Re: Where do you see yourself in 5 years

[Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>]

Steve Martin wrote:
 
> I don't know about being facetious, but, as far as your comments apply
> to the 5-year question, I tend to agree with you. Another peevish
> question for me is, "Why do you want to work here?"

The answers I would like to give (and may yet, if I'm feeling tetchy one
day) is: "Because it's marginally better than selling my aging body on
the streets"  or "because I couldn't raise any money attempting a
do-it-yourself trepan as a publicity stunt."

But in this, as in so many other cases, I suspect I may be going about
things in the wrong spirit. :-)

> I'm sorry if anyone gets their knickers in a twist about it, but it's
> the truth.  I'm not really picky about who employs me, 

I suspect you're not the only one. With the average position lasting 2-5
years, most people don't have time to get bored with the people or the
technology with which they work. I once worked eight months at a company
doing software for security trading companies, and I'm about as
anti-capitalist as an ex-English major can be. Still, the people were
decent, and I pushed the boundaries of my ignorance back a few
centimeters, so I consider the time well-spent.

Anyway, the real problem with "Why do you want to work here" is that
it's premature. Part of the reason for accepting the interview is to see
if you *do* want to work at the company. If you've done your homework
and scanned the company web site, you may feel that the company is worth
a closer look, but that's about the most you can expect. I've left
interviews in which I only had a mild interest excited by the thought of
working for the company; I've also left interviews for which I had great
hopes mentally crossing out a company on my list of desirable employers.
Of course, the company is probably too focused on its interests to think
what yours could be.

Still, I suspect that if I ever have to answer that question again, I
think I'll say something like, "Well, that's what this interview is
about for me." It's truthful, and maybe I'll find a company that finds
honesty refreshing (okay, so I'm still a little naive).

-- 
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"In the bathroom mirror they try that Joan of Arc look again
Two parts Ingrid Berman to one part Shirley MacLaine
The wounds of time kill you but the surgeon's knife only stings
Jerusalem on the jukebox, little angels beat your wings."
-Richard Thompson, "Jerusalem on the Jukebox"

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