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Career Blog: Interview Tips

Last week one of my close friends was asked to interview for a new position at his current employer. Since he knew that I am often asked by my company to run interviews, he wanted to bounce ideas past me. This request turned into a full on mock interview. My friend told me that my advice helped and I wanted to document (some of) it for my readers.

[Behavioral Questions]

I am often asked to run the behavioral interviews; while I follow the rules of the interview process (scoring, feedback, etc), I always rely on my intuition and instinct when recommending a candidate. For me to make a decision, I need to get to know them as well as I can in the 30-60 minutes I am allotted (not just how well they answer canned questions). I level set with the candidates and tell them general things I am NOT looking to hear. I am often asked to interview college hires and they typically use the group project example for overcoming conflict (“someone in our group didn’t do the work and I had to tell my professor/confront the person”). I politely let them know that almost every candidate will use it and they won’t stand out; I then hint at other areas they might use (since they don’t have much experience).

I notice that most people have issues with conflict questions: that is completely understandable due to the corporate world’s focus on teamwork. Most people will avoid conflict at work at all costs, so these questions are difficult to answer. My suggestion is to make up a villain in your head. Don’t pull this person out of thin air, combine a few difficult co-workers and maybe add a dash of an estranged relative or friend to give you something to work with. Think about how you dealt with several uncomfortable situations and turn them into one person. Think about this for a few days before the interview.

The point of any behavioral interview is to understand your thought process. Many of the questions DON’T have a happy ending, the questions just want to see how you can handle a no-win situation. There is no shame is calling out that you can’t satisfy the question as long as you articulate why. Always mention the added impact of attempting futile endeavors (other efforts suffer, stress on resources, etc) – it shows you know when to cut your losses.

General Thoughts:

  • I have always said that first interviews and first dates are very similar. If you are terrible at one, I am guessing you will be bad at the other

  • Remember, both sides have something to gain from fulling/taking this job. As the person being interviewed, don’t think that the company has all the cards. I’ll admit that this mentality is easier if you looking to switch jobs, not unemployed.

  • Like any long term relationship, you want to know what you are getting into. Google/internet search the company you are interviewing at and also pull a few different job descriptions (from other companies) for the job you are looking to fill. Have a complete idea of what will be asked of you.

  • Don’t be too guarded on an interview, open up and let the interviewer get to know you. On the other side, don’t get TOO personal (don’t talk about how you have 15 cats unless you are running a non-profit shelter).

[Job-Specific Questions]

This section is obviously harder to give advice for since specific details are needed. One of the key things I can’t stress enough for both your resume and interview is to focus on delivery. Have statistics on processes fixed (example: “I reduced customer complains by 35% by doing the following…”), money saved, people mentored… anything that shows you have been keeping track of your own personal job performance (if you are not doing that now – DO IT). When preparing for the interview, think about all the problems you have dealt with or continually face at your current or most recent job – how do you deal with them? Mistakes and problems are how people learn, use that education as the backbone for your discussion – the people you are interviewing with probably have the same problems (any maybe you got to the solution sooner).

For skill gaps, have talking points that discuss how fast you came to speed on stretch assignment at your other jobs. This is not a sure-fire technique because some things are hard requirements, but it’s better than nothing.

[Conclusion]

Keep the first date idea in your head: nobody wants to date someone who is angry about an old flame (or job), egotistical, incompetent, too shy/introverted, or just plan old weird. If you think you are lacking in a certain area, PRACTICE! Get in front of the mirror to work on your delivery and eye contract. Find behavioral questions on the internet and practice answering them (I like to type it all out and keep a database of answers). I love the interview process; if I am the one being asked the questions… being able to prove I am the best person for the job and finding that “Ah-ha” moment in the interviewer’s eyes when they agree is awesome. On the other side, finding a great candidate and helping someone move on with their career is extremely gratifying.

I know it’s hard out there and you might not be doing something you enjoy, but keep working at it by making the steps you need to be where you want. Good luck getting the job you want.

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Concert Review: John Mayer @ The Wachovia Center, Philadelphia Pa

Headline Act: John Mayer
Location: Wachovia Center
City: Philadelphia, Pa
Date: February 21st, 2010
Opening Act: Michael Franti and Spearhead

[Pre-Concert Logistics]

Having been to concerts at the Wachovia Center before, the only issue I had was when I purchased the tickets, my only delivery option was will-call which meant we had to stand in line to get them (I bought the tickets months ago). The long line moved fast so it wasn’t a big deal. We were lucky to get good seats (third row) and getting down to the floor to our seats also was not as easy as it should have been, but again, not a big deal. One last thing: I have to throw in my gripe about people standing in the front rows so you have no option but to stand if you want to see. Now that it was said, I will move on.

[Opening Act]

I have never heard of Michael Franti and Spearhead before tonight. The band had several backup singers and a high energy vibe. They reminded me of a summer bar band: bright summery tones, an eclectic mixture of musicians who just seemed to enjoy playing. Franti ran out into the crowd several times and brought up little kids on stage to dance. Nice friendly people, good tone. In between sets, the band came to the front of the stage to sign autographs, which was pretty classy.

As for the music itself, as I said – summery pop music with island influence. They weren’t the greatest band I ever saw in my life, but they were very good. I appreciated that the booking agents didn’t hire some Mayer singer-songwriter wannabe to bore the crowd. I would like to see this band outside and near water – I can see the summer concert series at the Pier in their future.

[John Mayer]

John Mayer came on at 9:30 PM. He kicked the show off with a song from the newest album – “Heartbreak Warfare” All of the tunes from “Warfare” sounded better live (with the exception of the “Crossroads” cover which should just be buried). By the third or fourth song, Mayer started to banter with the crowd and read a sign near us that said “I can play Belief”. The sign was held up by a boy no older than 11 (his name was Austin). Mayer brought him right up and to the delight of the crowd, Austin totally nailed it. After a few minutes, he allowed the kid to leave but gave him a cherry red Fender guitar to take home. I always thought John was a decent guy and that was a very cool thing for him to do.

The night continued with Mayer showcasing his extraordinary guitar skills and light banter with the crowd. Every song and every jam was excellent. At one point he teased playing “Stop this Train” but the crowd pushed for “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” (which was great) – I was bummed that he didn’t play the other song because it is one of my favorites, but the crowd must be appeased.

I can’t say enough good things about the show. Mayer is a professional and gives the audience a fantastic show. We left at 11:20 PM and he was still going. I don’t know what time he finished but I was pleased and satisfied with the two hours I watched. Take my advice: Stop reading the tabloids and just listen to the guy’s music, go out and buy his live DVD to see what kind of musician he really is. You won’t be disappointed (unless you want to be).

UPDATE: I also want to make note of one of Mayer’s other guitar players Robbie McIntosh. McIntosh played with a slew of bands including the Pretenders and Paul McCartney. He is an excellent guitar player that (of course) gets overshadowed by Mayer. If you happen to catch future shows, watch this guy play, he is fraking fantastic. Mayer also scores massive points for bringing Steve Jordan from the Trio project on the road as his primary drummer. That guy is AWESOME!

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Thoughts on Working from Home

It’s the American dream: roll out of bed, put on your slippers, and start your work day. Your commute can be as short as reaching over to your night-stand, grabbing your laptop, and turning it on. Almost any worker would love to be able to work from home and an ever increasing number of companies are allowing their workers to do it. Being a frequent remote worker, let’s talk about the pros and cons for corporations and for the workers

PROS:

  • Workers have more flexibility with home/work life. Theoretically, this enable workers to be more productive. The ever decreasing line between home and work becomes almost invisible (which isn’t for the weak at heart).

  • Reduced office overhead: Reduction in real estate needs, network strain, office equipment, office supplies

  • Reduced stress on transportation: Less traffic on the roads, less people on the trains

  • Better labor pool for organizations (essentially every market)

  • Privacy: Assuming you are working alone at home in a home office, you can be a loud as you want, have conversations on speaker phone, don’t have to worry about offending someone sharing a cubical wall with you

  • Better tools: My monitor is better at home, my chair, keyboard, and phone are all better in quality and functionality. Hell, my internet connection is MUCH faster at home. If I could use my own PC, that would also be better.

  • Reduced Costs: In a time where companies aren’t giving out raises and are given no options to reward employees – working from home allows workers to save money on travel (gas, train fees, parking, wear on your car), food (I buy when I am in the office), and clothes.

  • Not involved in rumor-mongering

CONS:

  • Less face-to-face time inhibits team building

  • As a worker, if you are not seen and heard – are you being forgotten? (See the last few paragraphs)

  • Invites the possibility of massive slacking

  • You aren’t as informed of issues/chatter that might impact your job

  • Infrastructure cost: VPN and virtual desktop infrastructure like Citrix are needed so workers can actually work (I have a whole counter point this issue, but I will save it for another article)

The last two years I have found myself working from home more often and it is most definitely a perk to my current job that I enjoy a great deal, but with great power comes great responsibility. Many managers fear that their employees are sitting at home and performing personal tasks and errands instead of working. I cannot speak for other remote users, but allow me to share insight into my remote work day:

6:45 AM – 7:30 AM: Eat breakfast, catch up on personal email, get my mind ready for the work day
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM: I start my day and catch up on emails and paperwork
9:00 AM – Noon: I am in a block of teleconference meetings during this period – EVERY DAY
Noon – 1 PM: Assuming I don’t have a lunch time meeting, I will go to the gym
1:00 – 2:00 PM: This is the witching hour for project managers – I don’t know why.
2:00 – 4:00 PM: More Meetings
4:00 – 5:00 PM: People don’t seem to set meetings at this time as they are leaving the office, I typically catch up on emails
5:00 – 6:00 PM: I cook dinner and eat with my wife
6:30 – 8:00 PM: I typical check emails, speak with my manager who is finally coming up for air, and do any reports/paper work that I need to get done.

10 hour work day every single day. Some days I don’t leave my desk for 8-10 hours. Slacking? I don’t think so. Now let’s review a day in the office.

NOTE: I car-pool with my wife unless there is a situation that would warrant me driving another car to the same location, because of this, I am on her schedule the days I go into the office because she has more specific requirements around when she has to be in and when she can leave.

5:50 AM – 6:30 AM – Wake up and get ready to go to the office
6:30 AM – 7:10 AM – Traveling to the train station (this can take 20-40 minutes depending on traffic)
7:10 AM – 7:45 AM – Take train into the city, walk to office building
7:45 AM – 8:15 AM – Get PC started, open email, run down to the cafeteria to get breakfast (oatmeal if you were wondering)
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM – Conversations: either in the cafeteria or people coming to their desks, the good morning hellos and water cooler talk starts. I am usually 5 minutes late to my 9 AM
9:00 AM – Noon: Same block of meetings
Noon – 1:00 PM: Lunch (typically at my desk answering emails)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Same block of meetings
4:00 PM – 5:15 PM: Travel home
5:00 PM – 6:15 PM – Gym
6:15 PM – 7:15 PM – Dinner
7:15 PM – On: Veg out on the couch

I am much less productive on the days that I go into the office and I am far less inclined to come home and sign in after a long day (and I don’t have kids to deal with – which is another point I will get to). A major productivity impact is the office environment itself: I have to be concerned about volume control (I am loud, everyone around me lets me know…), who is overhearing sensitive job related conversations in the isle (which often forces me into hiding in conference rooms or un-used offices). When I don’t put myself in a private location, I am often interrupted on calls from people stopping by to ask questions or just to say hi – this is a perspective that people who have had offices for years tend to forget (it’s easy to have an open door policy when you know it can be closed and people will respect that). All that complaining aside, working from home is most definitely a privilege – and like any privilege, it shouldn’t be abused. A worker shouldn’t run out for 2 or 3 hours at a time and not be accessible without telling anyone. W@h shouldn’t be used for daycare: to this point, when I have children, I will be going into the office every day. A child cannot understand why you can’t talk to them during a teleconference and I don’t want to have to explain it, that’s when it’s time to give up the dream (at least until they are in school).

The managerial fear of workers abusing the remote office is strong. In my experience, managers seem to think that if a worker isn’t in the office, they aren’t working. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are people who abuse the system, but I am willing to bet they would have performance issues in or out of the office. If someone isn’t getting their work done, revoke their right to work remotely – its that simple. The same managers who worry about their employees not being on-site are usually stuck on the phone all day themselves, barely leaving their offices and most definitely not out shaking hands and kissing babies, what value does it add to manager or worker? Managers need to resolve their trust issues and have confidence in their ability to adjust to managing remote workers. There has been a 74% increase in remote work since 2005,there are now 17 million people telecommuting at least once a week and 20.7 million people working part time and starting business in their homes, remote work is not a fad, and should be a means for a company to reduce costs to off-set rising operational increases and health insurance costs.

Just because you can work from home all week, doesn’t mean you should. Assuming you don’t live hundreds of miles from your home office, you should set up a schedule with your team and manager so you are all in the office at the same time. Once or twice a week is really enough to “feel like part of the team” and getting the benefits from remote office. The hybrid approach allows companies to save on real estate if they go to a “hotel-office” set-up, where people come in and work in unassigned cubes. In my opinion, this is absolutely the best possible work arrangement.

The corporate world is at an interesting crossroads: Personal and home-based technology is surpassing the tools available in the work place. Companies that need to lock down their employees due to security risk concerns are not keeping up with productivity and communication tools that are revolutionizing the way people function in the other areas of their lives. In many cases these tools are free (I know this is a security issue for most companies), or have very low cost secure pay models that have little to no downside (I am looking at you Google apps). The corporate world needs to get a handle on what is going on with technology and how people work because they are letting money fly out the door by paying for tools that just don’t work as well as low-cost alternatives. I am mentioning these tools because they will only further-enable the remote worker revolution.

More to come true be-loggers.

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Would I let my daughter date Lloyd Dobler?

NOTE: Lloyd Dobler is a fictional character from the movie “Say Anything”. If you haven’t seen the movie, turn on the crappy free movie channels that your cable provider offers, I am sure it will be on. Go ahead, I will wait. If you can’t find it, here is a decent synopsis by the late great Gene Siskel

Since the holiday season, I have noticed the 1989 teen romance flick “Say Anything” has been broadcast in constant rotation. Sometimes I watch it, other times I pass, but over my lifetime, I must have watched this film at least 40 times. I first came across Say Anything before my teenage years, wasting my summer away watching early morning USA network block of youth-focused movies (No Class Movie Daze). I returned to the film the year I graduated high school, coming away with a much better understanding of the characters and developed a long-held appreciation for the character of Lloyd Dobler.

Turning 30, my focus is far away from teenage movies and my mind often drifts to the probability/possibility of having children (in which I am convinced I will have daughters). What kind of father will I be to my future-made-up daughters? How will I react when they eventually bring boys home? Will I play it cool like my father-in-law? Will I be terrifying like my own father (I didn’t feel much sympathy for my brother-in-law in those days, but he had it on that fateful evening)? Will I be a dismissive asshole like the character John Mahoney played in Say Anything?

As I watch the film as an adult, the charm of the John Cusack’s Lloyd Dobler isn’t as universal as it once was (and Diane Court has gone from being slightly annoying to intolerable). Dobler’s whole rant about “not knowing what he wants to do, but knows what he doesn’t want to do” was mind blowing for my 17-year-old self, but now it seems aimless and self-indulgent. I once considered Lloyd’s struggle to find a “dare to be great situation” awesome, and now I understand that I have to attempt to make every moment great. I often wonder how a 45-48 year old me would react to a kid wearing a trench coat telling me he doesn’t want “buy anything, sell anything, process anything sold…” fuck it just check out the clip:

So here we have this dreamer, this “champion of mediocrity” as Mahoney puts it, attempting to date my daughter. Would I be relieved that he was able to form complete sentences (something his peers would probably falter at)? Would I be impressed with his travels? Or would I focus in on the fact that he has no ambitions besides kicking a punching bag and having a creepy stalker-style situation happening with my daughter. How pissed off would I be when this kid pulls up behind my house and starts blasting a poor man’s version of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” to get her attention?

It mildly depresses me that a character that I held in high regard at 17, I view as a bit of a fuck-up in the “twilight of my youth” (thank you Ryan Adams). While I find it disturbing that I can empathize with Mahoney’s Jim Court, I can’t help but think he had the right reaction to Lloyd: Dobler followed his daughter to London, and let’s face it, you know she isn’t going to get the full experience of her educational opportunity with Lloyd to come home to every night. He is going to ride her coat-tales until she figures out that too many punches to the head has caused minor brain damage, limiting Lloyd’s job choices. Diane will realize that she has wasted her youth on a functionally retarded adult and leave him sad and lonely (and in the rain). Maybe he will get lucky and some emo girl will find his plight endearing and let him cut the soup line.

God damn-it… I sold out.

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I reached my goal!

In August of this year, Google trending reported at least one person from every state in the US had visited my blog except three. I made it a goal on that day to get someone from those three states to come and visit the site, and I am pleased to say that has happened.

I want to thank everyone who has read the blog and checked out the other websites this year. I do this because I enjoy it and I hope you do too.

I guess next year is a completely green global map? Not sure if all of those white spaces have internet access regularly (but I am going to find out). I am glad people are out there reading. Thanks for a great 2009. Hope you stick around for 2010.

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The Best of 2009 Entertainment

In addition to yesterday’s Top 10+ Albums of the Decade, I am going to do a run down of the best of this year with both music and movies (I would do books, but I have no idea when half the stuff I read was published). Honestly, there wasn’t much that really impressed me this year, so here it is – no specific order again.

[Best Albums of 2009]

Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

I struggled with not putting this album on the best of the decade since it is so fresh in my mind. I honestly do think it stacks up, but I am holding off (I did that with much of the 2009 output). Neko Case’s voice is a fucking massive storm with breaks of light at the center vortex. This album is inventive and clever. Her backing band is fantastic. Great album from front to back and a wonderful concept tying the whole thing together.

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

The band’s major label debut is satisfyingly restrained. When I heard Rick Rubin was going to produce it, I assumed he would put his stink all over it. He didn’t. The boys are still staying true to their sound. I noted in previous blogs that there are a few questionable song selections that don’t seem to fit, regardless, the output is wonderful.

Conor Oberst – Outer South

This album DID make my year decade list. The Mystic Valley Band is something special and I hope Oberst known what he has with these guys. Here is a clip I took MYSELF at a concert in Delaware (it sucks but you saw the good one yesterday).

Them Crooked Vultures – Self Titled Album

Take Led Zeppelin + Foo Fighters + Queens of the Stone Age and you have Them Crooked Vultures.

Ben Harper & The Relentless 7 – White Lies for Dark Times

Harper brings the rock and a back-up band.

[Best Movies of 2009]

I saw a ton of movies this year, and I have to say I was underwhelmed by most of them (I am looking at you Watchmen and Terminator: Salvation). Some showed tons of promise, but you had to overlook so much (District 9). In many cases, the acting was excellent, but the movie was just so-so (500 Days of the Summer). While I try to love horror movies, they always screw things up so badly they become unwatchable (Drag Me to Hell). So anyway, here are the movies that I think were outstanding this year.

Star Trek

There are a ton of plot holes and I don’t give a shit. This movie was awesome. How do I know? My wife hates Star Trek and she liked it. JJ Abrams is the man. He managed to reboot everything without pissing off the geeks (FYI – I am NOT a Star Trek geek – I never got into Star Trek/Star Wars beyond watching it because it was on).

UP

This movie gives you a very unexpected punch in the gut in the first 20 minutes that I don’t think many adults will recover from. Younger kids won’t get it. Overall a delightful movie. Great for kids and adults, the animation is top notch as is the voice acting.

Inglorious Basterds

Totally alternative history with the way we all hopped WWII would end.

Up in the Air

I recently saw this movie, but it definitely belongs on this list. The characters are real, the problems are real, and the ending is real. The whole backdrop of the job terminations in the current economic climate puts the movie over the edge.

Zombieland

The Bill Murray cameo alone puts this movie on the list. Zombie Comedies are 2 for 2 (Zombie Strippers does not count!)

[Best Television of 2009]

Some of the favorites are still alive like “How I Met Your Mother”, “30 Rock”, and “Weeds” but here are some of the standouts this year (and some new things that I think might be worth your time).

The Big Bang Theory

It took me a few years to like this show. I thought it was stereotypical nerds doing nerd things. And while the nerds do nerd things – they are doing REAL nerd things. They aren’t building bullshit flux capacitors, the science they talk about is real, the shows they obsess over are real, the comic speak is legit… the acting (especially the guy who plays Sheldon) is outstanding.

Life After People

Documentary series that tells what happens to the world after people are gone.

Dexter

Last year’s season was a bit of a letdown but they stepped it up big time this year. I will say no more but the last episode of the season left me with my jaw dropped.

Stargate Universe

I liked the first few seasons of the original Stargate series, but it got overwhelming keeping track. I think the creators realized this and kept things simple on this series. 30 people stuck on an ancient space ship – they can’t control it, and they don’t know where it’s going. The only supplies they have is what they had on them when they arrived. Less sci-fi geek, more survival character driven show.

Cooking with the Neelys

Pork in everything. EVERYTHING. I love this show.

[Best Comics of 2009]

This was one of those build up years in comics where story-lines are being set up for massive cross overs in 2010. As a result most comics from the big publishers felt a bit forced and formulaic. Some of the big expected payoffs this year underwhelmed while a few sleeper hits came out of nowhere. Overall, from a creative perspective, 2009 was a little weak, but I think there will be reward in the next year. With that said, I think there were a few shining examples.

1. The Mighty by Peter Tomasi and Keith Champagne

This limited series by DC takes the typical “superman” concept and turns it on it’s head. The comic doesn’t go the typical “superman is a bastard” route that has happened in other series. Tomasi keeps you guessing as to what the true motivations are for his Alpha One character and with one issue left in this 12 issue maxi-series, I am on the edge of my seat. The first 6 issues have been collected in trade format and I suggest you check it out.

2. Power Girl by Palmiotti, Gray, and Conner

Buy this book for Amanda Conner’s art alone. She draws this typically busty character with an irreverence that is comical and heartwarming. The over-arching plot is typical superhero shit, but the snappy one liners and the character’s interactions with the world are outstanding.

3. Green Lantern/Blackest Night by Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi (and a host of others)

This comic should have been the no brainer best comic of 2009 for me. Writer Geoff Johns has been leading up to this event for 4.5 years and now that it is here, I am slightly underwhelmed. I feel like the story has to hit certain beats to move all the side stories along and meet deadlines. Because of this, the flagship comics feel over scripted and aren’t given any room for character moments. While Johns is pulling the strings on this project, writer Pete Tomasi has been given the breathing room to tell a good story over at the Green Lantern Corp title, but that series feels like it is stalling for the other titles to kick into high gear. Overall the resolution of almost five years of story-lines is satisfying and is being done very well. It’s just not mind-blowing.

4. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

It has been one of my favorites since it started. This comic about a post apocalyptic zombie infested world isn’t about zombies, it’s about the people who have managed to survive. Always excellent for almost 70 issues.

5. The Boys by Garth Ennis

Violent, Graphic, and foul-mouthed. This comic set out to piss all over typical superhero comics and has succeeded. Originally under a DC Comics owned company, Ennis had to move it to another publisher due to some very controversial story-lines. Bad for DC, good for us.