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Update on the Interview
Jul. 19th, 2002 01:58 pmOkay, I've had better interviews. I've probably had worse interviews, too, although I don't exactly remember when.
The first of the two hours was devoted to a review of my technical skills, and it's humbling to be forcibly reminded how little I remember about the stuff I'm supposed to be able to make a living by doing well. Granted, they started with systems and technologies I haven't used in literally a decade, but when my first dozen answers are "No, I don't know that; sorry, I don't know the difference between [foo] and [bar]; gosh, I'd want to look that one up in the manual; nope, never heard of [baz]..." and so forth, I was almost ready to admit my next job should be saying, "Do you want fries with that?" But then they grilled me (pun not really intended, but I'll take it) on systems and languages that actually related to the job openings, and I ended on a technical high point.
The second hour, with the four managers with immediate needs, went much better. I was smooth, suave, and eminently hireable. And I found out why they're hiring people right now: the jobs are to maintain some application systems that are being phased out by the end of 2003, and they want people who don't mind being on a deathwatch. And who don't mind that the jobs also get phased out in 12/03. There'll be opportunities to transfer into ongoing projects by then, if they have openings and if they don't find other short-term people to fill them. And they'll offer cross-training on the new technologies and languages needed for these ongoing projects. But no guarantees.
So, as far as I know, it's a toss-up as to whether they'll make me an offer. I probably won't know for a couple of weeks, depending on how many people they interview, how many openings there really are (at least six that they mentioned), and whether my technical flubs outweigh my genuine skills and willingness to work on a fore-doomed project.
In other news, I'm going to San Jose this weekend to visit my daughter. I'll be staying with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
7patches and the_ogre, who have been more than kind in offering their home during previous visitation trips. I don't think we have any joint social engagements planned, though; but I'm flexible. I'll be back home late Sunday night
The first of the two hours was devoted to a review of my technical skills, and it's humbling to be forcibly reminded how little I remember about the stuff I'm supposed to be able to make a living by doing well. Granted, they started with systems and technologies I haven't used in literally a decade, but when my first dozen answers are "No, I don't know that; sorry, I don't know the difference between [foo] and [bar]; gosh, I'd want to look that one up in the manual; nope, never heard of [baz]..." and so forth, I was almost ready to admit my next job should be saying, "Do you want fries with that?" But then they grilled me (pun not really intended, but I'll take it) on systems and languages that actually related to the job openings, and I ended on a technical high point.
The second hour, with the four managers with immediate needs, went much better. I was smooth, suave, and eminently hireable. And I found out why they're hiring people right now: the jobs are to maintain some application systems that are being phased out by the end of 2003, and they want people who don't mind being on a deathwatch. And who don't mind that the jobs also get phased out in 12/03. There'll be opportunities to transfer into ongoing projects by then, if they have openings and if they don't find other short-term people to fill them. And they'll offer cross-training on the new technologies and languages needed for these ongoing projects. But no guarantees.
So, as far as I know, it's a toss-up as to whether they'll make me an offer. I probably won't know for a couple of weeks, depending on how many people they interview, how many openings there really are (at least six that they mentioned), and whether my technical flubs outweigh my genuine skills and willingness to work on a fore-doomed project.
In other news, I'm going to San Jose this weekend to visit my daughter. I'll be staying with
7patches and the_ogre, who have been more than kind in offering their home during previous visitation trips. I don't think we have any joint social engagements planned, though; but I'm flexible. I'll be back home late Sunday night
