What I've learned from interviewing

I had two interviews this week. The first went horribly, the second, very well.

The horrible phone screen was with a current Product Manager. I had spoken to the hiring manager, but he wanted an OK from someone already doing the job to bring me in. He was deferring to the larger organization that acquired, then gutted his small company and wanted to make sure I measured up to Their standards. He actually said to me he wasn't sure if what he thought he needed would change, which says volumes about him as a manager. Seriously. Why not just say, "Put me out of my misery already?"

But back to the interview. This person kept hammering for specific information about what I would do in this and that situation, basically making me feel like I missed the class where they presented the answers. What bugs me most though, is at the end of the interview, when I asked my questions, he admitted that the quality you need to succeed in their organization is the ability to be flexible and to "roll up your sleeves," which the interview was completely not about. It makes me think that he was interviewing me to see how close I come to his ideal candidate (ie., him) not for what really is needed.

I beat myself up about that for the rest of the day but did pull it together to prepare for interview #2 the next day.

This interview was in person where I met the Sales Manager and discussed my qualifications, the company and products, the territory, and the customer base. It felt like a conversation and frankly, it was a lot of fun. For a prospect that I wasn't that excited about earlier, I couldn't be more happy to have interviewed. Even if they don't hire me, this experience gives me hope and the information I need to aim for a better target.

I will work on preparing better for the next time I meet an interview sniper. But I know it's not personal. It's all about the interviewer and how that person sees the world. For this sniper, there are right and wrong answers to hypothetical situations. For me, being unemployed is way better than working with a guy like that.