Fabulously Broke in the City

Gauging how your interview went

I also got this article from.. goodness knows where, with a list of items to use to figure out how your interview went.

These are just general thumb rules, not hard and fast rules, meaning you should take ‘em with a grain of salt!

1. What is the interviewer doing?
“If I am interested in what a candidate is saying, I will nod my head, smile and likely jot down a few notes,” says Inside Sales Manager Karen Nance. “I may also ask questions to probe further about what the applicant is talking about or share some thoughts on how this topic relates to the open position.”

Nancy Kim-Phillips, owner of NKP Consulting in Chicago, says that candidates should observe the interviewer’s body language for positive signs, “I find myself leaning forward when I’m interested in what someone has to say. I would expect the candidate to match my body language and lean in too.”

Watch for negative signals as well. If the interviewer seems distracted, is checking her watch, shuffling papers or looking at his Blackberry, you’re probably not captivating your audience. “I’ll often put down my pen if I’m not feeling good about what the candidate is saying,” she adds.

2. Were you engaged in dialogue?
“An interview is going well when there is a dialogue,” Kim-Phillips says. “If I don’t have to refer to a list of questions, and the conversation flows smoothly, it means there’s a natural exchange of information we are both interested in. This can begin from the very first question, which is usually, ‘So, tell me about yourself.’”

3. Did you hear positive verbal clues?
Lynn Hazan, owner of Chicago-based recruitment firm Lynn Hazan and Associates, says some interviewers may urge you on with positive words like, “Yes, go on…,” “This is good…” or even “I like what I am hearing, tell me more…” These are all clear indicators that it’s going well.

4. Were you reciting a monologue?
“A turn-off for me is if I ask a question and it becomes a monologue with a five-minute answer,” Kim-Phillips says. In prepping candidates for interviews, Hazan suggests they prepare a concise 30-second and 60-second elevator pitch. “This, in a nutshell, is the ideal response to questions like, ‘Why should hire you?’” she discloses. “I encourage candidates to practice in front of a mirror. There’s no better way to judge how others see you than by seeing yourself,” Hazan notes.

5. Did the interviewer interrupt you?
If the interviewer interrupts you or starts to look bored, it’s time to change gears. Hazan suggests that candidates stop at the first sign of disinterest from the interviewer and ask a question like, “Am I answering your question?” Or “Would you like to hear more about this or would you like another example?” This may save the day and gives the interviewer a choice on where to proceed.

6. Did you ask questions?
As the conversation comes to a close, interviewers inevitably ask candidates if they have any questions. Kim-Phillips says that, “When I would ask, ‘What questions do you have?’ and there were none… that would close things out pretty quickly.”

When interviewers give you the opportunity to ask questions, this is your cue to gain a better understanding of anything discussed during the interview. Questions like, “You said you want someone with a sales background; what else does an ideal candidate need to succeed in this position?” This is also a chance for you to demonstrate that you have done your homework on the company.

7. Were you asked about timing?
It’s a good sign if you’re asked about your availability. “I may start talking about time frame for making a decision, and ask ‘How does this sound to you?’ and ‘How soon can you start?’” Kim-Phillips says.

“If I’m interested in someone, I want to know who my competition is,” Nance adds. “I will ask, ‘Where else have you interviewed?’ and ‘Do you have any other firm offers?’”

8. Were you a good fit?
The more the interviewer talks about what is going on in their company and how you will fit in, the better. Kim-Phillips says she never quite comes right out and says, ‘I don’t think this is a good match,’ but might say ‘We’re really looking for the right match for this position.’

9. Were you invited to meet others in the company?
Nance and Kim-Phillips both say that if it is going well they’ll mention that there are some other people they would like you to meet. They may even introduce you on the spot.

10. How long was the interview?
Most opinions about candidates are formed within the first few minutes. The rest of the time is spent validating these opinions. If an interview is less than a half hour, it’s generally not a good sign. If you reach the one hour mark and the conversation is flowing enthusiastically and evenly between you and the interviewer, you may have hit a home run!

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Questions for you to ask in an interview

I forgot I had this list.. I made a massive list of questions to ask during an interview.

Feel free to use ‘em!

The department

Asking about your department’s workers and role in the company can help you understand more about the company’s culture and hierarchy.

What is the overall structure of the company and how does your department fit the structure?

What are the career paths in this department?

What have been the department’s successes in the last couple of years?

How do you view your group/division/department?

The job’s responsibilities

To avoid any confusion later on, it pays to gain a solid understanding of the position.

What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?

What are the skills and attributes you value most for someone being hired for this position?

Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company?

Could you describe a typical day or week in this position? The typical client or customer I would be dealing with?

The expectations

To determine how and when you will evaluated:

What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months?

What are the performance expectations of this position over the first 12 months?

How will I be evaluated at XYZ company, and how often?

The next steps

At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask:

0. What are the next steps in the interview process?

1. Will I need to work late hours/weekends? Typical workday

1a. What do you expect out of me?

2. What is in the future career path of someone entering this company in this position?

3. What type of experience will I gain?

4. Benefits plan?

5. Reimbursements for travelling down

6. Green card application, procedure, etc and bringing my spouse

7. How soon can I start?

8. Any help in finding an apt – in a different country

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TripIt up and organize your travelling for the holidays

This is an interesting site called TripIt that will organize your travel. Or so it claims..

You email TripIt your plans (transportation, cab, hotel, whatever) and they’ll build a master itinerary of your plans. Then give you that plan via mobile, email, whatever.

It’s a great idea for people who aren’t super organized and get flustered/confused about where they’re going, when and why.

Me, I use my Tungsten, so I put all the info in there and all the info I need (booking confirmation #s whatever), but this is something I’d love to try for one trip and to see how it works, and whether it makes sense.

It makes me want to make a Travel Template in Excel. Like “Confirmation #” in a column “Date” in another, etc…

Hmm. Maybe I’ll work on that now and upload it to let everyone take a look at it, and let me know what they think.

But if anyone has tried TripIt, or wants to try it, let me know how it worked out for you at brokeinthecity at gmail dot com

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SATC Deja Vu…

Remember that episode with the Russian, where Carrie gets an overload of romance because Petrovsky is showering her with compliments, making up a song called “La femme avec des yeux lumineux (sp?)”, and all that other stuff?

I’m going through that right now, but surprisingly, it’s not so over the top romantic that I’m gagging and going: “EEEK!”

There were a couple of times where I floated out of my body and went: “Is this actually happening for real?”… but it was just because I wasn’t used to someone expressing their feelings in such an open, direct manner.

I think it’s a language/culture thing because in English culture I suppose we don’t really talk about romance or say really hardcore romantic things. We’re more casual, more low-key and less formally romantic or poetic about our feelings for each other.

Romance really is a lost art.

But I’ve never dated someone like him before (most of my bfs have been Canadian, like hardcore Canadian), so the romance thing is a bit strange and different, but I’m slowly getting accustomed to it.

Just this morning at 5 a.m. when we were both waking up, he leaned over and told me he was really happy he had met me because if he hadn’t, he would’ve been alone.

I asked him how long he would’ve stayed alone.

And he replied forever.

I melted.

It was so natural and sincere that I actually believed him. I can usually tell when a guy is just being cheesy and if anyone else had tried saying that to me (without the actions of what he’s done for me in the past 3 months to back it up), I would’ve rolled my eyes, smacked him in the chest and told him to cut the crap.

I’m sure he would’ve found someone eventually if we hadn’t gotten together because to me he’s such a fantastic guy. However he thinks otherwise and has demonstrated from his actions/past relationships (without saying so) that he would’ve preferred to stay single and alone instead of with someone he couldn’t and didn’t love completely.

Of course, he’s mentioned that he’s met a few women in the past who were matches for him as well (he’s not into the whole ‘one soulmate forever’ kind of thing), but they were wrong for him because of their circumstances.

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Changes for 2008

Got me thinking… I have so many random thoughts going through my head right now, I need to get them listed to really see where my life is going for 2008.

1. Starting to save for retirement again in 2008.

Stopped the payments because I maxed out my contribution for 2007. I know I’m oversaving, but I’d rather oversave than undersave so that way I have the option of pausing the payments rather than scrambling to find the cash for it.

2. Going to really actively replenish and save for my emergency fund again and hold off on debt repayment for now.

I really understand the need for it now, especially after what happened a month ago. I want it to be a healthy sum $5000? And if my debt repayment gets down to a reasonable amount like $2000 – $3000 left, I’ll withdraw the EF money and clear it in full.

3. Am not expecting a bonus or a salary increase this year. Boo.

I hope I get one, but I’m so jaded and irritated with the bureaucracy that I just want to collect a paycheque, do my job well (I love, love, LOVE it), and build my skillset so that in case I do end up leaving I’ll be set.

I can always get a job somewhere else doing what I do, and with the way the industry is going they need me to stay at the company, so I am fairly sure I won’t get fired.

I just won’t “rise” in the ranks as fast, but to be honest, I’m not sure becoming a manager is all it’s cracked up to be, and if it’s something I want any more.

The only reason I wanted to rise in the ranks was to make more money, not so much because I want to have more responsibility. But if I adjust my lifestyle and give up a couple of things (will list them in this post), I am MORE than comfortable on my salary at the moment.

4. Am giving up on buying makeup I don’t really use any more.

On a regular basis if I start with makeup, I wear the following (or I don’t wear any at all if I’m not going out/going to work):

- Brown eyeliner *optional, really..*
- Concealer (Makeup forever in #2)
- Cargo blush
- Lip balm
- Eyelash curler
- Maybelline Great Last Mascara

And for special occasions I’ll bring out the Bare Escentuals powders, and my eyeshadows and go to town.

That’s it folks, no more purchasing cool makeup or anything that I think is neat. I don’t even use it, so it’s a waste of my money.

Oh, and I don’t even use my expensive Sephora brushes any more. Ironic, or what? I have them just in case, but at this rate, they’ll last forever because I don’t even use ‘em. Good. :P

5. Toiletries spending is getting snipped

I’m definitely buying the following and nothing more:

- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Olay Concentrate for Heels, Knees, Elbows to use as a body lotion (best stuff ever)
- Contact lens solution
- SpectroGel *optional.. have been using water and a light bit of soap lately*
- Nivea Makeup remover

Basically I’m giving up buying shaving cream (I find it doesn’t do anything, and I can just use the shampoo I lathered up or conditioner to shave with), I’ve given up dying my hair (too much maintenance. I dyed it back to its original dark brown).

I’m not buying nice smelling body gels/soaps/washes or lotions any longer even though the packaging and marketing is so tempting on it!! I’ve found the best lotion in the world for my skin, and I’m sticking to it. Besides, body gels/soaps are overrated for my skin, they tend to dry it out more and make it itchier than usual…

The less I do to my skin, the better.

6. No more clothes..

I went through my closet and .. DAMN!!… I can cut at least 60% of the stuff in there. I have enough clothes to last a lifetime nad I rarely even wear them because of the nature of my job (we don’t really dress up, it’s more business casual, leaning towards casual). Ditto on the shoes. I’m done with purchasing that stuff.

I just need to concentrate on buying a really amazing winter coat that’ll keep me super warm in -30 weather with windchill and a hood, and thermal underwear (ooo sexy). Oh and some really ridiculously warm boots.

7. No more jewellery or anything like that.

I have way too much as is… seriously. If you saw my collection you’d freak out. I could fill a couple of drawers worth with this stuff. I have enough. J’ai fini.

In fact, I’m thinking I might give some of my items away to friends for that clothing swap I was talking about for 2008. Necklaces, rings and other items I don’t wear any more. I hope they’ll enjoy it more than I did…

8. Going to cook more this year

I have my cookbooks out and this is the year I’m experimenting with food. :) Probably because BF is really into food too, and I’m getting excited about cooking for him and him making me awesome dishes :)

9. Going to play more pool

I keep telling my friends that I want to go play pool, but this year, we’re really going to do do it and have a good time. BF loves pool as well, so that’ll be our entertainment instead of going to the bars (too loud and noisy, plus we both don’t drink), or going to the movies (too loud and noisy, plus he has a home theatre and a nice bed to cuddle on), or going shopping (we don’t need anything…)

9. Sorting my life out

Organization is the key for this year. I’m going to try and migrate everything over into electronic format, and get everything cleared and ready to go. By the way, ezdivorce.ca comes highly recommended by moi. The guy who runs the site, Adam Slater, is really professional and is genuine.

Don’t go to the other BS lawyers who want to charge $400 for the first hour of consultation and then another $500 + court fees for retaining her services for something as simple as a damn uncontested divorce.

If it’s a simple no muss, no fuss divorce you want, ezdivorce.ca is the way to go.

10. Figuring out how this travel/long distance thing is going to work

It ain’t cheap, I’ll tell ya that. And if I have debt to repay.. I’m going to pray I’m on projects away from my ‘home’ city so that way I can at least fly to BF’s home every weekend without using my own money.

Am worried about how this long distance thing is going to work out… but I really do see this lasting.

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