Brushing up on interview skills
I had an interview at Bio-Rad yesterday for a helpdesk position. I was a little nervous since I sat with three different people but I think I held my own. If I get a second round of interviews it'll be next week. I also met with an old buddy of mine from Vallejo who is with the police dept. They need a tech position filled asap and it might be right up my alley. The problem is that if I get a job and they need me to start shortly thereafter so how do I tell them about our trip to the Netherlands. I need all of your input! What kind of setup or arrangement should I be able to work out or am I just screwed completely? Here's what I was thinking, don't tell them about the vacation, if I get the position, then tell them it was something that was arranged months ago and that my layoff has really affected our schedule. I think I don't have to say it's a trip to the Netherlands but rather maybe I can tell them the wife is gone on business for 2 weeks and it was arranged for me to stay home and watch the kids, no baby sitter is available. Any thoughts?
posted by DJ John @ 4:19 PM
7 Comments:
During the interview process, don't mention it unless they ask a direct question about your availability. Once you get a job offer, mention it.
I was in the same position three mos. ago. My plan was to say nohing until a few weeks before. But then I thought that might end up in disaster so I waited until after I accepted the offer to tell them. I reminded them of it my first day in the office.
In previous cases, I have been able to negotiate paid vacation for the absence. But this time around I'm eating the time off entirely, which sucks.
And of course, there are no promises. So, worst case, you may need to find a new job when you get back.
I say tell them after you sign off on the offer sheet. Then make sure you tell the truth, you're going on a trip that's been pre-planned, besides if they really like you, they can wait for a couple of weeks until you get back. only thing that sucks is that if your friend recomennds you and they hire you solely on that premise, then I think your friend might get a bad rap.
Whatever you do don't lie about the trip, since I'm part of that story!! Knowing that it was pre-planned will ease the "pain". Besides everyone in their right mind knows that this kind of trip cannot be easily (w/o a big payment) be changed once it is set. I would forewarn your friend that this may be an issue. just so he doesn't get blind-sided either... hey, why am i blogging this... I can just talk to you... oh wait I haven't seen you much! How was X-me?
I agree with everyone else, but definitely let them know when you sign the papers and they ask about a start date. Or during the interview they ask about a start date. Either one. sorry, it's really late and I'm a little loopy.
At any rate, hope to hear good news. and aren't you supposed to send me a resume so we can get you something at kaiser?
ooh, biorad...you'd be my competitor. if you want a helpdesk position and don't mind driving out to Foster City, check out Applied Biosystems' website.
Here's a link to one:
http://www.resumeware.net/applera_rw/applera_web/job_detail.cfm?recnum=10&totalrecs=31&start=1&pagestart=1
You can look for others under Information Technology.
As for your vacation dilemma, like everyone said, just ask for it after you get the offer. By that time, they've decided on you and wouldn't want to back out. On a side note, when negotiating pay, and they can't pay you as much as you'd like, consider asking for more time off. I had a buddy who negotiated 7 weeks of vacation because that was the difference in the amount he wanted.
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