Re: Half Day Interview

Subject: Re: Half Day Interview
From: Jeanette Feldhousen <jeanette_feldhousen -at- MENTORG -dot- COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 1997 13:39:40 -0700

On May 8, 1:05pm, barryk -at- MDHOST -dot- CSE -dot- TEK -dot- COM wrote:
> Subject: Re: Half Day Interview
> On Thu, 8 May 1997, Michael Clark wrote:
...
> >
> > What in the world would we do over a half day?! Should I prepare for it
> > any any differently than I would other interviews?
> >

I'm kind of amazed at the response to this question--I can't remember having
an interview (other than an initial screen) that lasted less than half a day,
so I guess I don't make unfavorable judgements about the company based
on the length of the interview (I did make unfavorable judgements about one
company that didn't leave time for me to have a bathroom break, and, despite
keeping me there until 12:30, didn't take me to lunch).

Anyway, if they do it right, everyone who is interviewing you has seen your
resume so you don't have to tell your entire history to each person. The
interviewers ideally represent different specialties--a recent interview
included a technical writer, a localization specialist, the hiring manager,
HIS manager, the project manager I'd be working with, and a personnel
person. I know sometimes they like to have people who aren't involved in
the hiring decision take you to lunch, so that you can find out what it's
like to work there without affecting the outcome of the interview. Oh, and
in most interviews they show some concern for your physical comfort, and
offer you something to drink and let you visit the bathroom!

> Interviewing is a "feeling" out process for the both of you. It is kinda
> like dateing. It is real hard to form an intelligent opinion about someone
> in two hours. So be yourself, ask questions, and see if you are
> comfortable with THEM.

Maybe it's just my background, but I find it hard to believe that one person
can have perform an hour-long interview and then make a judgement about how
well the interviewee will perform on the job. Maybe in large companies,
another part of it is that having one person solely responsible for hiring
decisions would open them up more to claims of discrimination.

--Jeanette

--
Jeanette Feldhousen jeanette_feldhousen -at- mentorg -dot- com
Mentor Graphics Corporation
8005 SW Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, OR 97070

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