Analyze my interview?

[steph96]

I had an interview for a potentially awesome position today. The hiring manager started off working in my current position (and even worked under my shitty manager) and then became manager of the our sister department. He left that department 10 years ago to go work at his current position. One of my references worked under him in our sister department. When he left, she took over his job. My reference gushed about how awesome he is, but warned me that he is the definition of a socially awkward, nerdy accountant but he is still one of the best people that she has ever worked with.

I think I did well at the interview. I wasn't nervous. Conversation flowed well. He is definitely awkward, but so am I. We chatted about how this position came about, what they do, and all the general department information. He asked about how my current duties and how they have changed she he did them 10 years ago. He was really shocked by how much the volume has increased. He said something about how absolutely amazing it is that I was promoted so quickly--especially over in my department--it's almost unheard of, so it must mean a lot about my work ethic. Then he asked me a few questions (what are my career goals, what is my biggest strength, what is one of the biggest challenges I have faced at work, what do I think would make a good employee in his department, if he were to call my references what would they say about me). That's it. He had a page full of questions, but he only asked about a third of them. I really don't know how it went.

Part of me thinks it went really well. I was confident. I had a good response to all the questions. He used to have my job so he knows what I'm capable of. All of his old friends that work in my building would rave about me.

Part of me thinks it was terrible. It only lasted around 30
or 40 minutes. He didn't ask me very many questions. He didn't ask when I would be able to start (but he did tell me the hiring timeline at the very end). He kinda rushed me out the door (but it was 5:00pm. They scheduled me on less than 24 hours notice and skipping lunch and leaving an hour early was all I could swing). BUT he was talking about one of my huge reconciliations and how hard it was to meet the deadline. Then he asked if I have ever missed the deadline. I was honest and said that I did once or twice even though I worked a ton of overtime, but it was due to major issues and gave him an example of what happened (manager's prioritizing of duties while short staffed). I was kicking myself the whole time we talked about it. Grr.

I know that nobody will be able to read the manager's mind, but can you guys offer any insight into how you think it went?

[kaylie]

Based on what you've said here I think it went well. I have never been asked when I could start until the verbal offer was made, so the absence of that question doesn't strike me as a bad sign.

[crashgizmo]

Hm that's hard to tell. When he told you about the timeline, were there more interviews involved? Often times I will keep a first interview short if I know I am going to advance them.

[msmerymac]

I think you were right to be truthful and explain what you did. It sounds like it went pretty well. He probably has several interviews lined up, which is why he didn't jump right into when you could start, but telling you the timeline is good. Fingers crossed.

[drloretta]

I think I went well. In your situation you're bound to over think. Send a nice TY reiterating your interest

[spunkarella]

Sounds like it went well, but it's always hard to tell for sure. Fingers crossed for you! How long was their timeline?

[steph96]

Apr 24, 2015 18:57:44 GMT -5 crashgizmo said:

Hm that's hard to tell. When he told you about the timeline, were there more interviews involved? Often times I will keep a first interview short if I know I am going to advance them.

They said they had 3 interviews today and 2-3 on Monday. They are hoping to have a decision made by the end of the month and have the employee start by the end of May at the latest. They are really trying to rush it so that the retiring employee can train them before she leaves at the end of June.

spunkarella

[steph96]

Apr 24, 2015 19:20:53 GMT -5 drloretta said:

I think I went well. In your situation you're bound to over think. Send a nice TY reiterating your interest

Thank you for reminding me about this! I have been so caught up replaying everything in my head and I completely forgot!

[crashgizmo]

Apr 24, 2015 20:41:43 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Apr 24, 2015 18:57:44 GMT -5 crashgizmo said:

Hm that's hard to tell. When he told you about the timeline, were there more interviews involved? Often times I will keep a first interview short if I know I am going to advance them.

They said they had 3 interviews today and 2-3 on Monday. They are hoping to have a decision made by the end of the month and have the employee start by the end of May at the latest. They are really trying to rush it so that the retiring employee can train them before she leaves at the end of June.

spunkarella

No, I meant will YOU have another interview? A second with other people or anything? 

[steph96]

Apr 24, 2015 21:14:21 GMT -5 crashgizmo said:

Apr 24, 2015 20:41:43 GMT -5 steph96 said:

They said they had 3 interviews today and 2-3 on Monday. They are hoping to have a decision made by the end of the month and have the employee start by the end of May at the latest. They are really trying to rush it so that the retiring employee can train them before she leaves at the end of June.

spunkarella

No, I meant will YOU have another interview? A second with other people or anything? 

They didn't mention the possibility of second interviews.  I'm leaning towards no based on their timeline.  It takes a few days to get University approval to make an offer.  They would either have to push back their timeline or do second interviews on Tuesday and that might even be cutting it close.

[steph96]

One more question. Let's say that right now I'm an Accountant III. I applied for the Accountant III position that they had open. When they contacted me for an interview, they said it was for an Accountant IV position. At the interview, they asked which I applied for. I said 3. They asked why I didn't apply for the 4 position and if I had seen that opening. I said that I would have loved to apply for it, but I don't have enough experience. They said "oh ok. We thought that might have been the reason, but we just wanted to see what kept you from applying for it". Based on what I have heard from other people, the experience requirements aren't set in stone and there is some wiggle room. Is it just me or does it really seem like if I am offered the position, it would be the level 4?

[LoveTrains]

Apr 25, 2015 10:37:40 GMT -5 steph96 said:

One more question. Let's say that right now I'm an Accountant III. I applied for the Accountant III position that they had open. When they contacted me for an interview, they said it was for an Accountant IV position. At the interview, they asked which I applied for. I said 3. They asked why I didn't apply for the 4 position and if I had seen that opening. I said that I would have loved to apply for it, but I don't have enough experience. They said "oh ok. We thought that might have been the reason, but we just wanted to see what kept you from applying for it". Based on what I have heard from other people, the experience requirements aren't set in stone and there is some wiggle room. Is it just me or does it really seem like if I am offered the position, it would be the level 4?

Well you didn't apply for it, so I would assume that the university would attempt to save money and offer you at the III.

BUT - you could always negotiate and ask fi you could be considered for the IV if they offer you the III. Or if they offer you the III, you could ask if there is a timeframe upon which you could work towards the IV and ask what you would need to do to get there. 

[steph96]

Apr 25, 2015 13:34:18 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Apr 25, 2015 10:37:40 GMT -5 steph96 said:

One more question. Let's say that right now I'm an Accountant III. I applied for the Accountant III position that they had open. When they contacted me for an interview, they said it was for an Accountant IV position. At the interview, they asked which I applied for. I said 3. They asked why I didn't apply for the 4 position and if I had seen that opening. I said that I would have loved to apply for it, but I don't have enough experience. They said "oh ok. We thought that might have been the reason, but we just wanted to see what kept you from applying for it". Based on what I have heard from other people, the experience requirements aren't set in stone and there is some wiggle room. Is it just me or does it really seem like if I am offered the position, it would be the level 4?

Well you didn't apply for it, so I would assume that the university would attempt to save money and offer you at the III.

BUT - you could always negotiate and ask fi you could be considered for the IV if they offer you the III. Or if they offer you the III, you could ask if there is a timeframe upon which you could work towards the IV and ask what you would need to do to get there. 

Thank you for the advice. All of this really just caught me by surprise. You don't expect to apply for a lateral move and then find out that they are wanting to interview you for a higher position that has supervisory duties. It just seemed odd that they would mention the senior role so much if it wasn't a possibility. But at the same time, I know that it can be tough for someone with twice as much experience as me to land that position.

[LoveTrains]

I once interviewed for a job. I got there and I didn't get to meet the woman who set it up - instead her boss met me. They told me she had just quit and now they had two openings. I immediately asked if I could be considered for that job as well - and was hired for the higher level job. So it can't hurt to ask. I just wouldn't assume anything.

[Deleted]

It sounds like it went decently, but so hard to tell.

As a hiring manager, I work with a very large team, so we are constantly hiring to replace folks that leave and even having interviewed hundreds of people for the same position over the years, I can't always tell you who will be a yes during the interview. I can tell you some definite yeses and nos, but normally it all depends on who else walks through the door.

Good luck!

[steph96]

Apr 26, 2015 7:55:28 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

I would have said that I applied for the III but also interested in the IV. I don't think what you said was smart. Why not go for the IV?

They actually listed levels 2-4 listed, buts it's only one opening. They said that they planned on filling whichever position they thought the best candidate would fit. Since the email stated that it was for the level 4 position, I figured that they had already decided that I would be a better fit for that one. Idk. If it comes down to an offer, I will ask about it. Right now I'm just desperate to get out of my department.