as it pops up for the past… three years now. I heard HEB (a local grocery store - it’s pretty damn big in Texas; store size rivals the early Super Walmart stores, though not quite the mile perimeter ones) is hiring anyone who applies… >_>
April 4th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Come wash my house. I can give you a nickel for every inch of crud you clean off.
I used to be really good at job interviews, but then either the corporate culture changed or I did and now I’m not such hot stuff anymore. Which is why I write, leech of my wife and sometimes teach when the mood hits me.
April 4th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I’d listen to a Troy Goodfellow lecture. Where do I sign up?
April 4th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Steve: Good luck with everything. Just don’t end up working for the other side of the gaming industry; I’d hate to see you turn into one of those guys like Mike Wolf and Frank O’Connor did. Then you’d have to spew BS at all your interviews.
Interested in exploring future possibilities,
Moggraider
April 10th, 2007 at 4:30 am
Hey Steve, my possible opportunity via Qt3 private message is still standing (altered a bit, but we can talk about that later), in case you are at all interested, though y understand if you forego even applying, =)
April 13th, 2007 at 2:53 am
You need to start a band with Frank Black.