The Glade 4.0

Congratulations Taskiss, I hope the new job is everything you want it to be.

I imagine the interviews you have to do are a lot different than the ones I do.

Can someone explain why interviewers insist on asking questions that they must know will be responded to with blatant lies from every single applicant?

"What is your biggest weakness?"
"Rate your ability to perform (insert literally anything here) on a scale from 1 to 10." I don't care if it's an IT position and they're asking about your scuba diving ability, nobody is ever going to respond with a number less than eight.

That just means you're talking to a shitty interviewer.

I never lie and always undersell a bit, but I keep it in the context of the job description. My biggest weakness is whatever I'm lightest in from the job description... like WebMethods Administration... I've only done application support for that, never administration. As far as the 1-10 thing, I give totally honest answers.

I was told once that what they they wanted was someone who considered themselves a "rock star" and I flatly told him that I was by no means a rock star... than I only knew and worked with one person I would consider a rock star, a guy named Bill (someone I worked with that's in the $500 an hour range), and that I was good but not in that category.

Turns out, they knew him too, and agreed that there is only one Bill. How many people do you know that, when they start making suggestions, HP and EMC lead engineers stop what they're doing and start taking notes? And then the suggestion gets put in the next release... Literally. I've seen it.

I got the offer, but turned it down. The guy wasn't someone I wanted to work with.

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In time, this too shall pass.

If you can reply "That I work too hard and care too much." and keep a straight face, the job is yours.

****... what if that is not a lie?

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Darksiege
Traveller, Calé, Whisperer
Lead me not into temptation; for I know a shortcut

My wife could honestly say that (but wouldn't 'cause she don't believe it. She'd say she could always care just a bit more).

Me... not so much I like to pace myself.

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In time, this too shall pass.

Everyone gives that answer, or something similar to it. I think that's the answer they're looking for to see if you're a bullshitter.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

When I get asked, "What is your greatest weakness?"

My answer tends to be along the lines of:

"I remember a lot of information about our products, so I will use shorthand and cite articles and assume that my audience knows the content of those articles by the article number in our support resources. I have learned that when I start to see the puzzled expressions of people whom I am addressing that I need to slow down and use more elaborate information, explaining the content of the articles that they may refer to for more information or the relevance to the topic of discussion."

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Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself

Untrue.

And I have hired a (good) team on the basis of the folks willing to say what they didn't know, as well as what they did.

That is why interviewers ask those questions - not everyone lies, and sometimes, for quality delivery, you need people who care about their ability and the product of their work.

If I were asked to rate my skill in Scuba Diving, I was have no problem with giving myself a zero, or pehaps a one (i've seen it enough to know what it is and what the basic dangers are).

If someone chose not to hire me in my line of work for lack of skill in scuba diving, it's a job I wouldn't want anyway.

Interviewer: "What is your biggest weakness?"

Arathain: "I have a tendency to get overly focused on the project and the client; sometimes at the expense of administrative functions such as invoices, progress reports, and expense reports (paperwork in general). I have to make sure I schedule time to catch up on the paperwork, or it won't get done."

This is 100% true, and is a weakness. My opinion on that question is 1) show that you can self-critique, in a serious way. 2) After identifying your biggest weakness, ALWAYS follow it with a description of how you address it/keep it under control.

Great response. You demonstrate your knowledge, identify a clear weakness, and state how you address that weakness.

I can verify from experience with Katas that his statement is true; he is not lying when he says that.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Letter of resignation just sent.

I'll tell the folks at work tomorrow.

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In time, this too shall pass.

What if they hit you with a counter offer that blows you out of the water in the effort to retain your services?

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

I am sure The Bactrian will manage it well.

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Memento Vivere

I have local knowledge.
That sandbar was not there yesterday!

I've already accepted the offer from the new consulting company. I'm always honest and dependable 100% of the time, no exceptions. It's a big part of what I charge them for.

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In time, this too shall pass.

Unlike that one summer he worked as a goat milker. Got involved with the farmer's daughter...

Talk about a Drama-Dairy

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Holy shitsnacks!

*splats with pie!*

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Memento Vivere

I have local knowledge.
That sandbar was not there yesterday!

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Holy shitsnacks!

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Holy shitsnacks!

Lots of phone calls today, people being shocked and stuff. The bosses boss calling folks up, asking why I was upset (but not calling me). My co-workers know me, so they told him I wasn't mad, just wasn't crazy about the work and then got an offer I couldn't refuse.

He was like "He should have told me he wasn't happy"! and they were like "He did tell you, you told him and everyone else in the quarterly meetings that the strategic direction of the business was changing". Thing is, I don't complain. It's their position, it's my career, and we're both free agents to do with them what we want. I got no cause for complaint.

From what I gather, my customers aren't happy and are calling him complaining. It's nice and all, but I'm figuring there is more to it than that. Politics is pretty heavy these days (till they can finally start selling the damn airplane) and tensions are high.

What IS nice though is that the feedback I'm getting is that I can come back (again) whenever I want. Never outstay your welcome.

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In time, this too shall pass.

I'm not saddle broke. Heck, I'm barely house broke!

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In time, this too shall pass.

Meetings with customers, getting called into 1-on-1's with bosses, etc, all because I'm leaving.

One interesting question was asked by my management team - "If you had been asked before this to become a perm employee, would you have done it and would you still be leaving"?

Oddly enough, after a moment of thought my answer was "yes and no". I would have taken it and I would be staying. It's funny 'cause I never thought of it before being the question was asked.

Turns out, getting me hired was something folks were trying to do for quite a while. Oh well.

I told them that this was my third time at the company and second on a contract, perhaps the fourth time's a charm. Major NOT burning of bridges going on now.

Oh, and my boss said that not only would he hire me again in a minute, he'd work for me. I'm glad he didn't ask me if I'd want him to.

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In time, this too shall pass.