Job Interview

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:14 pm

I hope it's ok to post this here --- I am very nervous --- I have a JOB INTERVIEW Tuesday morning! The job I have now is hellish---and the new job sounds very promising. Wish me luck!

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:18 pm

I wish you success, Terrie!

Walk into that room like you own the world, with confidence and poise and you will have a better chance at getting it. Employer's like to see self-confidence in a person. Look them in the eye when you give a firm handshake. Remain calm and stay polite and business-like. Look them in the eye when talking and keep your hands and body still. Body language is a major part of getting employed.

Let us know how it goes.

-1bigsteve (o:

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:47 pm

Thank you Steve! I will interview with a panel of 10 people and need to show familiarity in at least 3 of 5 areas (substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, womens issues, learning disorders) and the interview is in *behavioral* format --- those *tell us about a time when you.....* type questions. The closer it gets, the more nervous I get. Your suggestions are great!

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:04 pm

Terrie, Steve is absolutely right. Great advice, Steve. The only thing I would add is to talk in a business-like manner, keep the tone of your voice low keyed. I think you will find that if you walk into that interview with Steve's advice in mind, you will actually feel confident and poised - your tone of voice will then follow without you having to keep it in check; a person's tone of voice reflects how they feel. Good luck, Terrie. Let us how the interview goes.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:28 pm

Good luck tomorrow, Terrie. Hope it all goes your way. 1bigsteve's advice is right on.

Psssst ... Don't mention you're a Bordenite. It's too hard to explain!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 11:32 pm

All good wishes on your big day. My husband is also interviewing for a job tomorrow-it must be that the stars are in alignment for big doings! Good Luck!

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:50 pm

Thanks for the good vibes! That was an intimidating interview...a table full of poker faces!

Thanks Harry for the tip about not revealing being a Bordenite---it is indeed hard to explain. I found that out once when I blurted it out at a family function... hee hee!

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:52 pm

Hope you have good news soon!

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:35 pm

Well---the director is checking my references---that sounds good! She has had long conversations with my references too, and seems interested.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:34 pm

What job are you applying for Terrie ?

Tracy...

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:42 am

It's called Targeted Assessment and it's a program run through University of Kentucky. The basic idea is to help people on welfare and living in poverty to live better lives and be able to get off welfare by removing some of the power of the things that keep them stuck --- like addiction, domestic violence, learning disabilities, mental health issues, etc. I'd be assessing peoples needs and referring them to places where they could get help and, hopefully, get better.

I've been a chemical dependency counselor for the last decade :) and I think this would be a nice change of pace... and it would mean my chance to move to Bardstown, which is a sweet little town about an hour away from here. I'd also get to meet and work with people out in the state (vs) just in my city (Louisville, Ky), so there is some networking too.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:18 am

Sounds like you've been "short listed", which is very positive! Best of luck!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:26 am

Looks like you've cleared the first hurdle, Terrie. Hopefully you will receive some good news shortly.

Now, about my addiction to the Borden case .......

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:21 am

Harry @ Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:26 am wrote:Looks like you've cleared the first hurdle, Terrie. Hopefully you will receive some good news shortly.

Now, about my addiction to the Borden case .......

Speaking of addictions, I'm hoarding the same type of hatchet as Lizzie's HH. I don't need them. Any cure for this hang-up, Dr. Terrie?

All teasing aside, I hope you get the job. If you don't there are others out there. Don't ever get discouraged!

-1bigsteve (o:

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:03 pm

Aww thanks! You all are the best!

errrm...sorry ... no treatment for Bordenaholism...or hatchet hoarding.

SallyG · Post by **SallyG** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:12 pm

Hope you get good news soon, Terrie. Personally, I love job interviews..I find them a real challenge...I love to see if I performed well enough to get a job offer!

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:07 pm

No news yet on the new job. My old job ends tonight at 10:30 pm and then, for the first time in about 15 years, I will be officially unemployed! That scares me.

They told me at the interview that it would be some weeks before I ehard about the new job --- so -- there is still some hope there. And I have some resources to rely upon. It's just hard to be *in between*!

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:13 pm

Maybe the time off will be a nice break! Hope you hear back soon....with good news!

Cheryl · Post by **Cheryl** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:54 pm

Terrie-
Hang in there, kick your feet up and enjoy a nice long glass of good wine tonight. You just closed a chapter. That's impressive, and worth celebrating!

I know the *in between* times can be scary. But God's got great things in store for you. :) People like you who have a heart for service have the world at their feet. You will do well.

And Bardstown? LUCKY!!!!! I stayed at the Bardstown Inn and the Olde Jailors Inn in '05 and LOVED it. I think Kentucky is one of the most beautiful (and haunted) places I've ever visited. I'm so envious!!!

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:14 pm

Awwww---thanks Cheryl!

I love Bardstown...and, yes, it has many ghosts. I took a ghost tour there a couple years ago --- lots and lots of orbs.

I suppose they told you that Jesse James used to hide out in the Old Talbot Inn (next to the Jailors Inn) --- they still have bullet holes in the walls from where he shot at a bird that was annoying him in his room. The Talbot is quite haunted, as well.

Cheryl · Post by **Cheryl** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:30 pm

Oh, that's right...it was called the Talbot Inn. Awesome place!!

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:28 pm

Well, I am at a loss. The job interview went well, and they thoroughly checked my references. The Division Director told me repeatedly that I would get a phone call if I got the job or a letter if I did not. Thursday night(Aug30) , she called and left a message for me to call her. I called her Friday morning and left a message on her phone. She did not call back. Saturday (Sept 1), I got a rejection letter in the mail; it was dated Wednesday (Aug29).

I don't know what to make of all of this. Why on earth did she call?

Smudgeman · Post by **Smudgeman** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:11 am

That does not make sense that she would call Terrie, sorry to hear that, I am at the same place you are right now.
I don't know if you have heard about the mortgage meltdown, but the mortgage company I have worked at for the last 7 years filed for bankruptcy, went out of business, and sent us all home on August 10th. We got no severance package at all, they just kicked us to the curb. I have been on unemployment for the 1st time in my life. I have been sending out resumes like crazy, and have had 1 interview so far. I never thought I would be 46 and unemployed! It is a very scary thing.

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:37 am

Oh wow Smudge---I hate to hear that! It is scarey to be unemployed in this day and age... and no severence package?! That is awful!

I have a deep sense of faith that keeps going even when I am tired of hearing it myself...lol. Anyway, I know that things work out in the end, usually better than they were before. It is just so hard to *not know* what comes next.

I, too, sent out a whirlwind of resumes (can do that online now in a matter of minutes---yea!), but I do not want to be desperate and *take anything*. Having had a job I HATED for years, I have no interest in going from the frying pan to the fire.

I am trying to stay open minded and positive. There are openings here for chemical dependency counselors, but the pay is sooooo low, $10,000-$12,000 less than I was making (the company I worked for was well known for paying *competitively* to get people and feel they could treat us like garbage). It's not that I insist on big bucks...but I am single and have bills to pay. I don't think I can realistically give up that much money.

Deep down, as pessimistic as I can be, I really am an idealist... almost to the point of naivete. I hate it that people have to go through this sort of thing... it seems so unnecessary and frightening. I wish life was easier and less complicated... and less scarey. Boy, have I been arguing with God! I have, I guess, an idea of Utopia where people just help each other and are good to each other and treat each other well... and no one has to worry about how they'll get by.

Maybe we can keep each other going in the right direction :)

Smudgeman · Post by **Smudgeman** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:26 pm

I am trying to stay positive and open minded to the future as well, but is tough when you are accustom to a certain lifestyle and rate of pay. I applied at a bank, and they offered me $10,000 less a year than what I was making before! Thanks but no thanks, I am not willing to just settle either, and definitely can not afford to take a pay cut that large.

I really loved my last job, so it was a shock and a big disappointment to lose it. I loved the people I worked with, the only thing I did not like was the drive back and forth in bumper to bumper traffic. Living on an unemployment check is no picnic either, you have to really budget yourself while you are searching for the "unknown".

Terrie- have you tried looking in to working for your state? Sometimes they offer good positions for people with your background. I have a friend who has a masters in Psychology, and she works for the state of Georgia at a crisis line. The pay is mediocre, but the benefits are excellent. I will be pulling for you, and I am certain you will find the right job for you. You know the old cliche, "When one door closes, another one opens."

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:45 pm

Well, I spoke with the Division Director today about the job. She says they were sad to send the letter, they were very impressed with my resume, I interviewed great, and they wanted me on the team -- but it came down to 2 people, and, ultimately, to the references. She wanted to let me know that they are going to be hiring again in November/December and to please re-apply because they'd love to have me.

I think I need to re-think my reference choices. I don't think anyone said anything negative, but my former supervisor has a way of wording things and being cryptic and hedges the questions and that sort of thing. That was one of the things that drove me crazy when I was there! I think he needs to not be on my list.

Smudgeman · Post by **Smudgeman** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:50 pm

Sometimes people who you think would give you a great reference turn out to be a road block in your search for employment. I am happy to say that I was offered a job today and accepted it! It is a great opportunity, and better yet, it is 5 minutes from my house! No more sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, I can kiss the corporate world goodbye. I was looking to get out of the mortgage industry after the recent meltdown, and apply my skills and experience towards a new career. I will be a credit manager for a flooring company. I am so excited, and a bit nervous as well. I will be making more money than I did before, and I will be saving so much money on gas, as well as wear and tear on my car. I used to have to get up at 5 am every morning to commute, now I can have a morning at home with my dogs, and leisurely get to work by 8:30. I can come home for lunch, and stay up later since I will have no commute. I am soooooooooo happy!!! I guess good things can really happen from a devastating situation. Hopefully I can contribute more to the forum now, I have been so preoccupied with my problems, that I could not concentrate on anything enjoyable. Terrie, I think you said you were gainfully employed in another thread? I hope things are looking up for you as well.

terrie · Post by **terrie** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:22 pm

Wow--WTG Smudgeman!

Lol---I said I was gainfully unemployed.

I really think it was my ex supervisor (the one I have hjad a crush on too!). He made a comment shortly after the interview (to a co worker who is a friend of mine) that he knew I wouldn't get that job and I'd be eating beans from a can. I just found that out.

Cheryl · Post by **Cheryl** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:26 am

Terrie, I'm wondering why she called, too. Perhaps she wants to speak with you personally about another opportunity.

With the Holiday weekend, the quickest she'd try you again would have been Tuesday. If nothing, I'd try today one more time, on the off chance that she'd like to discuss something further. Worse case scenario, you get a chance to thank her one last time for the opportunity. But I think she might have something further to say.