Comments on: Some lessons for the Job Seeker

By: James

James — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you for the great list and explanations. Number 7 is one of those “Why didn’t I think of that?” head slappers.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Thank you so much. Having recently been laid off, I have been spending 10 hours a day searching for jobs. I am finally getting some nibbles and have had 3 interviews in the past 2 days. Your suggestions were timely and right on the mark. Hopefully they will give me an edge in this crowded Bay Area job market.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

“3. Ask for an offer at the in-person interview”

Isn’t that a bit forward? It sounds like asking for a second date when you meet someone for coffee the first time, whether or not the coffee talk went well.

Are you saying that an interviewee should end an interview with “So, when can I expect to hear about an offer?” It seems kind of cocky and presumptuous, to think the interview went so well that you made the cut.

Or am I totally misreading that suggestion? What’s a nice way of asking for an offer?

By: PhotoDude

PhotoDude — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Rather than the direct phrase “ask for an offer,” I think this sentence hits the mark better: “Make sure when you leave the interviewer’s office that that person knows that you want the job.”

That can easily be done without seeming too cocky. “I want to thank you again for your time today. I think I could make a real contribution in this position, and while I know you may not be done interviewing, I’m ready to receive an offer. [standing, extending hand] So I hope to hear from you soon.”

You’ve made your interest clear, but let them off the hook of any immediate pressure to respond.

By: Troutgirl

Troutgirl — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Almost every engineer I know who got a job during the last three years got it as the result of a personal contact — generally a fairly close friend. More and more, just to get an interview you have to have a friend in the company. Unfortunately, you can’t cultivate those kinds of friendships while you’re job-hunting… you have to have already put in the time. So I think the number-one jobhunting rule is: never be too busy to go out for a beer with your work buddies.

By: the weblog at mkelley.net

the weblog at mkelley.net — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Not that I’m looking….

John over at inluminent has a good article about job interviews, called “Some lessons for the Job Seeker”. It’s really common sense: Dress well, don’t B.S., let them know you want the job, and research the company….

By: You Are Here

You Are Here — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Comments on “Some lessons for the Job Seeker”

My favorite Seth groupie is interviewing for his company and has an entry titled Some lessons for the Job Seeker. As someone on the other side of the interview table at the moment, I thought I’d pitch in my $0.02

By: You Are Here

You Are Here — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Comments on “Some lessons for the Job Seeker”